Police ready to crack down on political vigilantism – COP Kofi Boakye

The Ghana Police Service has indicated an imminent crack down on vigilante groups and their political sponsors.

COP Nathan Kofi Boakye, Director-General of the Police Professional Standards Bureau says the police have had enough of the nefarious activities of those groups and ready to stop them.

The no-nonsense police boss was speaking Wednesday, January 16, on political vigilantism and Ghana's democracy at the ongoing New Year School and Conference at the University of Ghana in Accra, and sent perhaps the strongest yet caution to political figures behind vigilante groups to stay away from that act, reports Graphic Online's Timothy Nengme.

"The Police Service is prepared to face the vigilante groups squarely despite the political tagging and threats from politicians who are serving as entrepreneurs for these groups.

“The time has come to say that enough is enough because from what we are seeing and gathering, if we do not act now, something explosive will happen in 2020," he said.

But he said other institutions with roles to play to eradicate the menace must play their roles too or the desired results may not come.

"The police find themselves in a difficult situation even though we are bold and ready to arrest the vigilantes. The very people who are funding these groups have the guts to sit on radio and condemn the police, but I encourage the police to be bold so that we crack down on the bad guys.

"If we arrest these guys and the courts give them mild slaps from the bottom, they will continue to be emboldened to do what they do. So, let's all fight together," he said.