Vigilante groups adopting covert networks, mobilizing through encrypted chats – National Security

The National Security Coordinator, COP Osman Abdul Razak, has observed that vigilante groups have not been completely eradicated despite their reduced visibility in Ghana.

Ghana has legally banned vigilante groups.

The Vigilantism and Related Offences Act, 2019 (Act 999) explicitly criminalizes their formation, organization, and funding.

However, according to the national security boss, some groups are changing their identities and operating through less visible networks, making them more difficult for security agencies to track.

COP Osman made the comments on Tuesday, August 25, at a National Policy Dialogue on Vigilantism organised by Election Watch Ghana.

“We must not mistake reduced visibility of these groups as complete eradication. A vigilante group is a vigilante group, regardless of its name, uniform, or publicity,” he said.

According to the National Security Coordinator, some vigilante groups are now operating under names such as internal security teams, volunteer task forces and community security initiatives.

He said others had dissolved into looser networks that were less visible but remained active and potentially more difficult to monitor.

“Mobilization has moved online on social media, encrypted chats, local disputes, private security arrangements, or other informal channels,” he said.

He said the shift in how vigilante groups organise requires security agencies and other stakeholders to remain vigilant.