Vigilantism: STOP talking and Act-Catholic Bishops to Akufo-Addo

The government has been charged to put in more action if it really wants to stop activities of political vigilante groups in the country.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference who made the demand, said it is time government walked the talk to protect lives and properties from the marauding youth groups.

This was contained in the religious body’s thought-provoking Communiqué which touched on several issues released on Saturday. It was at the end of the 12-day Plenary Assembly of the Conference on the theme: “Integral Pastoral Care for the family in the Light of Amoris Laetitia” at the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church at Ho Kpevele in the Volta region.

“While we commend government for calling on the security agencies to stop the violent activities of land guards, vigilante groups and nomadic herdsmen; we state that we need more action than words,” the communiqué signed by President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Most Rev. Philip Naameh, who doubles as the Archbishop of Tamale, said.
The president, Nana Akufo-Addo has made a number of pronouncements condemning and promising to deal with vigilante activities, most recently perpetuated by youth of his own political party. However, his political opponents including former president John Mahama and a section of Ghanaians feel the president has not shown enough commitment to deal with the menace.

The communiqué by the Bishops noted that the political vigilante groups and other violent groups have “unleashed violence of Ghanaians for a very long time”. They therefore insisted that, “Government must walk the talk. We demand that our security agencies shall disengage these groups once and for all.”