Policy think tank, National Youth Leaders Forum, has called on government and the security services to ban the formation and operation of all paramilitary groups in the country, particularly, those ?involve in our national politics.?
According to the newly established think tank, their assessment of the just ended Talensi bye-election in the Upper East region indicate that the involvement of paramilitary groups such ‘Azorka boys’, ‘Bolga Bull dogs’ and ‘Invisible Forces’ almost turned the constituency into war theatre.
A statement signed by the Executive Director of NYLF, Micheal Ampong, stated that ?the Fourth Republican Constitution frowns on the formation of Para-Military groups; hence the dissolution of the then dreaded 64 Battalion which operated under the reign of His Excellency Jerry John Rawlings. The protection of Ghana?s sovereign State from any form of aggression is left in the hands of the State-Security Agencies namely, the Ghana armed force, the Ghana police services, the Bureau of National Investigation (B.N.I) and all other State-Security agencies.?
The statement added that the low turnout at the Talensi bye-election could be ascribed to the involvement of paramilitary groups in the election process, adding ?the exercise of voting rights must be done in an atmosphere of Peace, tolerance, and the respect for peoples opinion and views on how this Country must be governed.?
?Terrorism is a major threat to global development. There are Cartels who go round fishing for organized aggressive groups to fund their activities. Not long ago, we saw how Bokom Haram terrorized the people of Nigeria, killing and abducting a lot of Nigerians including even innocent school children and students. The State Agencies must clamp down on all these illegal Paramilitary groups so that they don?t become available organized group to destabilize the country because of political expedience,? the group stated.
Adding that ?as we approach Elections 2016, the Stakes are very high and tension will be mounting. We therefore call on the government headed by His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, The National Security apparatus and the leaders of our various State-Security agencies to prevent such groups to either exist or operate.?
?We want a violence free election in 2016, as it has been since inception of the 1992 democratic governance. We are also appealing to the leaders of all Political parties, the religious bodies ( such as the Christian Council of Ghana, and Office of Chief Imam), various civil societies organizations, our traditional authorities, the media and especially various youth groups to begin to agitate for complete banning of such Para-Military groups.?
?We must not allow any Election in this country (be it By-election or General Election) to be an avenue to visit mayhem, violence intimidation and lawlessness on Ghanaians. The peace, stability and peaceful co-existence among the divergent groups in Ghana must be seriously guarded against. Ghana is noted to be an island of peace in a sub- region noted for violence for the last three decades.?
