NPP / NDC agree on scope of dialogue on the end of political vigilance

General News on Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Source: Ghananewsagency.org

2019-04-30

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have agreed on the immediate scope of the dialogue on the end of political vigilance in the country.

The parties reached an agreement Monday at Peduase, in the Eastern region, after their second meeting on the end of political vigilance.

A statement issued and jointly signed by Freddie Blay, National President of the NPP and Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, National President of the NDC, and badisted by Nana, Dr. SKB Asante, Member of the National Peace Council (NPC), said the two sides had agreed discussion on the elimination of vigilance with key stakeholders and experts.

"These stakeholders will include representatives of civil society organizations, security agencies and religious organizations," he said.

The statement said the process was aimed at dissolving groups of security guards operating for or for political purposes; prohibit the ownership, hiring or use of such groups by political parties or their members; cooperate with government agencies and stakeholders for the total eradication of such groups or incidents of vigilance in the country.

The next meeting between the two parties, mediated by the AFN Council, is scheduled for May 27.

The meeting, which is taking place at the request of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has been publicized by the CNP.

In his speech on the state of the nation delivered in Parliament on Thursday, February 21, President Akufo-Addo called on the leaders of the two main political parties (NPP and NDC) to contribute to the search for a durable solution to the threat of political vigilance in Ghana.

The Peduase meeting was attended by leading members of both parties, including Mr John Boadu, Secretary General of the NPP, and Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, Secretary General of the NDC.

The meeting was officially opened by Reverend Professor Emmanuel Asante, President of the NPC.

Other members of the AFN Mediation Committee on Ending Political Vigilance included: Bishop Nicholas Duncan-William, Archbishop President and General Supervisor of Action Chapel International, and Apostle Professor Opoku Onyinah, former national president of the Church of Pentecost.