Bolgatanga, Upper East Region – The Upper East Regional Youth Wing of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on the Ghana Police Service and other state security agencies to immediately investigate the reported formation of a group known as “The Lions” by the New Patriotic Party (NPP), citing concerns that its establishment could be inconsistent with the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act, 2019 (Act 999).
The call follows the inauguration of the 42-member group, which the NPP has described as a youth mobilisation and security support wing aimed at strengthening the party’s grassroots structures and supporting its activities ahead of the 2028 general elections.
The NDC’s position was contained in a press statement issued on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, and signed by the *Deputy Upper East Regional Youth Organiser, Mr. Samson Samari.
Speaking on the BlueWaves Breakfast Show on Thursday, July 9, 2026, shortly after issuing the statement, Mr. Samari reiterated the NDC’s concerns, insisting that the reported formation of *The Lions raises important legal and security questions that must not be ignored.
According to him, Ghana has made significant progress in eliminating political vigilantism, and every effort must be made to ensure that those gains are protected.
“We are calling on the Ghana Police Service and the state security agencies to conduct a thorough, impartial and transparent investigation into the reported formation of this group. If investigations establish that its objectives, structure or activities violate Act 999 or any other law of Ghana, then the law must be allowed to take its course,” he said.
Mr. Samari stressed that the NDC’s call should not be interpreted as a political attack on the NPP but rather as a commitment to protecting Ghana’s democratic values and ensuring equal application of the law.
He explained that the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act, 2019 (Act 999) clearly prohibits the establishment, operation, financing, promotion and participation in political vigilante groups.
According to him, the law was enacted after years of politically motivated violence and reflected a national consensus that political vigilantism had no place in Ghana’s democracy.
The Deputy Regional Youth Organiser also recalled that before Parliament passed Act 999, Ghana’s major political parties signed the Vigilantism and Political Party-Related Violence Pact in 2019 under the facilitation of the National Peace Council, committing themselves to disband vigilante groups and refrain from creating new ones.
He therefore urged the leadership of the New Patriotic Party to publicly clarify the status, objectives and activities of The Lions to assure the public that the group does not operate outside the confines of the law.
Mr. Samari further stated that no political party or individual should be exempt from the enforcement of Ghana’s laws.
“The laws of Ghana must be enforced fairly and consistently. No political party or group should enjoy immunity where the rule of law is concerned. Equal enforcement of the law is essential to maintaining public confidence in our democratic institutions,” he noted.
He expressed confidence in the professionalism and impartiality of the Ghana Police Service and other security agencies, urging them to investigate the matter without fear or favour.
The NDC believes that safeguarding Ghana’s peace, security and democratic stability requires all political actors to reject every form of political vigilantism and strictly adhere to the Constitution and the laws of the Republic.
Meanwhile, the leadership of The Lions of NPP has denied being a vigilante group, maintaining that it is a lawful youth mobilisation wing established to support the party’s organisational activities and mobilise support ahead of the 2028 general elections.
The development has sparked public debate in the Upper East Region, with many observers calling for transparency and strict adherence to Ghana’s anti-vigilantism laws as political parties begin preparations towards the next general elections.
Source: MyBlueWavesonline.com| Maurice Duncan| Bolgatanga
