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Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr., has questioned the appropriateness of Mark Woyongo as Ghana’s Interior Minister.

According to him, Woyongo’s call for politically vigilante groups - ‘Azorka Boys’, and ‘Bolga Bulldogs’ - to be licensed so they operate legally is “unfortunate”.

“The minister goofed. He shouldn’t have said that...he has failed the nation. His justification of what the groups did is clearly untenable...how are you going to regularize these groups, then what is the purpose of the police in the country? I am deeply saddened,” he said.

The police were left helpless during the Talensi by-election when NDC and NPP inspired group, 'Azorka Boys' and 'Bolga Bulldogs', clashed.

Reports from the scene indicated that the Police watched on while machetes and other sharp objects were thrown about – guns were also fired.

Aftermath of the elections - Interior Minister, Mark Woyongo granted an interview to Kumasi-based Ultimate FM and suggested that licensing such groups is one sure way of preventing them from operating illegally as witnessed during the tensed Tuesday’s by-election in Talensi.

“Violence begets violence. Azoka boys will not act violent if they are not provoked. The other side also brought in some people…the Invincible Forces, the Bolga Boys, so violence begets violence. What I mean is that if you are a peace lover and someone comes to attack you, definitely you have to protect yourself," he noted. 

However, speaking on Adom FM, Kwesi Pratt crossly questioned that – “I don’t want to say something to tarnish his [Woyongo] reputation.

He claims he doesn't know all these groups (Bolgatanga Boys and the Invincible Forces, just the Azorka boys)?...Issues about Bolgatanga Bulldogs and Invincible Forces have been all over the place, how does he not know about them…is this a serious minister? is he a proper minister?” he quizzed.

The veteran journalist further opined that – “We must prevent these groups or we will be in trouble come 2016. if we do not take concrete and immediate measures to end the formation of violent groups in political parties, we will be in deep trouble. It is time to start”. 

"What are the political parties up to with these kind of groups?”
 


On the issue of legalizing the operations of the violent groups, Mr Pratt says “how are you going to regularize these groups, then what is the purpose of the police in the country? I am deeply saddened”.