Minority urges govt to call vigilante groups to order

The Minority Leader, Mr Haruna Idrissu, has urged the government to call the vigilante groups who attack state institutions to order.

He said mere condemnation of the acts of hooliganism by the Minister of  the Interior, Mr Ambrose Dery, was not enough and that what was needed was a deterrent punishment of the members of the vigilante groups associated with the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).

"So call the vigilante groups to order, whether it is Delta Force or what force, call them to order. Let us end the vigilante groups. Let us allow for order in the country. Let’s allow for discipline in the country and let’s punish where it is appropriate," he said.

Mr Idrissu made the call on the floor of Parliament in Accra last Wednesday. He was contributing to a statement on international youth day delivered by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Isaac Asiamah.

In recent times, there have been some reported cases of some youth associated with the NPP locking up some offices of state institutions and driving government appointees out in some parts of the country.

Recent disturbances

The recent disturbances included the one that happened in Karaga and Sissala West.

The Karaga incident involved an attack on a police station, with protesting members freeing their accomplices in custody. The Sissala West incident had to do with an attack on the district chief executive.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has since urged the security agencies to deal with the perpetrators of the attacks irrespective of their political affiliations or position.

Condemnation

Mr Idrissu said it was not enough to condemn the activities of the vigilante groups, and that the perpetrators needed to be punished to serve as a deterrent.