Mobilising people to vandalise property over lack of appointments disappointing – Barker-Vormawor

Human rights activist and political commentator Oliver Barker-Vormawor has strongly criticised the ongoing practice of mobilising individuals to attack party offices in response to dissatisfaction with political appointments.

In a recent appearance on JoyNews’ Newsfile, Barker-Vormawor expressed concern over the way politicians continue to allow such violent acts to unfold without consequences.

“These actions are not spontaneous,” he stated. “There’s a process in mobilising people to take to the streets, especially when it involves large groups. You don’t just wake up and have 100 people show up without prior coordination.” Barker-Vormawor’s comments come in the context of ongoing protests and property damage by political supporters angered by perceived neglect in the distribution of political appointments within President John Mahama’s administration.

Barker-Vormawor emphasised that behind these protests, there are often powerful figures funding and directing the actions.

He called for greater scrutiny, pointing out that criminal accountability should extend beyond the individuals involved to include those who are financing and organising the unrest. “I’m disappointed that politicians are still allowing this to happen. People know who is behind these mobilisations, and we need to hold them accountable,” he said.

He further clarified that party offices are legally recognised as public assets and, as such, any acts of vandalism targeting them should be treated as serious criminal offences.

“This is not just about a broken window or destroyed property; it’s about the rule of law,” he stressed, urging law enforcement to act swiftly and decisively. Barker-Vormawor warned that unless these acts are treated with the gravity they deserve, they risk becoming normalised, with the perpetrators going unpunished.

The human rights activist also acknowledged that disappointment over political appointments is natural, especially for those who feel they’ve been sidelined.

However, he firmly rejected the idea that this justified lawless behaviour. “Everybody is entitled to be disappointed when not appointed, but there’s no entitlement to take the law into your own hands,” he stated.

Barker-Vormawor’s comments echo a growing frustration over the repeated incidents of violence linked to political processes in Ghana, where supporters of various factions often resort to extreme measures when they feel excluded from decision-making. His call for stronger measures to address these issues highlights the need for political maturity and respect for the rule of law in Ghana’s political culture.

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