{"id":599132,"date":"2019-03-14T20:00:05","date_gmt":"2019-03-14T20:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"
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The President\u2019s plan to introduce a\u00a0<\/span><\/span>new<\/span><\/span><\/span> law to deal with organised party thugs has been dismissed as needless.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Lawyer and policy expert Kofi Bentil who is also Vice-President of IMANI insisted the country has \u201cenough laws\u201d to deal with the menace that has plagued the Akufo-Addo government since it was sworn in, two years ago.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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The President gave the directive after his proposed talks between the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) meet to address the menace, stalled.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

President Akufo-Addo had warned\u00a0during his State of the Nation Address to parliament, that he could be forced by <\/span><\/span>the failure<\/span><\/span><\/span> of the parties to cause the enactment of a bill expected to be more punitive of menacing party thugs.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Photo: President Nana Akufo-Addo in Parliament<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n

Unenthused by the directive, Mr. Bentil argued, the President \u201conly needs to issue an Executive Order\u201d to state agencies to go tough on militias.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

An Executive Order circumvents the ruminating legislative process bills usually go through, he said.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Kofi Bentil explained that under current law, no one can raise or join an organised criminal group.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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In Section 200A of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), inserted by section 5 of the Criminal Offences (Amendment) Act, 2012 (Act 849), it states:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>“Organised criminal group\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. A person who participates in an activity of an\u00a0<\/span>organised\u00a0criminal group commits an <\/span><\/span><\/span>offense<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> and is liable on conviction to a maximum penalty of death and to a minimum penalty of not less than five years imprisonment.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Despite the existence of harsh laws, the state has been criticised for picking less punitive charges in dealing with party vigilantes.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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    Some 13 members of <\/span><\/span><\/span>pro-NPP<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> group, Delta Force, were fined \u00a21,800 each after assaulting the Ashanti Regional Security Coordinating officer in 2017.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    The fines, for conspiracy to commit <\/span><\/span><\/span>crime<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>, crime to wit, conspiracy and rioting, were criticised as not deterrent enough.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    \"Kofi
    Photo: Kofi Bentil disagrees with the President\u2019s directive for a new bill on vigilantism<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

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    Kofi Bentil said treating political violence as purely a criminal issue and enforcing the law is vital to addressing the <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>menace<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    \u201cIt may look very simple but honestly this is the only way out of it\u201d, he said on Joy FM\u2019s <\/span><\/span>Newsnight\u00a0programme,<\/span><\/span><\/span> Thursday.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    He also pooh-pooed on the President\u2019s earlier proposal for an NPP-NDC meeting over political vigilantism. He said it will \u201chave no effect on what vigilantes do\u201d.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    The policy expert wondered how the NPP and NDC could disband a group which they have both denied forming or controlling.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    While the expected legislative addition may be received well on other quarters, governance experts have had cause to worry about the culture of implementation in Ghana.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    The police have been criticised for not doing enough to enforce\u00a0laws.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n