The Minister of State in charge of National Security, Bryan Acheampong says although he is aware of the illegal activities of vigilante groups in t"},"modified":"2019-02-15T19:55:39","modified_gmt":"2019-02-15T19:55:39","slug":"vigilante-group-members-cannot-be-arrested-bryan-acheampong-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2019\/02\/15\/vigilante-group-members-cannot-be-arrested-bryan-acheampong-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Vigilante group members cannot be arrested \u2013 Bryan Acheampong"},"content":{"rendered":" <\/p>\n The Minister of State in charge of National Security, Bryan Acheampong says although he is aware of the illegal activities of vigilante groups in the country, there is little his Ministry can do about it.<\/span><\/p>\n Speaking Thursday at the Commission of Enquiry investigating the violence that took place during the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election,\u00a0Mr Acheampong explained that the manner in which these groups are formed, makes it impossible to effect an arrest.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt is difficult today to go out to Osu and say I am going to arrest a vigilante. It is difficult to go to New Town, Achimota Trassaco and say I am going to arrest a vigilante.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThat is not how they are organised. If there is a political party activity, an event or operation, then they come together and execute that operation,\u201d he clarified.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mr Acheampong who is also MP for Abetifi in the Eastern Region, has come under stern criticism following the violence at the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election on January 31.<\/span><\/p>\n His men \u2013 National Security Officials \u2013 in Police SWAT vehicles, dressed in black t-shirts with khaki trousers and wearing masks, stormed the La Bawaleshie electoral area on the by-election day in what has been described as an operation to recover weapons from the NDC\u2019s parliamentary candidate\u2019s property.<\/span><\/p>\n The men have been accused of fomenting the violence that characterised the elections and assaulting Ningo Prampram MP, Samuel George.<\/span><\/p>\n Following the incident, the opposition NDC accused the government of unleashing members of their vigilante groups on them.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n National Security Minister, Albert K<\/span>an<\/span>-Dapaah, has denied the team that was deployed to the area were made up of members of <\/span>vigilante<\/span><\/span><\/span> groups.<\/span><\/p>\n He also denied assertions that the NPP or any political party owned a vigilante group.<\/span><\/p>\n In a response to the Commission\u2019s lawyer, Eric Osei Mensah on what his Ministry is\u00a0doing about vigilante groups in the country, Mr Acheampong said although their activities are illegal, there is not much that can be done about them.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n He said all that can be done is to continue to warn against their activities, \u201cand when you are caught, you will be prosecuted.<\/span><\/p>\n The MP said his office played a key role in the arrest, prosecution and sentencing of members of the Delta Force who attacked an NPP official last year.<\/span><\/p>\n He is certain that \u201cIf there are stiffer punishments, people will not rise to the call to go and perform some of these activities. Extensive steps are being taken.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n He added that the Ministry of National Security is working strenuously to ensure that the activities of these illegal groups are not encouraged in the country.<\/span><\/p>\n