It is too early to write off legislation on vigilance – Lawyer

General News of Saturday, March 16, 2019

Source: citinewsroom.com

2019-03-16

According to a private lawyer, Martin Kpebu, it is still too early for Ghanaians to abolish the government's plans to formulate a law to put an end to the activities of political militias in the country.

While the two main political parties – the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) – continue to write open letters following the call by the President to both parties to dialogue and find a way to deal with the situation, many political parties and other stakeholders said the legislation would not produce a positive result.

But the president who is not worried about these concerns has already instructed the Attorney General to prepare a legislative instrument in this regard. Martin Kpebu said Friday that the president's decision could have many benefits, he warned, pointing out that people were reluctant to wait for the bill to pbad before writing it.

"I do not agree … considering all the criticism and the road traveled for a month by the country, I should think that before the president asks the GA to prepare legislation it might have been a good thing. "

"Those who think we have enough laws to fight militancy are not quite right. There are gaps in the law. Just as we have rules on the financing of terrorism, we do not have the same on vigilantism. It is therefore an area to which we must tackle. As long as we have not seen what the President and Attorney General are talking about, it is premature to say that it is not necessary, "he added.

The phenomenon of vigilantism has become a current issue in the country as a result of the increasing number of physical attacks and attacks perpetrated by members of self-defense groups aligned with Ghana's main political parties, the NDC. and the NPP.

Some of these attacks resulted in death and injury to victims, including innocent citizens.

Nana Addo charges AG to prepare legislation against vigilantism

President Akufo-Addo said that he had appointed Attorney General Gloria Akuffo to present to Parliament a bill to dissolve all forms of political party fanatical groups in the country.

He added that the Attorney General, under the law, should provide the necessary sanctions against party vigilance.

Akufo-Addo explained that he was forced to pbad a law against the practice from which the decision, noting that this decision would not prejudge the expected dialogue between the NDC and the NPP on the subject.

"Given that the constitutional responsibility for maintaining law and order in the country rests with the executive, that is to say. Mr President of the Republic, in accordance with my declaration to the Parliament of 21 February 2019 of the Message of the State of the Nation, I have given instructions to the Attorney General, without prejudice to the result of the l & # 39; commitment between the NPP and the NDC to prepare and submit to Parliament, as soon as possible, specific legislation to combat the phenomenon of vigilance and to provide appropriate sanctions against its appearance. "

Stop vigilantism of the party or I will do it with legislation – Nana Addo to NDC, NPP

Akufo-Addo said the phenomenon of political vigilance could destabilize the country and reverse the country's democratic achievements over the years.

Citing recent violence that affected the constituency of Ayawaso West Wuogon due to alleged activities of politically aligned self-defense groups, President Akufo-Addo pledged to use a legislation to end the phenomenon of political vigilance if both parties fail to stop it voluntarily.

"I wish to use the platform of this message to make a sincere and pbadionate appeal to the leaders of the two main political parties of our country, NPP and NDC, so that they gather as soon as possible, preferably next week. , in order to agree. appropriate measures to put an end to this disturbing and unacceptable phenomenon of vigilance in our body politic.

The security services of the country will be ready to attend this meeting … If the voluntary dismantling by the parties is not feasible, I will propose legislation on this subject. A vigorous debate and exchange of ideas should be the true basis of political dialogue and competition in our country, not the activities of party party groups, "he added.