Moments Of Anguish After A Moment Of Madness

News of the death of Captain Maxwell Adam Mahama, a member of the 5th Infantry Battalion of the Ghana Armed Forces on Tuesday, May 30, 2017 has caused a huge uproar across Ghana. The news came as a shock because of the manner in which the soldier was allegedly murdered in cold blood.

From the video footage I have watched, not even the naked, bleeding and bloodied body of the army captain posted to the area about three weeks ago merited mercy from some of the perpetrators in the mining town.

The media landscape in Ghana including social media is awash with rage and widespread condemnation. So it came as no surprise when I heard the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo vow to deal with the perpetrators who murdered the man now established to be the nephew of former President John Dramani Mahama.

Though it is widely believed that the late Captain Mahama was murdered as a result of mistaken identity, I personally have serious doubts about the story and the reasons that have been adduced to defend it. You may disagree with me but I am entitled to my opinion. The stories in the media do not add up and I think there are more questions than answers. Because of the volatile nature of the case, I would not want to delve so much into the substantive questions I have in order not to pre-empt the outcome of the ongoing investigations by the Ghana Police Service. But I foresee interesting revelations in the days ahead. That is another topic for another day.

There seem to be a certain level of indiscipline and its accompanying security implications for the peace of this country. The seeming level of impunity and lawlessness (in this case “Mob justice”) need to be properly dealt with in order to curb this growing social canker. I was so impressed when a former Minister of State and lawmaker, Hon. Kojo Yankah wrote on his facebook wall “The culture of VIOLENCE is creeping in with more impunity! We have INSTITUTIONS of State which have a direct responsibility to curb this culture. Our Leaders must wake up!”

After return to democracy in 1992, it was generally expected that acts of impunity, violence, civil unrest, lawlessness, would be effectively censured under the new democratic dispensation by the Constitution of Ghana. Unfortunately, it looks like that believe is gradually eluding us as a nation.

Unfortunately, however, the Fourth Republic has been invariably ruined by a culture of lawlessness, barbarism and other constitutionally aberrant manifestations. Instant justice, otherwise known as mob action and attacks on the arms of government, is gradually becoming the order of the day. The repercussion is that our embryonic democracy and the rule of law stifle under intense pressure.

In as much as I share in the sentiments that have been expressed across board, it is important to note that mob justice and the acts of impunity is not new in Ghana. Growing up, many of us witnessed instances of this nature. But I have no doubt that this is the time for individuals and organizations to advance an agenda to try to influence the thinking or psyche of the ordinary person on the street. Let’s not play the ostrich here, “Mob Justice” has always been part of us as a people, just that we have paid very little attention to it. We have failed as a country to properly evaluate the ripple effects it has had on the people of Ghana.

It is just shameful and disgusting that just as the nation seem to be united in condemning this heinous crime, some blood thirsty politicians have also found it necessary to try and make political capital out of the situation. This is preposterous and malicious, to say the least. Some party fanatics and commentators have become so insensitive to the emotions of Ghanaians especially, the immediate family of late soldier. I vehemently oppose to the painting of political colours in these trying times. This is the time to eschew over-politicization of issues of crime and security.

The past three months have recorded lots of these instances. The resurgence of what I call “impunity savagery and barbarism” has left some of us very disturbed and “Shock-prised”. This has gradually eaten into the fabric of the ordinary Ghanaian. The “Instant Justice” phenomenon has heightened over the few months. Let me chronicle a few of these acts of lawlessness between March and May, 2017.

On Friday March 24, more than 200 members of a self-styled security force, Delta Force attacked the Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator to physically hound him out of office. The group said it cannot work with Mr. George Agyei because he was 'not part of the struggle' to wrestle power from the NDC during the December 2016 general elections. In a related development, the group on Thursday, April 6 , 2017, stormed the Kumasi Circuit Court, and freed the members of their group who were facing charges for causing disturbances at the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council. It was alleged that the group vandalized some court properties, and almost assaulted the Judge.

Another disturbing incident happened on April 2, 2017 when some residents from the Ekpu community in the Half Asini District in the Western region, attacked the District Police station over the death of a suspect who was in police cells.

Five days after, the Administrator of the Goaso Government Hospital in the Brong Ahafo region, Mr. Anthony Yeboah-Boateng was also murdered in cold blood by a mob in a village near Goaso. Mr. Yeboah-Boateng, who was also the Presiding Member for the Goaso District Assembly was stoned and clubbed to death. Police in the Brong Ahafo region said the administrator had picked up the body of a dead relative from the Goaso hospital morgue and was on his way when the village folks pounced on him accusing him of murder and brutalized him to death.

Some irate youth of Somanya on May 30, 2017 went on rampage and vandalized the Somanya Police Station, freed four (4) criminals and other properties following the arrest of Ebenezer Jones Adamatey, the Assembly Member for the area. Adamatey was alleged to have led irate youth to cause unlawful damage to the Somanya Office of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG). The youth burnt the only police duty patrol vehicle, with registration number GP 2605, and vandalized the Somanya Police Station.

It was also reported in the media May 22, 2017, that armed police personnel were deployed to Tema Newtown over an attack on the police station there by angry youth. The youth pelted the police station with stones and disrupted its operations as they demanded the arrest and prosecution of a police officer who allegedly shot and killed a resident whilst effecting his arrest. That apparently was the third time the youth had attacked the Police station over the said incident.

These are but few of the incidents I can recall for now. Every country thrives on the three (3) arms of government: the Executive, Judiciary and the Legislature. Now, all three arms have been attacked in recent past and that is a dangerous phenomenon. If the very institutions created to ensure law and order are destroyed what will become of us as citizens.

Beyond condemnations and giving Captain Maxwell Adam Mahama a befitting burial, justice must be served. But in as much as most people want justice quickly, the rule of law must also be allowed to take its course.

The chapter 5 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana speaks about the fundamental human rights and freedoms each person must enjoy. It states that it is incumbent on all 'natural and legal persons in Ghana' to respect and uphold these rights which are directly enforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction as provided for in the constitution. This includes the protection of right to life which states "No person shall be deprived of his life intentionally except in the exercise of the execution of a sentence of a court-under the laws of Ghana”. This provision was breached by the killers of the army captain. As lawful citizens, we must be cognizant of the fact that the constitution also guarantees respect for human dignity and the fact that no person shall be subjected to "Torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment".

Democracy is founded on individual citizen’s right and equality. This means that individual rights and privileges are properly preserved by constitutionally mandated body. Whilst it may appear tempting for citizens to act or retaliate immediately when a crime is committed, those accused of crimes must be handed over to the law enforcement agencies of the state for further actions. Justice is served when an individual is accorded the right to fair hearing, due process and a chance to explain their actions or defend themselves.

I have noted with serious concern the general lawlessness prevailing and I would also want to add my voice to the call for the security agencies to respond appropriately to ensure that the rule of law, peace and security of our country are guarded jealously at all times.

Ghana is a beautiful country cherished by people from various parts of the world, so incidents such as this should never be allowed to mar the accolade and beauty of democracy earned over the years.

God bless our homeland Ghana!
Written by:
Benjamin Osei Boateng
The writer is a Communications Strategist, Journalist, Social Analyst and a publisher

Tel: +233 (0)24 2145568
Email: [email protected]
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June 1, 2017.