General News of Sunday, 29 October 2017

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Vigilantism: Akufo-Addo's government spineless – Mahama

Former President John Dramani Mahama Former President John Dramani Mahama

Former President John Dramani Mahama has condemned the activities of vigilante groups affiliated with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and is also worried how the Akufo-Addo-led government has done nothing to resolve the issue.

According to him, political vigilantism is getting out of hand and doesn’t seem to comprehend why government hasn’t taken any action till now.

In a Facebook post by the former President, Mr Mahama stated "When you sow the wind, you reap a whirlwind!" Political ‘vigilantism’ is spiraling out of control and government doesn’t appear to be able to deal with the situation. And the tragedy is that most of our moral society have become passive spectators”.

The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo speaking at the 2017 Ngmayem Festival at Manya Krobo on Friday, assured that the law will work without regard for partisan considerations but many have suggested that the government is only talking with little or no action when it comes to dealing with acts of vigilantism involving its supporters.

Background

Last Wednesday, the Coordinator of the National Youth Employment Agency (NYEA) of Karaga District was forced to seek refuge in Tamale, following threats on his life.

Baba Janga was attacked by some supporters of his own party who accused him of being discriminatory in the recruitment exercise.

The office of the District Chief Executive was also shut down while the motorbike of the coordinator was set on fire early Wednesday morning. The Karaga Constituency Chairman of his party, Tahiru Zakari, as well as three others, suspected to be part of those who caused the disturbances at Karaga. The rest are Baba Ali Osman, Mohammed Alhassan and Abdullai Ziblim.

On Thursday, some unidentified youth in the Sissala West district chased the DCE of the area, Mohammad Bakor following a disagreement over the appointment of the coordinator for Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) for the district.

The youth claimed that the DCE betrayed their trust by appointing a different person to Coordinate MASLOC instead of their preference based on an agreement they reached with the DCE.

The police in the Sissala West District have assured the public that they will soon apprehend the members of the pro-NPP vigilante groups who chased the DCE of the area out of office.