President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was resolute in his speech about what awaits so-called vigilantes.
During his working tour of the Upper East Region, his speech at one of the stops left nobody in doubt about how he would not countenance acts of lawlessness otherwise referred to as vigilantism before, during and after the December polls.
His tough talk comes on the heels of an earlier assurance given to the British High Commissioner by the Inspector General of Police that the police would be resolute in their enforcement of the relevant laws including, of course, the vigilantism law.
The President’s rare talk could not have come at a more appropriate time.
His resolve to be colour-blind when matters about security, especially vigilantism, crop up is exactly what Ghanaians and the international community want to hear.
Politicians, who ignore the tough talk and think it would be business as usual, would face a shock of their political career. President Akufo-Addo wants to alter the election period narrative which is what well-meaning Ghanaians expect of him.
As a man who respects the rule of law, something he struggled to build, he should be the last person to fold his arms as rogues take over polling stations and the streets of the country. Our sovereignty cannot be toyed with by Election Day rogues and their secessionist counterparts.
Perhaps the bad politicians have started headhunting for rogues for their dirty and bloody operations ahead of the December polls.
The vigilante law is now operational and so those who are unaware should do so now lest they are consumed by the law.
The awesome powers of the state are invested in the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the country. This is what Ghanaians, who voted him into power, expect he would wield in a manner that would be protective of the nation and its citizens.
Democracy and the freedoms as enshrined in the Constitution must be exercised responsibly.
Malicious social media activities have added to the arsenal of bad politicians. They are as dangerous to National Security as vigilantes.
Even while ensuring that democracy blossoms, eyes should be on deliberate attempt at plunging the country into chaos by social media miscreants.
Virtual social media sources are being used to stoke ethnocentric confusion in the country.
Activities which compromise National Security should be stopped forthwith. So-called human rights activities, hypocritical as they are, should remember that they can only act in a country whose territorial integrity is not compromised.
Mr. President should use the powers guaranteed him by the Constitution to safeguard the territorial integrity of the nation and to protect lives and property of citizens including non-citizens residing here.