The suspects, including 4 women and 2 nursing mothers, have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder and murder.

[contextly_sidebar id=”S8tD58vTvo4KCdWMDGkwr9kz5iThOnLf”]State Prosecutor,George Ameke, presented the facts of the case, and prayed the court to remand the suspects until the next adjourned  date of June 21, 2017.

This, he said, would enable them continue their  investigations into the gruesome murder. This brings to 41 the number of suspects who have been remanded so far.

On Thursday, seven other suspects who were arrested in connection with the murder were also remanded.

The deceased, Captain Maxwell Mahama, an officer of the 5th Infantry Battalion, is said to have been on his daily jogging routine on Monday [May 29], when some angry youth of the town attacked him, allegedly on suspicion of being an armed robber.

He was beaten to death, with part of his body burnt.

The family of the late military captain has announced that his burial will take place on Friday, June 9, 2017.

–

By: Duke Mensah Opoku/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post 34 suspects remanded over Capt. Mahama’s death appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Whereas some of the suspects have already been arraigned and remanded, others are being screened and would be sent to court today [Monday].

Captain Maxwell Mahama was lynched by residents of Denkyira-Obuasi in the Central Region on Monday May 29, and he will be laid to rest this Friday, June 9, 2017.

[contextly_sidebar id=”ioLunugGFPzl4Jm1ZFRXjYTFnBH4anKJ”]The police have pledged to arrest all suspects connected to the killing of the young brilliant solider.

Over the weekend, a number of suspects were nabbed at various hideouts in the Western and Ashanti Regions.

The arrest of a twelve year old at Manaso Nkwanta in the Ashanti Region stunned many people.

Speaking to Citi News on the development, the Deputy Director of Public Affairs at the Ghana Police Service, DSP Sheila Kesse Abayei Buckman, said: “We have arrested 42 suspects which we believe to be directly connected to the murder of the deceased. Some of them were arrested in the Central Region, Western and others from the Ashanti Region.”

She added that, the investigations are keenly being monitored by the Police headquarters in Accra.

“We will not disclose the location of the suspects for now, but what I can assure you is that, investigations are under the careful control of the headquarters and we are being careful not to put them together so that they don’t end up making up stories. So they are placed in different cells at different places.”

“People who have been arrested over the weekend will have to be presented to court on Monday for the court to decide the next line of action,” she added.

–

By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey & Franklin Badu Jnr/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Capt. Mahama’s suspected killers now 42 appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him, he cannot comprehend how a normal person would hit his fellow human being with a cement block with the intent of squeezing his life out of him.

Speaking on Citi FM’s news analysis programme, The Big Issue on Saturday, Mr. Agyarko further called for medical examination of the suspects arrested to ascertain whether substance abuse was at play.

[contextly_sidebar id=”XmLvvWOijfgUXkD5yVGel7LlThLqggf1″]“As a former Narcotics control officer…I will suggest that all these people who are picked up, maybe they should conduct some test on them. I’m beginning to think that there is so much substance abuse in this country. Alcohol is too cheap in this country. Wee is too common in this country. I think that we must begin to look into these things…I can’t see how me, a normal person who is not under the influence of anything will take a block and hit a man on his head,” the outspoken MP added.

Capt. Mahama was lynched and partly burnt by some residents of Denkyira-Obuasi in the Central Region after they mistook him for an armed robber.

The residents in a video which went viral on social media hit the officer with cement blocks, clubs and other wooden objects until he passed out.

The late military officer and his team from the 5^th Infantry battalion, had been deployed to the area to fight illegal mining.

So far, about 22 people including a twelve year old have been arrested in connection with the murder.

The late officer’s burial has been set for June 9, 2017.

Joblessness partly to blame 

Mr. Agyarko also believes that, a lot of the residents joined in the lynching of the Capt. Mahama because they are idle and have no jobs to do.

“This rallying of the mob couldn’t have happened so easily. You begin to wonder about what the people in the villages do. I begin to think that because of underemployment and nothing to do, people hang around and they become easily rallied. People are not occupied enough. This country has some major problem and crisis this government must tackle. Government must create a situation where people will be busy or be employed to make them too busy to engage in vigilantism,” he added.

