Catholic Bishops speak against vigilantism

The 2017 annual Plenary Assembly of the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference (GCBC) ended in Ho last Friday, with a call on the government and the state security agencies to act decisively against the activities of vigilante groups, land guards and nomadic herdsmen.

The bishops said the increasing acts of violence being perpetrated by those groups against innocent citizens with impunity posed a great threat to the peace, security and safety of the country, a situation which must be dealt with immediately.

A communiqué issued at the end of the assembly said: “We cannot ignore the fact that land guards, political vigilante groups and nomadic herdsmen have unleashed violence on Ghanaians for a very long time.

“These groups are employed by Ghanaians to protect their property but often terrorise fellow Ghanaians who have interests in the same property. Vigilante groups are creations of some politicians who use them for their political gains."

The communiqué, signed by the President of the GCBC, the Most Rev. Philip Naameh, further urged the government to move beyond the rhetoric and act decisively against such miscreants in society to ensure peace and tranquillity of citizens.

“While we commend the government for calling on the security agencies to stop the violent activities of land guards, vigilante groups and nomadic herdsmen, we state that we need more action than words. The government must walk the talk; we demand our security agencies to disengage these groups once and for all,” it said.

The 12-day plenary session, on the theme: “Integral pastoral care for the family in the Light of Ammoris Laetitia”, deliberated on issues confronting marital and family life in Ghana.

The 12-point communiqué, which touched on various issues of national concern, also condemned the culture of mob injustice and sexual abuse of minors,  describing the phenomenon as a serious indictment on society, for which perpetrators must be dealt with according to the law.

It called for intense public sensitisation to mob injustice, while feasible structures be instituted in basic schools to protect minors from sexual predators.