Parliament’s Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee has held a public forum on the Vigilantism and Related Offenses Bill currently before the House.
The Committee which has been charged with the mandate of scrutinising the Bill engaged Civil Society, Religious groups and the public for their input into the bill.
The purpose of the Bill is to disband political vigilante groups and forbid acts of such nature, following the continuous violence that has characterised the country’s by-elections.
The Attorney-General, Gloria Akuffo laid the Vigilante and Related Offences Bill 2019 in Parliament under a certificate of urgency.
Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu refuted claims that such groups exist to give protection to political parties and protect the ballot boxes on their behalf.
The Dean of Academic Affairs at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, Dr Vladimir Antwi Danso said the Bill will do nothing much if the police and the other security agencies are not adequately resourced to enforce it.
He argues that there are laws currently to deal with the menace but for lack of implementation. The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Gloria Akuffo however disagreed with him. Madam Akuffo said the Bill comprehensively deals with all politically motivated violence and other offences.
