The rising unemployment, especially among the youth is fast becoming a national security issue, a senior lecturer at the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana has said.

Dr. Evans Aggrey-Darko is concerned these unemployed youth may soon see successful people as the reason for their woes.

“…because now when you are doing well, you become a target, people see you and they perceive you as part of the problem in society”, he stated.  

He believes poverty is the root of the rising vigilantism being experienced by the Akufo-Addo-led New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.

The political scientist also told Daniel Dadzie on the Joy News Desk programme that for the canker of vigilantism to be solved the government should let opportunities trickle down to all and sundry irrespective of party affiliation.

Members of NPP affiliated vigilante group, Delta Force

He also charged Ghanaians not to encourage the impunity of vigilante groups.

Dr. Aggrey-Darko maintains that “the government will need to deal with vigilantism head-on or it may go a long way to undermine the legacy of president Nana Akufo-Addo.”

The president has stated on countless occasions that he will deal with the vigilante menace.

He told the National House of chiefs in November 2017 that he “will walk a new path” in the fight against the act which he described as “criminal”.

Akufo-Addo  exchanging pleasantries with leadership of the National House of Chiefs 

“On the new phenomenon of vigilantism, I will do everything in my power to arrest its development. I will not walk the path others trod who found it convenient to turn a blind eye to the criminal misdeeds of their followers and took no action, as it would displease them”, he stated.

Party foot soldiers have since the December 2016 election victory engaged in hooliganism ranging from seizure of toll booths and storming a Kumasi court to release suspects who were facing trial.

Some members of the NPP affiliated Delta Force also ejected a government appointee from his office on grounds that they do not support his appointment. 

The president described the phenomenon as disgraceful behavior and charged the police to deal with such criminal activities.

 On the issue of unemployment, the political scientist said: “It is also very worrying that as a nation, we do not have any data on unemployment,” he said.

“We do not even have a baseline survey on who and who are unemployed”, he added.