–

By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Capt. Mahama’s killers could’ve been influenced by alcohol, wee – MP appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Addressing a large crowd of people at the palace of the Paramount Chief of the Waala Traditional Area, Naa Fuseini Pelpuo IV, the former president said “this should serve as a wake-up call to all of us; to government, the law enforcement agencies, the courts to wake up to our responsibilities in order to prevent this sort of thing from happening again.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”sPipmrczrieze2o0Qx5vMEPWgebaX7qv”]He expressed grave concern about the way criminals are allowed to go off the hook after flouting the law.

“This did not start today. It started quit a few years ago. There are quite a few others before this one but not much has been done.”

The former President man expressed confidence in Ghana’s legal system, but blamed government for failing to crack the whip on perpetrators of crime in the country.

“Had we reacted appropriately as a government, there is no doubt in my mind that this kind of brutal cruel behaviour could have gone on for this long.”

Capt. Mahama, who was deployed to the Denyira-Obuasi community in the Central Region region together with his colleague military officers to wage war on illegal mining, was lynched by residents of the area after they mistook him for an armed robber.

Mr. Rawlings condemned the act, describing it as “uncivilized” and charged the police to speed up investigations into the matter.

“The sooner some ways are found to contain this irresponsibility, the better for all of us,” he added.

He warned that the nation will soon be heading into an abyss if government continues to allow people with unlawful conducts.

The former military leader is in the Upper West region to climax the commemoration of the 38th anniversary of the June 4 revolution and to mark his 70th birthday.

He was met by a crowd that filled up the principal streets of Wa on Saturday to catch a glimpse of him after 8 years of his absence in the region.

–

By: Mahama Latif/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Capt. Mahama’s death a wake-up call to state institutions – Rawlings appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

On Thursday, some angry soldiers suggested that, the Military takes over the investigations since according to them, they will do a better job.

[contextly_sidebar id=”KFhPvYKb4vQrrWqRspkaecO6jElXHXs5″]But speaking at a press conference on Friday, the IGP David Asante Apeatu, called for calm, promising that the Police Service will get to the bottom of the matter.

“Persons who violate the laws of the land in the manner akin to what has happened in the late Captain’s case, will be dealt with accordingly. The Police is prepared to collaborate with all stakeholders to ensure this canker of instant justice is permanently stamped out of our society.”

“We shall therefore stop at nothing to deal with perpetrators of this phenomenon. The Police administration wishes to pledge our full support to him to achieve this goal. For the purpose of protecting sanctity of evidence, we have decided not to parade the 16 suspects currently in our custody. Ladies and Gentlemen, this is a war, not only for the security agencies but for all of us including members of the public.”

Meanwhile the Ghana Armed Forces, has also expressed satisfaction with the investigation carried out and the arrests made so far.

Speaking at the programme, the Chief of Defence, Major General Obed Akwa, commended the IGP and Police Service for their efforts at ensuring that justice is served.

“Yesterday [Thursday], I held a durbar and the issues raised had to do with the speedy investigation and prosecution of those who carried out this dastardly act, and I gave assurance that a high powered team had been sent to the incident area, and I am happy to hear from the Director General and the CID and also from the IGP that indeed they are making progress. We look forward to a speedy investigation so that those who are found culpable face the full rigors of the law because justice delayed is justice denied.”

Capt. Mahama was lynched after he was mistaken for a thief.

–

By: Zoe Abu Baidoo/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Trust us to bring Capt. Mahama’s murderers to book – IGP appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Confirming the incident to Citi News, the Diaso- District Police Commander, ASP Osei Adu-Agyeman, said the dead body was found in a pool of blood by the Police, following a report by the Assemblyman of the area.

[contextly_sidebar id=”1ZrHrVLBvGhpxUo7Rc1hC1CVWDyLcH6R”]He added that, an ID card found on the suspect revealed him as Francis Bio.

