Disband all vigilante groups – Peace Council

The  Ahafo Regional Executive Secre­tary of the Peace Council (PC), Em­manuel Danyomah, has urged political parties in the country to disband all vigilante groups and ensure an incident-free polls.

He urged institutional authorities to enforce the vigilantism Act (Act 999) and provide adequate security adding that the state must also develop a community action plan to address electoral violence.

Mr Danyomah stated this in Goaso, the Ahafo regional capital at a day’s meeting for dialogue with political parties and constituents on addressing violent extremism and terrorism in the context of December 2024 general elections.

A similar engagement had earlier been held at Kenyasi in the Asut­ifi North District where a peace pact was signed by the National Democratic Congress (NDC), New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the Movement for Change (MFC) and other stakeholders.

The Executive Secretary noted that warning signs and early in­dicators of extremism, terrorism and vigilantism are mobilisation of youth into clandestine groups, with operational indicators including stockpiling of weapons, surge in cyber attacks on political systems.

He added that the use of unlawful actions by vigilante groups linked to political parties to influence elections and intimidate opponents must be discouraged noting that internal Political threats during elections are misinforma­tion, hate speech online, electoral disputes and contestation.

“External threats include cyber terrorism targeting electoral systems, infiltration by extremism groups operating in neighbouring countries,” Mr Danyomah empha­sized.

He said violent extremism, ter­rorism and vigilantism in elections have political, economic, social, cultural and religious impacts, stressing that all of us must tread cautiously and guard against such dangerous activities.

Mr Prince Bonnah Marfo, Deputy Regional Director, Center for National Culture (CNC) and the facilitator of the meeting said dialogue is critical because it reduces tension, builds trust among stakeholders, provides a platform for marginalised voices.

The Deputy Regional Director noted that key outcomes of dia­logue include shared strategies for peaceful elections, greater commit­ment to enforcing electoral laws.

He stated that political parties have a crucial role to play with responsibilities of peaceful cam­paigns, and collaboration including engagement with the media, civil society, and security agencies and to promote inclusive dialogue and diverse groups.

Mr Marfo indicated that constit­uents have roles to play including staying informed and against propaganda, reporting suspicious activities, rejecting bribes or in­ducement to participate in violence.

Apostle Emmanuel Akwasi Adjei, a member of the Ahafo Regional Peace Council, in his remarks said Asutifi District has become an electoral hotspot due to the influx of legal and illegal min­ers and businesses thus the need to prevent any possible violence before, during and after December 7 elections.