Speaking to Citi News’ Duke Mensah Opoku, the Deputy Minister noted that,  if the trial is televised “a message will be sent to everybody, not just this one, but of other crimes that are widely publicized. The message will be sent to everybody that these actions have consequences.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”elozO2o96vsPChPbosQEe6MjZGMFWz0P”]Capt. Mahama, a military officer, was lynched by some residents of Denkyira-Obuasi in the Central Region, after they allegedly mistook him for an armed robber.

The military officer was deployed to the area together with his other colleagues of the 5th Infantry Battalion, to wage war on illegal miners in the area. So far, about seven persons have been arrested in connection to the murder.

Mr. Oppong Nkrumah, who is also the Member of Parliament for the Ofoase Ayeribi Constituency in the Eastern Region, said the move will seriously serve as a deterrent for others who indulge in what has become known as mob justice.

“My argument is that, Capt. Mahama’s death ought not to be in vain. And my belief is that one of the ways to ensure this is that, the police investigation is done with a legal eye, with an eye to ensure that we will get a conviction at the end of the day. And I am hopeful and optimistic that, that is being done at this moment. As a Member of Parliament, I’m saying that we should all remind ourselves that, this must be done.”

“This is my personal advocacy, that if possible, even this trial and possible conviction should be televised live on national television because this gruesome murder has literally been televised on social media, everybody has seen it.  It will be important as part of the corrective measures to let everybody see the consequences of this act.”

The persons arrested in connection with the murder so far are; William Baah, Assemblyman and teacher, 36, farmer; Yaw Antwi, 32, farmer; Bismarck Donkor, 36, farmer; Kofi Badu, 29, farmer; Kofi Nyame, 29, farmer; Anthony Amoah, 23, Okada operator and Philip Badu, 30, a prison assistant.

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By: Godwin Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The soldiers conveyed their anger over the killing of Captain Mahama in the presence of the Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Obed Akwa, who had a tough job suppressing the men who were out for blood.

[contextly_sidebar id=”gsZU84X9MeKX7MX0T5ESXWgfdGsHOSRq”]”We are the last resort in this country. If we allow ourselves to be beaten this way… as a Christian, by what Jesus said in Matthew 26 verse 52: he who draws the sword must die by the sword,” one fuming soldier stated.

This soldier was supported by a Muslim counterpart with verses from the Quran to the cheers and applause of the soldiers present.

The soldiers also expressed impatience with the pace of the police investigation, which has so far seen seven suspects arrested for their alleged roles in the murder.

The soldiers were especially mindful of the videos of the gruesome act on social media, and wondered why military police could not take control.

“We have military police. It is not in every instance that we allow the civilian police to be telling us about evidence. You have seen something clearly and you are telling me about evidence. What more evidence do you want from this?The Ghana Armed Forces has the military police. We can handle our things. It is not everything that you take to the civil police.”

Some of the soldiers also called for a total boycott and discontinuation of all anti-lumbering and anti galamsey operations currently being run by the Army.

“I will suggest we leave the work for the police to also carry out so that we come back to our barracks,” one soldier noted.

‘Cool heads must prevail’

The Chief of Defence Staff, on his part, called for cool heads and reiterated earlier messages from Former President, J.J Rawlings and President Nana Akufo-Addo to convince them not to engage in any reprisal attacks.

“Even though this is a cruel act, cool heads must prevail. A statement like this coming from a former member of the Ghana Armed Forces and a former head of state and a former commander in chief needs to be examined and listened to very carefully.”

“That is my appeal to you today. Additionally, our Commander-in-Chief has assured us that nobody is going to go scott free in this particular incident. We are collaborating with all the relevant security agencies and we are making study progress.”

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/Franklin Badu Jnr/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post CDS begs angry soldiers over Capt. Mahama’s killing appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Confirming the arrest to Citi News, the Central Regional Minister, Kwamena Duncan, said police acted on some leads after investigations in the town on Tuesday.

[contextly_sidebar id=”rEbEJnGYacU45M0KEoitrI8To4Bjk1k9″]”We went there and got to know of the full circumstances surrounding the incident… A number of them were arrested but they did screenings to zone in the ones that were likely to have been connected to the incident. They have now been brought to the regional police command,” Mr. Duncan revealed.

In the meantime, investigations are continuing as the police look to build a case to unravel the murder of the Captain.

“Five of them after the screening have been brought to the regional police command in Cape Coast for further investigation, and when a good case is built, it will be referred to the Attorney General’s department for the necessary legal advice,” the Minister noted.

