The Ghana Police Service always relies on members of various vigilante groups in the country to gather intelligence that helps them in effective policing according to former Ejisu-Juaben Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Afrifa Yamoah Ponko.
Mr. Yamoah Ponko who has since last week mounted a spirited defense for vigilante groups in the country, told Kwame Adinkra on Kumasi-based Pure Fm that that anyone asking for such groups to be disbanded is oblivious of their contributions to the security of the country.
“Anybody who is demanding disbandment of these vigilante groups does not know what he or she is about. Even the police at some point will need the assistance of these boys”, he disclosed in the interview.
The former National Democratic Congress (NDC) appointee who is worried with the current trend of happenings involving these groups, however advised that they must operate within the remits of the law.
“What I think should rather be done is that the law must be applied. The fact you belong to a vigilante group does not mean you are above the law. Do you know that some times the national police will need the assistance from these boys. It is common knowledge that the police rely on these boys for intelligence gathering. So the vigilante groups are not bad as people perceive them but such groups should operate within the remits of the law”, he disclosed on the show.
It would be recalled that Inspector General of Police, David Asante Apeatu a fortnight ago directed political parties to denounce vigilante groups claiming allegiance to them with immediate effect.
According to the IGP, it is against the country’s laws for political parties to have such groups that have recently been disturbing the peace of the country.
“We want to appeal to all political parties to immediately denounce their own vigilante groups to create the necessary awareness that will embolden the police,” Asante Apeatu stated.
