Ghana can seek UN’s help to deal with vigilantism – Aning
A Security Analyst with the Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Training Center (KAIPTC), Dr. Kwesi Aning has said Ghana could seek international support to help address the issue of political party vigilantism properly.
He said dealing with the problem requires an “honest broker” such as regular organizations that could mediate talks for the disbandment of such groups.
Testifying before the Emile Short Commission of Inquiry on Monday, Kwesi Anning said the process of disbandment of vigilante groups in the country must start with building trust among persons behind the establishment of the groups.
“Let’s begin the process of building trust between and among those who established these groups… How do we negotiate around the difficulties in which we have placed ourselves? Are there national institutions that can play the honest broker, and I think the level of suspicion is so deep,” he said.
He told the commission that the country must not be shy to request help from organizations such as the United Nations and the African Union to help it deal with vigilantism since the process involves an elaborate strategy for the disaggregation of the groups.
“We should not be shy as a nation to say probably the UN should come and help to play the honest broker, or the African Union because in disaggregating those who are members of these groups, the economic interests, their geographical location, what they used their strengths and equipment for when they are not being used [for vigilante activities], need a trust-building process, [and] that takes quite some time.”
Legislation won’t stop vigilantism
Kwesi Anning further told the Commission that suggestions that legislation alone by the President will stop the phenomenon would not work.
“Legislation will just not end this process. It has gotten root in our society. It creates economic incentives and people use that and therefore we need a sober, long-term process in which we will create trust first, come round the table, start having the conversion and then begin a disaggregation process of the specific issue areas that we need to tackle. That takes a lot of time,” he said.
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Source: citinewsroom