“This morning, the Assembly man in Diaso electoral area reported at the station that around 6.15, he had a message that a male adult aged about 46, had been found dead at the outskirts of Modaso, another village about 6 kilometres from Diaso so the Police went to the place. Fortunately he had a voters’ ID card on him so we have found his identity.We found a deep cut on the left upper side of his throat, but as to what led to the death is what the Police is investigating now.

“We are pleading with the media to give us a few days to unravel the mystery behind it.”

He further indicated that, they are pursuing some videos to determine whether the deceased was indeed a culprit in the lynching of Captain Mahama.

“There is a rumor going on that he lynched Capt Mahama so we are very particular about this. There are about 12 video clips, we want to go through them all to see if we can possibly identify him as one of the culprits involved.”

Captain Mahama’s tragic death occurred on Monday at Diaso in the Central Region. He was lynched and burnt by residents in the area who mistook him for a thief.

About 7 persons have so far been arrested in connection with the incident.

–

By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

The post ‘Suspect’ in Capt. Mahama’s murder found dead appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The school in a post on its website said “we have learnt, with great regret, of the death of Maxwell Mahama, a Captain in the Ghanaian Army.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”p4nBqYZfs9WRxWNplReiRwwdox1KedBy”]The school said Capt. Mahama was a “distance learning student in the Department of Criminology reading for the degree of Master of Science (MSc) in Security and Risk Management.”

The post added that, “He had enrolled on the degree in 2015 and was due to graduate at this summer’s degree ceremonies.”

Capt. Mahama was an officer of the 5th Infantry Battalion, and was said to be on his daily jogging routine on Monday, when he was lynched by some residents of Denkyira Obuasi.

He had been deployed there as part of an anti-illegal mining operation.

The residents claimed Captain Mahama was a robber as he was in mufti at the time, and had a weapon on him.

Seven persons have so far been put on trial for their alleged roles in the murder.

The incident ha shocked Ghanaians and has angered army personnel who almost vented their spleen on the community members.

The incident has been condemned by all well-meaning Ghanaians, and the President, Nana Akufo-Addo, has vowed to ensure that the perpetrators of the crime are punished.

–

By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

The post Capt. Mahama was to graduate with MSc – Leicester university appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

His appeal comes days after his party, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), suggested in a statement that President Nana Addo should be held responsible for the incident.

Speaking during a visit to Capt.  Mahama’s wife and his family, the former President asked various political stakeholders to rather “take this as a national tragedy in a non-partisan manner, and treat it as the way it should be treated” instead of pointing accusing fingers at each other.

The former President also expressed the hope that, the culprits, in what he described as the “dastardly act” will be brought to book and fairly dealt with.

“I believe that government and the security agencies will do everything possible to bring the perpetrators of this dastardly act to book. If we are able to find out who did it and probably prosecute them and apply the penalty, I believe that it will serve as a deterrent to people who engage in mob justice.”

“If this happens, then Maxwell’s death would not be in vain. But if the perpetrators get away with it, then the impunity will continue and the question I ask myself is how many more innocent people have not died through this kind of barbaric justice.? It has never been our culture to kill humans in this wicked way. I believe that everything should be done to stamp it out.”

Capt. Mahama was lynched and burnt at Diaso in the Upper Denkyira West District of the Central Region, after residents in the area mistook him for an armed robber.

While eulogizing Capt. Mahama, the former President also extended his condolence to Maxwell’s wife and children, saying “I wish to extend my condolence to Maxwell’s wife and children. Maxwell was a very fine officer and he had a very bright future ahead of him and to die like this is totally unacceptable.”

The former President indicated that, it was unfair for Capt. Mahama to have been murdered in a humiliating manner, especially when as a military man he had sacrificed “a lot to defend us [Ghanaians].”

The President was accompanied by some NDC bigwigs and former appointees including Kwesi Botchwey and Joyce Bawa Mongtari, among others.

