An uncle of the military officer who was lynched at Denkyira-Obuasi in the Central Region, has said his nephew was part of a security team deployed to the town to fight illegal mining.
The late Captain Maxwell Adam Mahama, was lynched and burnt on Monday by some youth at Diaso, a small town in Denkyira-Obuasi who mistook him for an armed robber.
[contextly_sidebar id=”kFCrVOxYNbDpeoUNyjYsOc86B0GgAAQN”]There is currently heightened anxiety in the town after the perpetrators of the heinous crime realized the deceased was a military man.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Tuesday, Mahama’s uncle, Fred McBagonluri, lamented the gruesome murder of his nephew.
“He told us that there was some galamsey activities happening in the area which is like the epiccentre of this criminal enterprise and that on their arrival, they realized that the perpetrators of this trade have actually moved their equipment further into the forest. And now it was really difficult for them to really get access to them. They can hear machines operating, but far inside the forest. These were his last words to a friend of mine,” he added.
Mahama always wanted to be a soldier
Mr. McBagonluri also eulogized his nephew who he said “loves his work.”
“He went into the army very young; Adams should be in his early 30s. This guy lives and breathes the army; he loves that flag. He always wanted to be a soldier. I’m hoping that nobody else has to die. I think that Adam’s death is enough and that we should find a better way of living in peace,” he added.
Investigations begin
The Ghana Armed Forces has commenced investigations into the murder of Captain Mahama.
The Armed Forces in a statement signed by the Director of Public Relations, Col. Aggrey-Quarshie, said a fact-finding team led by the Chief of Army Staff is proceeding to the area to gather more information about the development.
“A high-powered fact-finding team led by the Chief of the Army Staff is proceeding to the scene of the incident to ascertain the facts of the case,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, some soldiers have reportedly stormed the town, where they have held a bout 80 men hostage. According to the DCE for the area, the soldiers have beaten some of the men. He said some women and children have also been detained in a church building.
War on galamsey
Galamsey is term used to refer to small scale illegal miners. Persons who undertake this work usually operate independent of mining companies.
In the past, these galamseyers use crude tools by entering pits or tunnels to extract gold from the ground, but in recent times some are using sophisticated tools and excavators.
They have thus destroyed a lot of water bodies and farm lands. Analysts have predicted that Ghana may soon import water if the menace is not stopped.
Government has waged war on galamsey, and has suspended all forms of small scale mining for a period of six months.
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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin