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Special Envoy to the Sahel States, Lt. Gen. (Rtd.) Larry Gbevlo-Lartey, has urged for a thorough evaluation of Ghana's Vigilantism and Related Offences Act, 2019 (Act 999) to bolster the nation's democratic institutions and security infrastructure. Speaking at the National Policy Dialogue in Accra, organized by Election Watch Ghana, Mr Gbevlo-Lartey, speaking on behalf of the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, proposed the forum as a civic audit of the legislation's implementation and effectiveness.

The dialogue, held at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, convened national leaders, security experts, legal practitioners, and civil society members to scrutinize Ghana's handling of political vigilantism. Gbevlo-Lartey emphasized that Act 999 was Parliament's explicit statement that the state would not condone parallel security structures or organized intimidation in Ghana's political ecosystem.

He clarified that the legislation was instituted in response to the rise of non-state armed groups, particularly those affiliated with political parties. Gbevlo-Lartey cautioned that the dialogue should not degenerate into political recrimination but should concentrate on identifying practical measures to safeguard Ghana's democratic order.

He underscored that the efficacy of any law hinges on its practical execution, institutional enforcement, and its capacity to engender public trust. Gbevlo-Lartey stressed that democratic governance thrives when the rule of law prevails, and political rivalries are grounded in ideas and persuasion rather than physical coercion. He appealed to participants to conduct an impartial examination of the outcomes since Act 999's introduction, pinpointing legal, operational, and institutional shortcomings that might be impeding its implementation.

Gbevlo-Lartey emphasized that vigilantism poses a risk to the entire republic, not just a particular political party. He urged participants to prioritize Ghana's long-term stability over short-term political gains. He challenged the dialogue to shift from merely identifying threats and challenges to devising concrete and quantifiable recommendations.

He emphasized that these recommendations should enhance the resilience of Ghana's democratic institutions, security forces, political parties, and civil society against vigilantism. Gbevlo-Lartey expressed optimism that the discussions would yield practical and constructive outcomes to guide efforts to protect Ghana's democratic order and national security.