Deputy Presidential Spokesperson, Shamima Muslim, has strongly condemned the use of political vigilante groups following the violent clashes that marred the Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun on Friday, July 11. The incident, which erupted at the St. Peter’s Polling Station, left several individuals injured—including prominent New Patriotic Party (NPP) figure, Mavis Hawa Koomson.
Speaking on Joy News’ AM Show on Monday, July 14, Ms. Muslim called on political parties to critically examine how they mobilize support, particularly when such strategies endanger the lives of young people.
“We have all agreed that political parties have mobilised vigilante groups in the past. They have also used individuals to protect the ballot. Sometimes those activities lead to violence,” she acknowledged.
In a personal reflection, Ms. Muslim emphasized the human cost of political violence, stating she would never allow her own children to be exposed to such risks. “As a mother of two boys and two girls, I would never encourage my son to go and put himself in a line of risk that could lead to his death. I won’t do that as a person,” she said.
She urged political parties to dismantle structures that place their own members in harm’s way, stating, “I think political parties ought not to organise around vehicles that would threaten the lives of their own members.”
Ms. Muslim’s comments come at a time of heightened national concern over the persistent role of vigilante groups in Ghana’s electoral process and their connection to repeated outbreaks of political violence.
Her message adds weight to civil society calls for disbandment of party-aligned security operatives and reinforces the need for political maturity and electoral reform.
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