NDC Has No Need for Vigilante Groups in Any Election – Tanko Computer
NDC says it will rely on state security agencies to protect elections and ensure peaceful electoral processes
- NDC rejects vigilante groups for elections
- Party to rely on state security agencies
- Tanko Computer calls for peaceful polls
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has ruled out the formation of vigilante groups or parallel security structures to support the party during future elections.
The party’s Deputy Director of Elections and IT, Rashid Tanko Computer, said the NDC would instead rely on Ghana’s established security agencies to maintain peace and security during elections and other political activities.
Speaking in an interview, Mr Tanko Computer said the NDC remains committed to respecting Ghana’s laws and allowing state security institutions to perform their constitutional duties
“There is no need for us to go and build our own vigilante or any security to help us in the next election or any activity,” he said.
“The NDC will not go that path. We are going to make sure that we respect the laws of the country. The state security is in charge of everything,” he added.
According to him, the NDC adopted the same approach during the 2024 general elections, relying on state security personnel rather than forming vigilante groups or deploying private security teams.
“We did it in 2024. In fact, you saw that in 2024, we didn’t have any vigilante group. We didn’t have any personal bodyguards or anything,” he said.
“We relied on the state security and beat MPP to it,” he added.
His comments come amid renewed discussions about the enforcement of the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act, 2019 (Act 999), which seeks to curb political vigilantism and related activities.
Mr Tanko Computer said the NDC would support efforts to find a lasting solution to political vigilantism and consider proposals emerging from the National Policy Dialogue on Vigilantism organised by Election Watch Ghana.
He stressed that the party wants future elections to be conducted peacefully, allowing citizens to vote freely without fear or intimidation.
“We want to have a peaceful environment, peaceful electoral processes, so that we can walk out and go to polling stations and vote freely, decide who should lead us,” he said.
Mr Tanko Computer also raised concerns about the previous administration, alleging that some former vigilante members were later absorbed into state security structures.
