National Security Coordinator, Cop. Abdul Razak Osman, has called for stronger, impartial and proactive enforcement of Ghana’s Vigilantism and Related Offences Act, 2019 (Act 999), warning that political vigilantism remains a threat to the country’s democratic stability.
Speaking at a national policy dialogue in Accra, on Tuesday August 25, Cop. Osman said the protection of Ghana’s democracy was a shared responsibility involving security agencies, political parties, traditional and religious leaders, the media, civil society and citizens.
He said Act 999, which was enacted to prohibit vigilantism and related activities, was a timely response to the threat posed by organised political groups that use intimidation and violence to influence political processes.
According to him, the law goes beyond political vigilantism and covers acts or threats of violence undertaken to advance the interests of persons affiliated with political parties, political office holders, public officers, landowners, real estate developers and other categories specified under the law.
Assessing the implementation of Act 999 seven years after its passage, the National Security Coordinator said Ghana had recorded relative improvement in election-related security.
He noted that organised vigilante formations that previously operated openly with identifiable names, uniforms and command structures had declined.
However, he cautioned that the phenomenon had not been completely eliminated, particularly as some groups were allegedly rebranding themselves as “internal security teams,” “volunteer task forces” or community security initiatives.
He also expressed concern that political mobilisation linked to vigilantism was increasingly moving into online spaces, including social media and encrypted communication platforms.
“A vigilante group is a vigilante group, regardless of its name, uniform or publicity,” he stressed, warning that the state had no room for organised and sponsored political violence.
Cop. Osman acknowledged that prosecutions under Act 999 had been limited and that some legal processes had been slow. He nevertheless insisted that the law remained in force and would be enforced fairly and without fear or favour.
The National Security Coordinator said the credibility of Act 999 depended not only on what it prohibited but also on how it was enforced.
He called for enforcement to be guided by intelligence, evidence and professional judgment rather than political considerations.
“Enforcement should never be perceived as favouring one group over the other,” he said, adding that investigations should be evidence-based and enforcement protocols standardised.
He further called for security personnel involved in investigations and prosecutions to be professionally insulated from informal political interference.
Cop. Osman urged security agencies to begin preventing political violence well ahead of election campaigns instead of waiting until campaign activities were in full swing.
He recommended intelligence mapping and stakeholder engagement between 12 and 18 months before elections, followed by youth engagement and civic education between nine and 12 months before polling.
He also advocated active monitoring of political mobilisation, targeted preventive operations during campaign periods, and rapid response and confidence-building measures throughout elections.
“The action is now. It is easier to prevent political violence before the main event, that is elections,” he said.
The National Security Coordinator also called for deeper coordination among Ghana’s security and democratic institutions.
He said effective election security required real-time intelligence sharing, joint risk assessments, shared communication channels, simulation exercises and unified command arrangements where operational circumstances demanded them.
He commended the leadership of the security agencies for what he described as improved coordination during recent operations, stressing that the lead agency must be supported by other institutions when necessary.
He called for continued collaboration among the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Prisons Service, Bureau of National Investigations, Electoral Commission, National Commission for Civic Education and other relevant institutions.
Cop. Osman said political parties had a responsibility to mobilise supporters without encouraging violence, while traditional and religious leaders should continue using their influence to prevent and resolve conflicts.
He also urged the media to practise responsible and accurate reporting and avoid contributing to tensions.
Civil society organisations, he said, should continue investing in civic education, while young people should channel their energy and talents into national development rather than political violence.
He described Ghana’s national security approach as a “whole-of-society” and “whole-of-government” effort, saying no single institution could tackle political vigilantism alone.
In his recommendations, the National Security Coordinator proposed five key measures: depoliticising enforcement of Act 999; starting prevention before formal election campaigns; strengthening intelligence-led early warning systems; improving real-time coordination among relevant institutions; and ensuring visible and consistent accountability.
He said the ultimate objective was to preserve public confidence in Ghana’s democratic institutions.
“Justice, they say, must be seen to be done. Be fair to all,” he stated.
Cop. Osman said Ghana’s reputation as a stable democracy should not be sacrificed for short-term political gains.
He argued that the long-term success of Act 999 should be measured not merely by the disappearance of identifiable vigilante groups, but by the extent to which citizens trust the law and the institutions responsible for enforcing it.
“Common goal is Ghana. Everything else is secondary,” he said.
By Evelyn Tengmaa