Capt. Mahama was an officer of the 5th Infantry Battalion, and was said to have been on his daily jogging routine on Monday when he was lynched by some residents of Diaso. He had been deployed there as part of some anti-illegal mining operation.

The residents claimed Captain Mahama was a robber as he was in mufti at the time. Reports said he was armed with a gun while jogging, and residents who saw him with the gun raised an alarm, attracting some of the youth in the community who attacked and killed him.

There has been an outpouring of emotion since the news of the murder came to light, and various groups, including the Minority in Parliament and former President Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, have called for swift action on the part of the government to find the killers of the army officer.

President Nana Akufo-Addo has commented on the killing and indicated his resolve to bring the perpetrators before the courts of law.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post 5 arrested over Capt. Mahama’s gruesome killing appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

In a statement extending condolences to the murdered Army Captain’s family, the Minority urged the government to “as a matter of urgency to explore all legal and legitimate means to bring the perpetrators to book as soon as possible.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”wI59ocXul2YtgSEi80AHZkuiKxiVezbh”]The Minority also implored men of the Ghana Armed Forces to exercise restraint following the loss of their colleague after reports emerged that the Armed Forces had stormed Diaso, the town where Capt. Mahama was killed.

Capt. Mahama, an officer of the 5th Infantry Battalion, was on his daily jogging routine on Monday when he was lynched by some residents of Diaso, a small town in Denkyira-Obuasi, where he had been deployed to. His corpse was set on fire after the lynching.

The residents claimed Captain Mahama, who at the time was allegedly in civilian clothes, was a robber.

Find below the full statement

National Democratic Congress Minority Caucus Statement on the Murder of Captain Maxwell Mahama

The National Democratic Congress Minority caucus in Parliament has learnt with shock and dismay, the gruesome murder of Captain Maxwell Mahama, which occurred on the 29th of May, 2017 at Denkyira-Obuasi, in the Central region.

The said officer who was the head of the military detachment fighting illegal mining (Galamsey), was without any provocation attacked and killed whiles undertaking his morning physical exercise.

We condemn this act of barbarism in no uncertain terms, and therefore implore government as a matter of urgency to explore all legal and legitimate means to bring the perpetuators to book as soon as possible.

While commiserating with the military high command and Officers and men of the Ghana Armed Forces on this sad loss, we urge them to continue to exercise restraint as the matter is being dealt with.

We also wish to express our sincere and heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family, especially the wife and children.

We wish to take this opportunity to call on government to put an end to the culture of impunity and lawlessness which is pervasive across the country.

Ghana has been universally acclaimed as an oasis of peace, order and stability, and everything must be done to ensure that this enviable record bequeathed to the New Patriotic Party government is sustained.

Signed

Minority Leader

Haruna Iddrissu

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Waste no time finding Capt. Mahama’s killers – Minority appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

President Akufo-Addo, in his first official comment on the tragic incident, expressed his condolence to the family of Captain Mahama, and assured that none of his murderers would go free.

“My condolences to the family of Captain Maxwell Mahama on their tragic loss. I assure them that the perpetrators of this heinous crime will be arrested and dealt with in accordance with the laws of our country. No one involved in his murder will go free,” the President declared in a series of tweets.

Capt. Mahama, an officer of the 5th Infantry Battalion, was said to have been on his daily jogging routine on Monday when he was lynched by some residents of Diaso, a small town in Denkyira-Obuasi, where he had been deployed to.

The residents claimed Captain Mahama, who at the time was allegedly not in military apparel, was a robber. His corpse was set on fire after the lynching.

Some reports said he was armed with a gun while jogging, and some residents who saw him with the gun raised alarm, attracting some of the youth in the community who attacked and killed him.

Citi News gathered that, some armed robbers had attacked residents the day before, and the angry youth were on the lookout for the criminals, hence they mistook Captain Mahama, who was dressed in civilian clothes for a robber.

Subsequent reports suggest that, the murder was linked to the soldier’s mission in the area to fight illegal small-scale mining.

Since the tragic news came to light on Tuesday morning, the District Chief Executive (DCE) of the Upper Denkyira West District, Daniel Appianin revealed to Citi News that some army personnel had invaded Denkyira-Obuasi in the Central Region beating up residents in the area.

According to the DCE, the soldiers had taken about 80 men hostage, while women and children have been camped in a church in the town.

The Ghana Armed Forces subsequently urged its troops to remain calm following the murder and has said it is working to bring justice to the deceased and those affected by his murder.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Capt. Mahama’s killers will not go free – Nana Addo vows appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.