Since the NPP government came to office in January 2017, reports on the activities of vigilante groups across the country have persisted throughout the year.

[contextly_sidebar id=”mYDGZvrna9i8PqgB8F88PI0z4LfEjQhJ”]In light of some of these incidents, President Nana Akufo-Addo charged the police to deal with the matter.

The Minister of Interior, Ambrose Dery, also gave similar instructions, that the culprits of some of these incidents in areas like Gwollu as well as Karaga and any other group planning something of that sort must be dealt with.

Many Ghanaians have attributed the action of these youth to the fact that they were promised things that have not been handed to them yet, so they are taking the law into their hands.

Speaking to Citi News after a public lecture on vigilantism at the GIMPA law faculty, the Reverend noted that, “just because you are affiliated to a political party shouldn’t put one above the law.”

Beyond this, he said the President and the Minister of Interior did not need to charge the police to do their work, thus he should not be viewed as the figure holding them back.

“We really don’t need the President to give instruction to the police to crack the whip when people are breaking the laws of the land; that is their mandate, you do not even need the Minister of Interior to charge the police that act this way, because that is what they are there for. So I am raising the question, what is holding them back? I don’t have the answer, the police must tell us,” he said.

Rev. Asante also called on Ghanaians to hold the police to account since they have the mandate to ensure public peace.

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By: Farida Yusif/Citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Blame police for cases of political party vigilantism – Rev. Asante appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

His urge comes after some members of Operation Vanguard reportedly set ablaze about six excavators belonging to Extra Gold Mines at Anyinam in the Eastern Region.

[contextly_sidebar id=”SqTSV1Q6xXODDzNdo70CGVq9oYkadAZi”]Rev Dr. Amoo-Darku, speaking to journalists in Koforidua on Wednesday at a two-day mediation training workshop, said the seemingly radical approach where people are killed or abused could threaten peace in the country.

“There’s peace in the nation and we thank God for that though there were few skirmishes during and after the December elections, we are grateful to God that we have been able to calm it. We should not rely on what has been done previously but we should build on and do better.”

“In relation to galamsey, we are all witnesses to how the devastating the practice of galamsey has been destroying our farmlands, river bodies and polluting the water that people drink from and therefore, we will plead with government and other stakeholders involved to be magnanimous in dealing with it.”

“We do not anticipate or want to see the situation where people are killed because we want to curb it or even disasters happening because when that happens people will want to fight back so therefore those who have been put in charge and have been asked to deal with the situation must do it with a human face so that there wouldn’t be situations where lives will be lost and properties be destroyed as we are hearing now.”

Small scale miners lament unprovoked attacks

The Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM) also raised concern with what it called ” the unprovoked shoot to kill tactics and the burning of expensive mining equipment belonging to Ghanaians by the “Operation Vanguard”.

The association alleged in a statement that one other person has been killed by the task force, making it two dead in two weeks, after a protestor was shot and killed at Obuasi Anyimadukrom in the Ashanti Region.

“In the less than two weeks of the deployment of the taskforce, two unarmed civilians have been killed and several excavators set ablaze without any provocation.”

“It is worthy of note that, after the shooting of one Agyemang at Obuasi a few days ago, the “OV” killed another civilian, Charles, at Sefwi-Ankrah in the Western region on Tuesday, 08/08/2017, but are yet to make any public statements on the latter.”

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By: Neil Nii Amatey Kanarku/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Galamsey fight must not claim lives – Rev. Amoo-Darku appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, Chairman of the Council, Professor Emmanuel Asante, who had earlier called for an internal arbitration process to resolve the dispute, is now saying “at this stage, allow due process to work.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”FgNKUGuxkSK556lFKtckghGvtMXOXC1f”]He noted that the accusations being brought to the fore “now bordered in criminality” hence the change in stance.

But in the mean time, Prof Asante still called for an end to the war of words between key parties within the EC, the most recent being more accusations and assertions being touted by the deputy Chairperson of the Commission in-charge of Corporate Services, Georgina Opoku Amankwah.

Consider integrity of EC

Regardless of the conclusion of the investigation, he reminded that the reputation of the EC was still being tainted by the accusations flying around in the public domain.

“My humble submission to the commissioners and also to the staff members is to think about the image of the institution because the Electoral Commission is very crucial when it comes to the democratic governance of our nation and any erosion of confidence of the electoral commission is going to have negative effects on our future elections and the work they do.”

“So they should think ahead as they trade accusations and counter accusations and in an attempt to justify and redeem their own image, they should also think far… they have said enough and they should allow due process to take place,” he said.

Tensions at the EC were dragged into the public domain after some employees of Commission petitioned President Nana Akufo-Addo to remove Charlotte Osei from office for alleged financial malfeasance.

Mrs. Osei rubbished the allegations and fired some of her own, accusing her deputies of various forms of malfeasance.

Mrs. Osei also said she would order investigations into the alleged malpractices.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post EC must be probed immediately – Peace Council appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Speaking to Citi News, Rev. Asante said such calls were “a vote of no confidence in the security agencies.”

His remarks come in the wake of a call by the Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kofi Portuphy, for his party supporters to retaliate if they are attacked by purported supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Rev. Asante instead advised Ghanaians to have confidence in the Police Administration and insisted that the police be left alone to deal with the perpetrators of the criminal disturbances.

“We are calling them political people; but for me, if somebody breaks the law, that person should be considered as a criminal and the police must deal with that person.”

Rev. Asante also stressed that the incoming Nana Akufo-Addo-led government needs a peaceful environment to deliver on its promises.

“Let me say to those who are doing these things in the name of their party to understand that Nana Akufo-Addo needs a peaceful environment to put things together,” the Peace Council Chairman said.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post NDC’s call for self-defense threat to Ghana’s peace – Rev. Asante appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

He said this ‘winner takes all’ mentality in our society has led to the ingrained desire by various political stakeholders to win ‘at all costs’ and thereby heightening the tensions during electoral campaign seasons.

Speaking at the Valley View University’s inaugural Peace Public Lecture series, Most Reverend Professor  Asante said the country needs transformational leaders to halt the over politicisation of government decisions.

The Lecture, held on the topic: “Enhancing peace before, during and after elections: the role of the religious community in Ghana”, he said such leaders are also needed to forestall the blatant display of unprofessionalism by some heads of national institutions.

Most Reverend Professor Asante said there is the need for a review of the political system to reflect the advantages of proportional representation.

He said for peace to be attained during our electoral cycles, the high rate of poverty, illiteracy and the weakness of our electoral regulatory system need to be addressed.

Most Reverend Professor Asante added, “the quest for peace and security is an ongoing agenda the human community” but in our society, the abuse of certain rights as a result of our freedom of expression needs to be checked.

Dr Mohsen Maarefi, the President of the Islamic University College, and the Chairman for the occasion, also insisted that faith based institutions have a role to play in sustaining the peace of a country.

He said religious groups are often the majority in all electoral processes hence the need for their leaders to serve as useful models in ensuring peace.

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Source: GNA

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