Inspector General of Police (IGP), David Asante Apeatu has commended President Nana Akufo-Addo for pledging to disband vigilante groups if the two major political parties fail to live up to their task.

President Akufo-Addo, delivering his State of the Nation Address at Parliament this year, tasked the ruling New Patriotic Party and the opposition National Democratic Congress to hold a meeting, coming into a consensus to dissolve all vigilante groups.

The President's charge came following violence at the recent Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election where some security personnel in masks assaulted civilians at a polling station in the constituency.

“I want to use the platform of this message to make a sincere, passionate appeal to the leaders of the two main political parties in our country, NPP and NDC, to come together, as soon as possible, preferably next week, to agree on appropriate measures to bring an end to this worrying and unacceptable phenomenon of vigilantism in our body politic,” he said.

“I have asked the leadership of the NPP to extend an invitation to the leadership of the NDC for such a meeting. The security services of the country will be on standby to assist this meeting . . . If voluntary disbandment by the parties is not feasible, then I will initiate legislation on the matter. Vigorous debate and the exchange of ideas should be the true basis of political dialogue and competition in our country, not the activities of party vigilante groups," President Akufo-Addo said.

Appearing before the Emile Short Commission of Inquiry, Tuesday, IGP David Asante Apeatu expressed his excitement over the decision by the President hoping it will help end the establishment of vigilante groups and the dangers they pose.

“I’m happy the President has also come out to say that if they don’t, he himself is going to initiate a legislation to that. We will be happy to hear that and then we will enforce the law,” he stated.