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The spate of lawlessness and vandalism is preposterous and alarming on our political landscape over the years. Vigilantism, vandalism, ‘landguardism’ and thuggery across the country are serious threats to national security and cohesion. Leadership inertia across the political divide and Ghana police service is large to be blamed for the festering [ads1]upsurge in vigilantism and vandalism. The Ghana Police Service promised to disband vigilante groups several times but just like the proverbial vulture, once the rain is over nothing becomes of the promise. Have the police become toothless bulldogs or have come under the sway of politicians?
A culture of impunity and flagrant disregard for rule of law is as a result of the fact nothing is done to perpetrators of illegality in the name of vigilantism. Is anyone safe in Ghana today? My candid answer is ‘NO’. We are all sitting on a time bomb; waiting to visit our graves collectively as we sit amidst the danger and laugh it away. Our firefighting approach to issues regarding national development, interest and security has never and would never help us a nation.
The office of the President is under siege, the offices of the ministers of Justice and Attorney General, National Security, Interior and that of the Inspector General of Police are all under threat. If decisions of the executive President could be challenged by mere party foot soldiers then a state of nature has basically set in. The more the President condemns and promises to deal decisively with the perpetrators of the menace, the more aggressive they get in executing fresh attacks. This trend has persisted and now we can count over twenty separate incidences of political vigilantism across almost all of the regions of Ghana without definitive action aside parallel cases of instant justice/injustice, landguardism, armed robbery and threats from Fulani herdsmen.
How did we get here? The seeping culture of impunity across the country is direct as a result of political patronage and expediency. The NPP and NDC have both reared and profited from vigilantism. It is hypocritical and double standard for any group or party to condemn or play the ostrich with the menace of vigilantism. The eggs of the crocodiles and serpents we have allowed to hatch have now grown into full-blown ferocious and venomous reptiles to chew and bite us and send us to our graves unceremoniously. The menace is akin to treating venomous reptiles as pets because they are yet to bite you.
One most unfortunate trend in Ghana is that nothing is dealt with decisively. We are simply fond of dealing with the mere symptoms instead of the actual cause(s) of occurrences whether national or institutional levels. No wonder we constantly have a comedy of recycled problems, discussions and pontifications. At best we plaster problems waiting to be revisited when the covering is removed.
Unemployed, ignorant and disgruntled young men are often used as pawns before and during electioneering campaigns to intimidate and attack political opponents. When elections are over, they are often left to their fate or made to feed on crumbs and droppings from the masters’ table though they were the dogs that caught the game in the wild. The same people who fought to secure political power are now branded as ‘unqualified and unproductive’. In their frustration, they vent their spleen on innocent appointees who may not belong to their circles of trust.
If vigilante groups were dissolved and disbanded with immediate effect at the teething stage; we wouldn’t have gotten to the apocalyptic point now. The twin-evil of vigilantism and galamsey if not handled tactfully and in a more constructive manner and perpetrators brought to book with dispatch; Ghana is not far from the Niger Delta crisis in Nigeria. There’s an impending danger on the horizon. We rise or fall together as a people and country. Nobody should sit back unconcerned and hope against hope that things will change. Things don’t change and happen by default. We must necessarily be counted as agents of change and transformation or we risk being doomed together.
What is the way forward?
As an immediate solution, the Ghana Police Service must wean itself of political control and influence in order to act professionally in dealing with vigilantism across the board but that would be an uphill task. The criminal offense should be dealt with without fear or favour. Crimes neither have political colour nor personality. Until the police service is competently able to discharge its core mandate of ensuring law and order and protecting life and property, no Ghanaian should feel safe and secured. All vigilante activities must be considered serious threats to national security and wellbeing. Any act of vigilantism across Ghana must be dealt with without any form of massaging or leniency.
Secondly, the Ghana Police Service must necessarily assert its authority as the only national security agency responsible for enforcing law and order. In that regard, all ‘parasecurity’ and parallel security forces or groups must be disbanded and declared illegal with immediate effect. This should be done with no recourse to any political party or state institution. Illegality in any form must not be allowed to thrive and entrench itself. Both NDC and NPP are equally guilty. Problems usually don’t get solved in Ghana because they are branded in party colours either as NDC or NPP problem.
Economically, the nation should have clear-cut blueprints for creating jobs to absorb the teeming youth who walk our streets without employment and promising future. Young people dabble in nefarious activities and do the dirty bidding of politicians and the influential because they are ignorant, unemployed, poor and beggarly. When young people are economically empowered, they are able to wean themselves from external influences and pressures and live more responsible lives.
Finally, as a long-term measure, as a nation, it is about time we began dispassionate discussion on the urgent to revise some of the provisions of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana. As Ghanaians, we generally acknowledge the fact that to power is concentrated in the hands of the President but this reality is often swept under the carpet because any group or party that wins power in Ghana enjoy it while it lasts in office. How does the President appoint an IGP, minister of Justice and Attorney General, Justices of the Supreme Court and Chief Justice and still have his own party interest shortchanged? How do we deal decisively with vigilantism and vandalism (especially intraparty) when national security, regional security and district security are under the direct control of political appointees? How can these political appointees satisfy national interest and party interest at the same time?
The various calls for the head of the IGP and regional commanders are misplaced and reactionary because sacking them would not solve the problem of vigilantism. We should be looking at ways various unseen hands are manipulating the service to do their bidding and satisfy their whims and caprices. We should be dealing with the menace across the board and permanently rather than resorting to knee-jerk approaches and reactions.
Going forward, Ghana should wean herself of winner takes all politics. One major challenge is that there are no consensus building and nationalistic discussions on solving national problems. We allow political parties to hijack and hold us to ransom. Ghana is dead! What is alive and heard is the chaotic voice of party interest.
LONG LIVE GHANA
CLEMENT ADJEI SARFO
CONVENOR, YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SUMMIT
