The National Security Coordinator, Commissioner of Police (COP) Razak Abdul-Osman, has revealed the re-emergence of political vigilante groups in disguised forms, warning, however, that the system will crush such groups rebranding their operations in the name of internal party security.
He said seven years after the passage of the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act, 2019 (Act 999), intelligence by the national security system suggested that some disbanded vigilante groups were regrouping with a different mode of operation to disturb the peace of the country.
Those groups, COP Abdul-Osman revealed, were mainly regrouping using social media platforms and coded locations.
"We are monitoring these activities closely; we will strike them and protect the country," he stressed.
COP Abdul-Osman was speaking at the national dialogue on the implementation of the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act, 2019 (Act 999) organised by Election Watch at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) at Teshie in the Greater Accra Region yesterday.
The dialogue was held on the theme: "Addressing the Implementation of the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act, 2019 (Act 999) and its Implications for National Security and Democratic Governance".
It brought together security experts, representatives of political parties, academia, civil society organisations (CSOs) in the security sector, and members of the diplomatic corps.
Context
The Vigilantism and Related Offences Act, 2019 (Act 999) was passed on August 23, 2019, disbanding political party vigilante groups and land guards, banning related violence and intimidation, and prohibiting people convicted of those acts from holding public or political office.
Act 999 was enacted against the backdrop of growing challenges of lawlessness and the rise of unauthorised security groups in various communities, mostly pursuing political ends.
Often referred to as vigilante groups, those self-appointed enforcers sought to supplement state security efforts, but frequently operated outside the bounds of the law, sometimes engaging in acts of violence, intimidation, and abuse of power.
Act 999 ultimately sought to control and curb the activities of such groups, ensuring that law enforcement remained within legal and constitutional frameworks.
The Act prohibits any individual or group from assuming police or security roles without lawful authorisation, and also criminalises the formation, operation, or participation in vigilante groups.
For groups established with lawful authority such as neighbourhood watch committees, the Act provides guidelines for registration and supervision to ensure accountability and compliance with established security protocols.
Success story
The National Security Coordinator said since the passage of Act 999, there was ample evidence that relative success had been achieved in terms of dousing the flames of vigilantism in the country.
He stated that the country had achieved relative peace and orderliness during elections since the law was passed, while the formation of vigilante groups with structured leadership had declined.
COP Abdul-Osman further stated that Act 999 had led to improved election security management, saying it was evident in the seamless operation of state security in the 2024 elections.
Describing Act 999 as "a timely response to the monster of political vigilantism", he said the real impact of the law lay in its strict and sustained enforcement.
COP Abdul-Osman said despite those achievements, some activities on social media had shown efforts to force a return of vigilante groups.
"We must not mistake the reduction in the activities of these groups to mean their extinction.
They are regrouping and rebounding with different modus operandi," he said.
The National Security Coordinator stressed that everything possible would be done to nip the activities of those new groups in the bud using the full force of state power within lawful means.
COP Abdul-Osman called on all citizens to take keen part in foiling the resurgence of vigilantism in the political space.
"It is important for all citizens to know that curbing vigilantism is a shared responsibility, and we must all play our part to ensure that politics does not degenerate into acts of violence and intimidation that have the potential to disrupt the peace and stability of the country," he said.
He added that political governance must be anchored on the rule of law, peace, and transparency instead of extremism.
Commitment
The Chief of Staff, Dr Julius Debrah, said protecting Ghana's standing as a beacon of democratic stability in Africa, built through decades of deliberate effort, institutional maturity, and collective wisdom, required constant vigilance and institutional courage.
In a speech delivered on his behalf by Ghana's Special Envoy to the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and former National Security Coordinator, Lt Col Larry Gbevlo-Lartey (retd), Dr Debrah stressed that Act 999 provided a golden opportunity to deal decisively with political party vigilantism, and should be enforced.
"The enactment of Act 999 was a resounding statement that the state will not tolerate parallel security structures or organised intimidation in our political processes," he said.
He said democratic governance flourished only where the rule of law was upheld, and where political competition was conducted through ideas, persuasion, and superior argument, "and never through force, weapons or physical intimidation".
"Vigilantism is a threat to the entire polity, not a single political movement or a single political party.
Our analysis must, therefore, prioritise the long-term stability of the state over any partisan interest," he said.
The Executive Director of Election Watch, Rose Austin, said the passage of Act 999 was a key milestone in the country's democratic journey as it demonstrated that political party activities could be conducted without resorting to violence.
Despite the milestone, she said, it was worrying that seven years after the passage of the law, there were public concerns about its enforcement.
Ms Austin said although the law existed, a section of the public was worried that it was being applied in a selective manner, with many people losing confidence and trust in the ability of state institutions.
"We must understand that the fight against political vigilantism is not a fight against any political party.
Therefore, all political parties must support the enforcement of the law, whether in opposition or in government," she said.
