General Secretary of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has disclosed that talks have begun behind the scenes for a possible meeting between the two major political parties in Ghana over the disbandment of political party vigilantes as directed by President of the Republic.
John Boadu made this known when he appeared before the Short Commission of Inquiry into the happenings of the 31st January, 2019 by-election at Ayawaso Constituency.
Mr. Boadu told the Commission that National Chairman of the NPP, Freddy Blay, has contacted the National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress to arrange for a meeting to discuss the issue.
This could not materialize, however, because the NDC according to John Boadu’s account were engrossed in several activities within the period thus requested for an alternative date to be agreed upon.
Despite the setback, he assured the commission that talks haven’t broken down and both parties he believes are determined to ensure the issue is thrashed out and party vigilantes effectively dealt with.
“Since the President made that call, our National Chairman has gotten in touch with the National Chairman of the NDC of a possible meeting between the two parties. As part of the discussion, our National Chairman was made aware that the NDC has just finished their race and they have lined up several activities within that week, coupled with the fact that the National Chairman himself has this tape making the rounds, I think he is dealing with that as well. We have not been able to reschedule the meeting but there is an ongoing discussion. We have also seen that the NDC have taken the lead in acknowledging the President’s position that he has taken and written to the president and National Chairman by extension the new patriotic party,” John Boadu recounted.
President Akufo-Addo during his State of the Nation Address emphatically stated his position on the issue of vigilantism suggesting that it has the tendency to destroy the security and peace enjoyed by the country.
Akufo-Addo tasked both NPP and NDC leadership to dispassionately hold talks that will lead to the disbanding of vigilantes associated with the political parties failure to do so he hinted will result in the formation of legislation to deal with the issue.
”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 asserted.
He added, ”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”.
Appoint Peace Council as mediators for interparty vigilante dialogue – NDC
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.”
By: Jonah Eledi/awakenewsonline.com