Vigilance bill: a parliamentary committee commits the public

The Parliament's Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs is organizing a Stakeholder Conference on the Vigilance and Related Offenses Bill, 2019, to inform the public on how best to tackle negative activities related to the country's self-defense political groups.

The bill was introduced by the Akufo-Addo-led government following public outcry against the negative aspects of political vigilance and the danger it poses to the country's democracy.

The committee responsible for the bill currently before Parliament has invited interested groups in society to contribute to enriching the content of the bill, which should feature prominently on the agenda of Parliament when he will resume his work at the end. of May.

As a result, the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Legal and Parliamentary Affairs should invite civil society, religious groups and the general public to comment on Thursday, May 23, 2019 at the DF Annan Judges' Auditorium in the House of Parliament. .

The purpose of the bill is to dissolve party supporters' groups and to ban acts of vigilance in the country.

Following the partial election of Ayawaso West Wuogon on January 31, 2019, the public was very disgusted and sentenced, which led to the creation of an inquiry commission by the president Akufo Addo, in charge of investigating the recommendations.

The President then invited the leaders of the two main political parties to unite to put an end to this phenomenon of vigilance of political parties. A failure for which, he stressed, would lead him to adopt legislation on the total dismantling of these groups and their related activities.

The recent elections, including the by-elections held in the Fourth Republic, were characterized by violence, particularly in the following constituencies: Akwatia, Atiwa, Chereponi, Talensi, Amenfi West and more recently Ayawaso West Wuogon.

The unfortunate incidents of violence of a political and violence-related nature have led to the formation, organization and promotion of groups of badociated "militia" linked to or affiliated with political parties in the country. These political parties run for public elections or political party events for the sole purpose of ensuring the security of elections and the activities of political parties.