Some Members of the NDC Hawks
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has stated that the unfortunate killing of a supporter of the opposition National Democratic Congress last Monday, in Kumasi, at a meeting of the national and regional executives of the opposition party by the party’s own vigilante group, the hawks, has reinforced the urgent need for the NPP and the NDC to find a path to ending activities of vigilante groups in the country.
Speaking at this year’s State of the Nation’s address, the president said “I want to use the 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 worrying and unacceptable phenomenon of vigilantism in our body politic.”
The president added that he has asked the leadership of the NPP to extend an invitation to the leadership of the NDC for such a meeting adding that the security services of the country will be on standby to assist this meeting.
Meanwhile, the president has stated that “if voluntary disbandment by the parties is not feasible, then I will initiate legislation on the matter.”
He said “vigorous debate and the exchange of ideas should be the true basis of political dialogue and competition in our country, not the activities of party vigilante groups.”
Activities of political vigilante groups have become a great concern for many Ghanaians.
Groups such as invincible forces, delta forces, the Hawks, Azorka boys among others have been accused for a number of violence related political activities.
Many Ghanaians including civil society organisations have continually called for the disbandment of such groups to protect the countries peace.
