Security expert warns of "vast implications" if vigilante groups are not disbanded

Abu Mubarik 12:46 - 02 April 2017

He said it is "an irresponsible situation and disgraceful that we will have citizens branding themselves or describing themselves and going into a spree of violence and lawlessness in the wake of the elections."

A former National Security Coordinator, Kofi Bentum Quantson, is warning of "vast implications" on the security of Ghana if vigilante groups are not disbanded.

Speaking in an interview with Radio Ghana, Mr Quantson said the "fact that they are supposed to be aligned to the ruling government makes it a more irresponsible act."

His comments come after a police officer, ASP Nanka Bruce, was manhandled at the Flagstaff House by the Invincible Forces and the attack on the Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator by the Delta Force.

The two vigilante groups provide security for the New Patriotic Party, various party stalwarts have admitted.

"Does it mean that the regular security forces have lost control over the situation, does it mean that the leadership of the country has lost over it own lawless people? Does it mean that any citizen or group of persons can arrogate themselves the power of enforcing the nations laws because you often hear it being said that they are protecting government property," he said.

"Since when did the constitution allow private individuals to be defenders of the nations properties when there are lawfully constituted body. "It is a worrying phenomenon," he said.

Last week, the Director of Operations at the Ghana Police service, Chief Superintendent Dr Benjamin Agordzo, warned that vigilante groups could plunge the nation into armed conflict, stressing on the need for collective responsibility to root it out.

Supt. Agordzo said the wars in Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone and elsewhere happened because people were secretly armed, trained and prepared for it.