The National Security Secretariat has raised concerns over the early recruitment and mobilisation of groups that could be used for political violence ahead of Ghana’s 2028 general elections.
National Security Coordinator, COP Osman Abdul Razak, says security agencies have already detected signs of such mobilisation through their early-warning systems.
He says the development requires security agencies to act early rather than wait until political campaigns are fully underway before responding to threats.
COP Abdul Razak explains that political violence is often preceded by recruitment and mobilisation months before elections, making early intelligence gathering and intervention critical.
He is therefore proposing that intelligence mapping and stakeholder engagement begin 12 to 18 months before elections, with youth engagement and civic education starting between nine and 12 months before the polls.
He also called for closer monitoring of political mobilisation at least six months before elections, followed by targeted preventive operations during the campaign period.
The National Security Coordinator was speaking during an assessment of the implementation of the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act, 2019 (Act 999), which was enacted to tackle political vigilantism and related violence.
BACKGROUND
Ghana has, over the years, faced concerns over political vigilantism, particularly during election periods, with political parties accused of maintaining groups of supporters who have sometimes been involved in intimidation, clashes and other forms of violence.
In response to these concerns, Parliament passed the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act, 2019 (Act 999) to criminalise political vigilantism and prohibit the formation and operation of vigilante groups for political purposes.
While Ghana has since recorded relative calm in election-related security, National Security says the reduced visibility of organised vigilante groups should not be interpreted as their complete disappearance.
According to COP Abdul Razak, some groups are now allegedly operating under different identities, including internal security teams, volunteer task forces and community security initiatives.
He says mobilisation has also shifted to social media, encrypted communication platforms, local disputes and informal networks, making early intelligence and coordination among security agencies increasingly important.
The warning comes as Ghana gradually moves toward the 2028 general elections, with National Security stressing that preventive action must begin long before the formal campaign period to protect the integrity and peaceful conduct of the elections.
