The Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) has given political parties in the country a three-month ultimatum to disband all vigilante groups else it will embark on a nationwide protest.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of its 2019 Conference of Heads of Churches and Organisation last Wednesday at Gomoa Fetteh, the President of the Council, Rev Prof. Paul Frimpong-Manso, said “political parties have failed the country with the continuous use of vigilante groups to foment trouble.”
Political Parties
He said if the political parties fail to denounce all forms of vigilantism in the Country, the Council would advise its members to reject them during elections.
Prof Frimpong-Manso said it was not the first time the Council has condemned vigilantism in the country so if the necessary measures are not put in place to curb the situation, the Council would entreat its members not to vote.
Rev. Frimpong-Manso who is also the General Superintendent of Assemblies of God reiterated that, in November 2017, the Council released a statement to condemn the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) for looking unconcerned while vigilantes affiliated to the party caused mayhem..
“The activities of these criminal elements wrapped in party colours in the last one week in Karaga, Tumu and Techiman could not be described as mere co-incidence but a worrying phenomenon that is gradually getting out of hand and that could be threatening our national security set up,” he said.
Expressing worry towards the rise of insecurity in the Country, he noted that, the recent by-election at Ayawaso West Wuogon also witnessed some violence, with some people sustaining gun wounds.
These issues, Rev. Frimpong-Manso said, must be tackled immediately else its effect would overwhelm the country.
“Ghana has always been a peaceful country and these recent security issues do not speak well of the country and its leadership,” the President said.