–

By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

The post Don’t politicize Capt. Mahama’s death – John Mahama appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Captain Maxwell Adam Mahama of the 5th Infantry Battalion was lynched at Denkyira-Obuasi after the residents claim they mistook him for an armed robber.

The late military officer was among others deployed to combat illegal mining activities in the Denkyira-Obuasi forest reserve.

[contextly_sidebar id=”USPelER0C6NHHuBYB7R4ELNDiSBzTd46″]“The best legacy we can leave this man, his wife, children, his old mother is to ask the tough questions…and to arrest those who matter,” Dr. Anning said on the Citi Breakfast Show on Monday.

Dr. Anning, who is also the Head of Research at the Kofi Annan Peace Keeping Training Centre, further lambasted the District Security Council (DISEC), in the Upper Denkyira West District for not providing advanced intelligence to security operatives during their operations in the area.

“How do our security councils use the information that they have in a manner that can serve as a preventive tool because Act 526 that establishes this council said the council should provide early warning. Listening to the former DCE, he said these people were violent. But is there any report about the behavior and the way the people in the area respond or react to issues,” he questioned.

5 suspects rounded up over Capt. Mahama’s murder

Meanwhile, about 5 persons suspected to have been part of those who lynched Capt. Mahama have been rounded up.

The Director of Public Relations of the Ghana Armed Forces, Colonel Aggrey-Quarshie, told Citi News that all the 5 suspects have been handed over to the Police for screening and further investigation.

–

By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Capt. Mahama’s killers must not be spared – Kwesi Anning appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Association says the act is an affront to the country’s democracy and must not be tolerated.

The deceased, Captain Maxwell Mahama, was attacked by some town-folks who claim it was because they suspected the soldier, who was in civilian clothing and armed, of being an armed robber.

[contextly_sidebar id=”BZKjL3jZ20PFM7AvtsLT2EtyuDd7MmMg”]In a statement copied to citifmonline.com, the Association said the culprits in the matter must be dealt with according to law to serve as a deterrent to others.

While calling on the military to exercise restraint and avoid retaliation, the GBA urged the police and security agencies investigating the matter to speed up the process.

The Ghana Bar Association also expressed regret over a recent violent protest carried out by some residents in Somanya, that resulted in the vandalism of a police station and the setting on fire a police vehicle.

It charged the various security agencies in the country to demonstrate good leadership in responding appropriately to all incidents of violence stemming from a growing incident of lawlessness to guarantee the peace and security of citizens.

Read the full statement below:

GHANA BAR ASSOCIATION’S STATEMENT CONDEMNING THE KILLING OF CAPTAIN MAXWELL ADAM MAHAMA AND OTHER ISSUES OF LAWLESSNESS

The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has heard with shock the tragic and horrific killing of Captain Maxwell Adam Mahama of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), by a mob at Diaso in the Upper Denkyira West District of the Central Region.

The GBA wishes to commiserate with the bereaved family and GAF and hereby expresses its deepest condolences to his family, colleagues and friends. It is the prayer of GBA that the Almighty God will comfort them and grant them peace.

The Bar finds mob actions purportedly exercised to punish suspected or alleged offenders very unacceptable and an affront to the rule of law under the Fourth Republican Constitution of Ghana. They have grave consequences, and are serious threats to our democracy.

The GBA therefore calls upon the security and law enforcement agencies to investigate the matter thoroughly and ensure that the culprits are brought to justice to serve as a deterrent to other like-minded persons.

In the interim, we urge all concerned to exercise restraint, not to take the law into their own hands or engage in any acts of retribution.

The GBA also condemns the actions of the persons who rioted in Somanya, in the Eastern Region and in the process destroyed state properties and would reiterate its call for the offenders to be arrested, charged and prosecuted.

The GBA notes with serious concern the general lawlessness prevailing and urges 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.

ISSUED IN ACCRA, THIS 30TH DAY OF MAY 2017

BENSON NUTSUKPUI

NATIONAL PRESIDENT

JUSTIN A. AMENUVOR

NATIONAL SECRETARY

–

By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Capt. Mahama’s murder threatens Ghana’s democracy – GBA appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.