The National Democratic Congress, Ghana’s largest opposition party, has requested the President to appoint as mediators the Peace Council of Ghana for the interparty dialogue on disbanding vigilantism.
The NDC believes the Peace Council is national in character and has the sought of credibility that not many will question from across the political divide.
They also proposed that other political parties and stakeholders with expertise in democratic governance and security should be invited to join the discussions such as the United Nations Development Programme, Institute for Demographic Governance among others.
The NDC’s proposal was contained in a letter addressed to the President and copied to the National Peace Council and the New Patriotic Party.
“In addition, in view of the often recurrent mistrust and suspicion that characterize such interactions by political parties and the pain and suffering that vigilantism may have created especially in the recent past, it is of the utmost importance that a mediator with national credibility be appointed to drive the entire process. In this regard, my party, propose that the National Peace Council be appointed as the mediator for such a meeting” the letter conveyed.
It also stated, “we also think that the Peace Council will require as collaborators, institutions that may have unimpeachable knowledge and expertise in providing support for such efforts. And in this regard the NDC Propose that the Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Training Center (KAIPTC), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) join the Peace Council to facilitate the process.”
The interparty dialogue on disbanding vigilantism was suggested by the President during the State of the Nation Address delivered in Parliament a week ago.
The President tasked leadership of both NPP and NDC to discuss ways of ending the vigilante phenomenon that in recent times has resulted in the destruction of properties and caused harm to people.
Failure to reach an agreement will result in the passage of a legislature to tackle the growing menace the president warned.
”I want to use this platform of this message to make a sincere passionate appeal to the leaders of the two main political parties in our country NPP and NDC to come together as soon as possible, preferably next week to agree on appropriate measures to bring an end to this unacceptable phenomenon of vigilantism in our body of politics” Akufo-Addo stated.
He added that, ”I have asked the leadership of the NPP to extend an invitation to the leaders of the NDC for such a meeting, the security services of the country will be on standby to assist this meeting. If political disbandment by the parties is not feasible then I will initiate legislation in the matter”.
Despite their readiness to dialogue and agreement in principle that this is the way to go, the party in its letter signed by the National Chairman, Ofosu Ampofo, questioned the timing of the dialogue particularly because the president has set up a commission of enquiry to investigate some activities by an alleged vigilante group that marred the 31st January, 2019 by-election at the Ayawaso West Wuogun Constituency.
They expressed doubts about the effect the findings were going to have on the work on the interparty discussions should the talks happen at the same time as the Commissions work.
“My party’s understanding of the remit o the commission includes the possibility that it will set out a road map for the resolution of this phenomenon. If this assumption is correct, do we allow the commission to conclude with its report before we engage in our discussion on the same matter, or we proceed regardless of the recommendations of the commission?” the NDC stressed in their letter to the President.
They reminded the president of other reservations they raised in an initial letter to the effect that all members of pro NPP vigilante forces who had found their way into the security services should be removed with immediate effect.
By: Jonah Eledi/awakenewsonline.com