The Inspector General of Police (IGP), David Asante Apeatu, has declared his outfit will not tolerate any form of political vigilantism in the country.
Mr David Asante-Apeatu when addressing the media on Thursday at the police headquarters in Accra issued a stern warning to the leadership of political parties to disband all vigilante groups associated with them.
Mr Apeatu added that the Police Service will deal ruthlessly with party supporters who engage in any form of political vigilantism.
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“Vigilantism is illegal and the collective condemnation has given the police impetus and we believe the public will stand with the police in enforcing the law without fear or favour. We will arrest and prosecute people who engage in political violence irrespective of their party affiliation,” he said.
He added that only two groups of securities are recognized in Ghana under the constitution; the state security and private security firms and appealed to the general public to assist the law enforcement agency in fighting crime.
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“We must be united against recklessness, vandalism and criminality. Political vigilantism is illegal and we’ll guard against it,” Asante-Apeatu stated.
His comments follow the recent violence in the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency during a by-election where masked men in national security gear and being driven in a police branded vehicle were captured on tape brutalizing civilians during the polls.
The Minister of State in charge of National Security Bryan Acheampong owned up to deploring the men in the constituency.