UN condemns attack on court by Ghana's ruling party thugs

Two top United Nations (UN) officials have condemned political vigilantism in Ghana after thugs from the ruling party attacked a court last week.

The Delta Force group affiliated to the ruling New patriotic Party (NPP) on April 6 stormed a Circuit Court and freed its members who were on trial for attacking a government appointee on March 24, 2017. They also destroyed some court property in the process.

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, and the Resident Coordinator of the UN system in Ghana, Christine Evans-Klock, bemoaned the actions of the Delta Force group and tasked the government to avoid a recurrence and to bring the perpetrators to book.

‘‘These acts are likely to tarnish the image of Ghana as a model of democracy and the rule of law,’‘ a statement released by the UN read.

‘‘They welcome positively the unambiguous condemnation of these acts by the government and expect that all necessary measures will be taken to investigate these actions and bring the perpetrators to justice,’‘ the statement added.

Vigilante groups' violent acts likely to tarnish image of Ghana as a model of democracy UN_UNOWAS #IbnChambas & ChrisEK_UNGhana UNDPGhana pic.twitter.com/jNXep22109

— UNIC Accra (UNICAccra) April 10, 2017

One of the biggest headaches of the Akufo-Addo government is the incidence of ‘party security’ operatives going on rampage at state institutions. Their actions have roundly been criticized by political players, the legal fraternity, media and civil society organizations.

Members of the group who were forcibly freed later turned themselves in to the police. They were hurled before a court yesterday (Monday, April 10) and were remanded to reappear at a later date. The police chief, David Asante-Appeatu, has recently declared ‘war’ on political militancy.