The National Security Coordinator, COP Osman Abdul Razak has urged stronger preventive measures and closer collaboration among security agencies, private security providers, and communities to tackle political vigilantism and safeguard Ghana’s democratic stability.

He noted that the changing nature of political mobilisation requires heightened vigilance as some groups increasingly operate through less visible networks.

Speaking at a National Policy Dialogue on the implementation of the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act, 2019 (Act 999), organised by Election Watch Ghana on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, COP Abdul Razak stressed that Ghana must move beyond responding to political violence only after it occurs and instead strengthen early-warning and preventive mechanisms.

“We must not mistake the reduced visibility of these groups, regardless of their name, as meaning the threat has disappeared. Some groups are youths facing general difficulties, others operate through looser and less accessible networks. Mobilisation has shifted to local businesses, private security arrangements, and other informal channels,” he said.

COP Abdul Razak warned that political mobilisation is no longer confined to traditional structures with groups now able to organise through informal and digital channels. 

He therefore called for intelligence-led prevention, emphasising that security agencies must identify potential threats early rather than wait until political activity escalates into violence.

“Prevention must remain at the centre of our approach to political violence. It is far easier to act when inequalities are emerging than to dismantle entrenched foundations of our political system,” he added.

He underscored the need for full utilisation of the  preventive framework under Act 999 to detect and address threats before they escalate, thereby strengthening Ghana’s security architecture through early warning, intelligence gathering, and targeted preventive operations.

COP Abdul Razak also highlighted the role of private security companies and communities as vital partners in the country’s security system while stressing that their activities must remain within the law.

“Private security companies and communities must become part of the security architecture. But they must operate within the law and in a manner that complements, rather than substitutes for, the legitimate authority of the state,” he noted.

He further emphasised the importance of de-politicisation in enforcement, linking it to informal prevention, legal frameworks, and systemic reforms.

The National Policy Dialogue, organised by Election Watch Ghana, brought together security officials, political actors, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders to assess the implementation of Act 999 and explore measures to prevent political violence and safeguard Ghana’s democracy.