‘NPP, NDC misgivings threat to democracy’

A Member of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), David Nana Somuah, has admonished the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to consider using the processes of Alternative Dispute Resolution to resolve the issue of political vigilantism because it will be faster.

He stated that the processes to disband vigilante groups affiliated to both parties had become difficult due to misgivings.

According to Mr Somuah, “the two parties will be allowed to sign a consent form and that form is going to be binding on both parties” and should any party breach the processes, “legal action may be taken against that party.”

“Without ADR, the two parties will never be able to solve the issue of political vigilantism since it provides a voluntary alternative to the accepted practice of using the courts to settle civil disputes, the principal forms are adjudication, arbitration, conciliation, and mediation.

“Alternative Dispute Resolution is offered by firms large and small and as a means of resolving disputes without involving a third party and the parties should agree to the use of ADR because it will be faster and help deal with the matter in just two hours.

President Nana Akufo-Addo during the presentation of the State of the Nation Address directed the two parties to meet and find ways towards the disbandment of vigilante groups or he will be forced to initiate legislation to disband such groups.

After the call, the two political parties have been at loggerheads over the modalities for the meeting, the NDC has insisted it will be best for the two parties to agree for a mediator or mediators to be engaged.

But the NPP disagreed on grounds that, the mediators are not necessary because the two parties, will be able to dialogue and resolve the issue alone. The President later directed the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice to initiate legislation to help disband vigilante groups.

The NPP has also written to the NDC calling on the party to come to the table for the two parties to dialogue over the matter and the letter by the party has also generated disagreement between the two parties -rainbowradioonline.com