Deputy Presidential Spokesperson, Shamima Muslim, has strongly condemned political vigilantism following the violence that marred the Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun.
The incident, which took place on Friday, July 11, at the St. Peter’s Polling Station, resulted in chaos and injuries to several individuals, including New Patriotic Party (NPP) stalwart and former minister, Mavis Hawa Koomson.
Speaking on Joy News’ AM Show on Monday, July 14, Ms Muslim urged political parties to reassess their mobilisation strategies, particularly where young people are placed in harm’s way.
“We have all agreed that political parties have mobilised vigilante groups in the past. They have also used individuals to protect the ballot. Sometimes, those activities lead to violence,” she noted.
Drawing on her personal experience as a mother, she issued a heartfelt plea:
“And I, as a mother of two boys and two girls, would never encourage my son to go and put himself in a line of risk that could lead to his death. I won’t do that as a person.”
She called on political parties to dismantle structures that endanger the lives of their members.
“I think political parties ought not to organise around vehicles that would threaten the lives of their own members,” she added.
Ms Muslim’s remarks come amid heightened national concern over the resurgence of political vigilante groups and their involvement in Ghana’s electoral process.
Source: Emmanuel Tetteh
