Political Vigilantism and Human Security in Kumasi Metropolis

Abstract

ABSTRACT The democratic dispensation of Ghana is fraught with spates of violent acts perpetrated by political vigilante groups which pose threats to human security of residents. Consequently, this study uses a qualitative approach to explore political vigilantism and its effects on human security in the Kumasi metropolis of Ghana. The purposive sampling procedure was used in selecting key informants from three sub areas in the metropolis, representatives of the police, District Assembly, the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), media and political party executives from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC). The snowball sampling approach was further used in selecting ten political vigilantes while 54 residents were similarly sampled using convenience sampling. The study revealed that the quest for jobs and income mainly motivate people to join political vigilante groups. It was also identified that the political vigilante groups are strategically sophisticated. These sophisticated strategies thus has ramifications on the human security of individuals by way of: causing fear and want, deaths, chronic health problems, physical environmental crises, poverty, disrupting economic activities and the sources of income for people, widening inequality, disenfranchising people and disturbing the broader society. The study recommended that Government should make sustainable jobs and livelihood empowerment programmes available for the alarming youthful population. It also recommended that political parties should have the political will to disband such groups and ensure they do not interfere in the discharge of the duties of the national security apparatus when individuals engaged in political vigilante offences and other crimes of similitude are caught.