Tamale Bar Event: NR Minister Urges Collective Fight Against Mob Action and Drug Abuse
Traditional leaders, youth groups and residents in the Northern Region have been urged to reject mob justice and work with the courts to keep peace and order.
The Northern Regional Minister, Mr. Ali Adolf John, made the call on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at the 2026 Martyrs of the Rule of Law Day event organised by the Ghana Bar Association at the High Court in Tamale.
Speaking on the theme, “Justice for All: Strengthening the Rule of Law, Confronting Self-Help and the Drug Menace in our Communities,” the Minister said the message could not have come at a better time.
Mr. Ali Adolf John expressed worry over the rise of vigilante attacks, reprisals and mob action in parts of the region, saying many people were choosing to take the law into their own hands instead of reporting cases to the police or courts.
“Self-help does not represent justice. It represents the absence of justice,” he told judges, lawyers, security personnel and community leaders gathered at the event.
He appealed to chiefs, religious leaders, youth leaders and opinion shapers to educate their people to settle disputes through lawful means.
According to him, when the rule of law breaks down, the weak are abused, violence spreads and communities become unstable.
The Minister reaffirmed government’s commitment to support the Judiciary, Police Service and other justice institutions in the region.
He said the Northern Regional Coordinating Council will keep working closely with these bodies to protect due process and human rights.
He paid tribute to judges and lawyers who lost their lives defending democracy, saying their sacrifice should inspire Ghanaians to uphold fairness and integrity.
Mr. Ali Adolf John also raised concern about the growing abuse of illegal drugs in Tamale and nearby towns, describing it as a threat that is “destroying the future of young people, fuelling crime and weakening society’s moral values.”
He pledged to deepen collaboration with the Ghana Police Service and the Narcotics Control Commission to tackle the problem.
He also called on the Bar Association to use its platforms to educate the public on the dangers of drug abuse.
The Minister stressed that justice is not only the job of judges and lawyers, saying “It is a shared national responsibility.”
He further urged all Ghanaians to defend the rule of law, reject mob action and confront drug abuse together.
The GBA’s Northern, Savanna and North East Regional Branch organised the programme to promote civic duty and public engagement.
Bala Ali. ISD
