The Volta region has kept an almost clean sheet in the phenomenon of political vigilantism that plagued the country during and post the 2016 electioneering season.
Although the activity of political party affiliated vigilante groups was rife in parts of the country in the immediate aftermath of the 2016 elections, with forceful takeovers of public properties among other violent incidences, none of such was witnessed in the Volta region.
This was confirmed during a Regional Roundtable Discussions on ‘the Menace of Political Party Vigilantism and Ghana’s Electoral Politics’ held in Ho by the Coalition of Domestic Election Observer (CODEO).
Participants at the forum acknowledged that “there is a low incidence of political party vigilante activities in the region, though there is evidence of one or two standing groups emerged during the 2016 elections in the border areas.”
Nonetheless, at a press conference on Wednesday and addressed by Togbe Adom Drayi II and Mr John Larvie, advisory board members of CODEO, they called for a consented approach on the part of all stakeholders including the political parties to end the menace across the country.
According to the Coalition, the activities of such groups which have festered for long in the Fourth Republic, do not only threaten the country’s peace and stability but also pose a trigger to violent conflict, if not dealt with.
CODEO has therefore called for an immediate disbandment of party vigilante groups through the passage of legislation to criminalize their formation and activities.
It also entreated the Ghanaian media to bring to bear the same level of commitment in the fight against illegal mining popularly known as galamsey, to tackle the phenomenon of political vigilantism.
The post-election public engagements by CODEO with support from USAID are expected to culminate in a policy proposal towards addressing the menace of vigilantism in the country and also enhance the country’s democratic process.
