The Minister for the Interior, Prosper Bani, has cautioned the media to desist from giving credence to the various vigilante groups in the country.
He said the mere mention of them legitimises their actions and gives them the fuel they need to foment trouble.
Speaking at the Meet-The-Press series in Accra on Tuesday October 25, Mr Bani assured the public that the Police Service would remain vigilant before, during and after the December polls.
“As we move towards the 2016 election, I do not think that citizens of this country should have any fear as long as they abide by the law. Security services especially the police will continue to be vigilant to ensure that rogue elements that are hiding behind political parties do not disturb our peace. You all know who I’m talking about; these are the so-called vigilante groups. The so-called vigilante groups, they are illegal, they are not recognised in the [eyes] of the law. We don’t want to give them credence. As I’m speaking to you, don’t mention their names as journalists and media men, don’t because the more you mention their names the more you legitimise them. We need to delegitimise these groups and make them irrelevant in our diplomatic political dispensation otherwise you and I, all of us, will be held responsible…” he stated.
Mr Bani urged Ghanaians to have confidence in state institutions to amicably resolve their conflicts.
“In the last 2012 election, there was a dispute. Our political leaders decided to use the appropriate channel of the court. We waited for eight months patiently and we had the decision of the Supreme Court and both major parties accepted the decision. That is the respect and confidence and trust we must have in our institutions in this country. Not only the institution of the judiciary or the Supreme Court, but the EC, executive, parliament and all other institutions that our own constitution has for us. We need to begin to have confidence and trust in these institutions to resolve our conflicts,” he added.
Source: Ghana/AccraFM.com
