The Interior Minister, Muntaka Mubarak, has directed the Ghana Police Service to intensify the fight against vigilantism in the country. He made the directive at the Ghana Police Headquarters in Accra during a regional commanders' conference.
Vigilantism Groups Must Be Crushed, Says Muntaka
The Minister warned that the growing practice of forming private forces for self-protection posed a threat to Ghana's peace and security. He urged senior police officers to strengthen efforts to detect and deal with activities capable of undermining public order.
The formation of such groups is prohibited under the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act, 2019 (Act 999), which Muntaka said should not be allowed to take root. He charged regional commanders to nip the trend in the bud and bring perpetrators to book.
Muntaka also expressed concern about the increasing circulation on social media of videos and other materials showing recruits undergoing training at security service institutions. He directed commanders of the various security services to immediately strengthen controls to prevent the unauthorised recording and dissemination of such material.
Controlling Security Training Content
The Minister stressed that protecting information relating to the training of security personnel was important to maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of the country's security institutions. He directed all service commanders to ensure that appropriate controls are put in place to prevent the unauthorised recording, publication, and circulation of images or videos of recruits in training.
Muntaka's directive places greater responsibility on commanders and trainers to ensure that security training facilities are not used as sources of unauthorised social media content. The move aims to prevent the leakage of sensitive information that could compromise national security.
Government's Emphasis on State Control
The Interior Minister's directive underscores the government's emphasis on strengthening state control over security operations and protecting the professionalism of Ghana's security services. The move is a clear signal that the government will not tolerate any form of vigilantism or unauthorised security activities.
The directive comes amid concerns over the formation of groups ostensibly intended to provide security or protection for particular individuals, political interests, or communities. The government's stance on the matter is clear: the state must remain the sole authority responsible for the legitimate use of force and the protection of citizens.
The implementation of Muntaka's directive will be closely watched by the public, and its effectiveness will be a test of the government's commitment to strengthening state control over security operations. The fight against vigilantism is a long-standing issue in Ghana, and this directive is a significant step towards addressing the problem.
Source: Joy Online
