Addressing the Problem of Political Vigilantism in Ghana through the Conceptual Lens of Wicked Problems

Abstract

Ghana entered into the Fourth Republic in 1993 after experiencing political instability over two decades. A defining feature that has characterized the Fourth Republic of Ghana and marred Ghana’s democratic credentials is the emergence of political vigilantism. Political vigilantism has basically been perpetuated by the two leading political parties in Ghana: the New Patriotic Party and National Democratic Congress. The major political actors in the political system of Ghana continue to express the debilitating effects of political vigilantism on Ghana’s democratic advancement, nevertheless, it continues to persist in monumental proportion in our political dispensation. Using a qualitative research approach, the paper examines the factors responsible for the pervasiveness of political vigilantism under the Fourth Republic of Ghana and proffer some plausible solutions to address this political canker.

Vigilantism in Ghana: Trends, Victim Characteristics, and Reported Reasons

“…In a number of cases (n = 10), the reported vigilante acts were linked to various political vigilante groups in the country. The presence of political vigilante groups, typically consisting of youth and political party foot soldiers in Ghana, is acknowledged in both media reports and scholarly publications (Asamoah 2019; Ghanaweb 2019; Gyampo, Graham and Asare 2017). Political vigilantes engage in various activities to promote the interests of political parties, especially, in securing electoral victory.…”

“…Political vigilantes engage in various activities to promote the interests of political parties, especially, in securing electoral victory. The connection of these vigilante groups to the political elite seems to create in the former a false sense of entitlement to state resources believed to be controlled by the latter (Asamoah 2019; Gyampo, Graham and Asare 2017). For political vigilantes, this sense of entitlement not only creates an illusion of control over who can benefit from the ‘spoils’ of electoral victory, but has the tendency to result in violent confrontations when their expectations are not fulfilled by the political elite.…”

“…A cursory search of local news portals in Ghana from 2001 to date suggests an increasing trend in reported cases of vigilantism. The most recently published study on vigilantism in Ghana focused on political vigilante groups (Asamoah 2019). Although Asamoah's study provides insights into the emergence of political vigilantism in Ghana's fourth republic, it provides little insights into other forms of vigilantism such as mob justice.…”

Domesticating Vigilantism in Ghana’s Fourth Republic: The Challenge Ahead

“…The National Commission for Civic Education has noted that Ghana's democracy is under threat due to the increasing nurturing of political party vigilante groups and their acts of lawlessness with impunity [50]. The commission warned that the continued nurturing of these groups by political parties poses existential danger to the country [50]. Several others have publicly cautioned against the danger ahead with the continued domestication of vigilante groups within Ghana's body politic.…”

“…He accused political parties of being behind the groups while accusing the police wrongfully [38]. In a similar tone, Asamoah has warned that there is danger ahead if Ghana does not control the activities of vigilante groups [50]. Overwhelmed by this potential danger, Ghana's parliament quickly passed a law on vigilante and related offenses.…”