Ghana needs ‘Job-lantes’, not Vigilantes – Bawumia

• Posted on March 11, 2019
• by Ellsamwise King
• Comment

Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has called on the Ghanaian youth, especially those in the Zongo community, to resist any attempt to drag them into any anti-social activities, especially political vigilantism.

Rather, they should concentrate on tackling the major concerns of the Zongo communities, including jobs, education, and business development, thereby forming “job-lantes, edu-lantes and busi-lantes” instead of vigilante groups, to promote their welfare and the development of the nation.

Speaking at the 51st-anniversary celebration of the birth of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) by Sheikh Abdul Wadud in Kumasi on Sunday, Vice President Bawumia expressed great worry that many of the people said to be engaged in political vigilantism and other anti-social behaviours are said to be drawn from the Zongo community.

“No political party can be excused from the rise in political vigilantism. We will equally blame NPP, NDC and all political parties are equally to be blamed. Unfortunately, this does not help us as a zongo and Muslim community- what concerns us as a people should be our education, getting jobs and being able to grow our business. When the politicians come, let’s ask them about their message.”

He said “we don’t want to hear about come and help us fight. We want to hear about jobs, education and business. What we want them to do is to form ‘joblantes’, not vigilantes.”

“Let them give you jobs, let’s form ‘educationlantes’ to get an education and let’s form ‘busilantes’ to get growth in our businesses. That is what we want any politician to give our people.”

“Allah has blessed the Zongo youth with multiple positive attributes and talents such as strength, courage, knowledge, sports skill, entrepreneurship, vocational skill, etc. and I want to urge the youth of this country, particularly my dear brothers in the Zongo Communities to put their God-given talents to good use for their own benefits and for the benefit of their respective families, communities as well as the nation. The youth of our country, particularly my brothers from the Zongo Communities, should not, under any circumstance, avail themselves to be used for any illegal activity, which also poses great risks to their valuable and cherished lives,” he said.

Vice President urged Muslim youth to be “positive ambassadors of our great religion by eschewing violence and intolerance.”

“As I said earlier, under no circumstance should we allow ourselves to be used as destructive tools to perpetuate violence and all sorts of unacceptable acts. I want to urge the youth who are involved in the operations of the various political parties to exhibit great sense of tolerance, whether it is intra-party, or inter-party contest. For the Zongo and Muslim youth, it is even more important, and an obligation to be tolerant and peaceful in accordance with the teachings of our beloved Prophet Muhammad,” Alhaji Dr Bawumia stated.

It is instructive that the politicians who encourage political vigilantism and recruit such persons do not involve their children in such activities, Vice President Bawumia pointed out, adding, “They come to you and tell you to go and perpetuate violence and other acts while their own children are in school, doing good jobs or abroad working to better their lives. When these politicians come to you, ask them why they are not using their own children to do what they’re asking you to do.”

Vice President Bawumia sounded a note of caution to persons engaged in such activities, emphasising that President Akufo-Addo has publicly indicated his resolve to crack down on political vigilantism, and will deal ruthlessly with anyone engaged in such activities.

Government, Dr Bawumia indicated, would continue to invest in policies and programmes designed to provide jobs and improve Ghana’s human capital, including the Free Senior High School programme, Planting for Food and Jobs, One Village One Dam, and the Nation Builders Corps (NABCO).

“Also, the government is set to undertake massive infrastructure development in the roads and other construction sectors this year, and this will create employment opportunities for many of our skilled and unskilled youth across the country, ” he added.