Militia talk: Apply Dagbon peace process strategy-Asiedu Nketia to Akufo-Addo

General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has urged President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to apply the principle behind the achievement of peace in Dagbon to end vigilantism.

“Why didn’t the President allow the Abudu and Andanis to solve their own problem but decided to call on the Asantehene and the council of eminent chiefs to mediate the process?” he quizzed.

To General Mosquito, as he is popularly called, the NDC appreciates the steps taken by the President to disband vigilante groups in Ghana, but thinks the presence of mediators would better enhance the process.

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen Show, Friday, General Mosquito stated that it was not possible for the two parties to sit alone without a third party as a mediator.

“It is not right for just the two parties who are believed to have these vigilante groups to sit down alone to discuss solutions. Mistrust between the two parties fueled the formation of vigilantism groups, so how can he leave two groups with mistrust to deal with their own problems,” he stated.

“Just as the President did not leave the Abudu and Andanis to smoke their own peace pipe but involved the Asantehene and the council of eminent chiefs, we also need groups like the Peace Council to mediate the process,” he added.

The National Chairman of the NDC, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, in a letter to President Akufo-Addo proposed the appointment of the National Peace Council (NPC) as a mediator for the process that would lead to the disbandment of political party vigilante groups in the country.

In the letter, the NDC Chair said because of the mistrust that characterises interactions between political parties, a credible mediator, such as the NPC was required to lead the process.

However, President Akufo-Addo shot down the request by the national chairman of the NDC that the chairman of the Peace Council be appointed to mediate the discussions on how to disband the various vigilante groups.

In his response, he said “I was dismayed by the call for external mediators to resolve an issue that the two political parties can easily solve.”

Source: Adomonline.com