According to the family, given the number of people seen in videos which were circulated showing the attack on the late soldier and the initial flurry of arrests the police made, it would have expected to see more people facing the courts over the gruesome incident.

[contextly_sidebar id=”CEttBIVpNA83p48Osk1jELf95p47bqNX”]The spokesperson for the family, Zakaria Ahmed told Citi News in an interview that they believe more people have been left off the hook.

He said, although the family could not blame the police for the development, they feel it is necessary to convey their sentiments on the matter.

“We have been expecting that we will have more people facing the trial than we have. Looking at what we saw in the videos, and the number of people that were arrested at the beginning, we thought that we would have had more people… You have mob action, we expect to have a mob trial. The court will look at everyone and let them come and defend themselves… explain their presence at the scene on that day….Unfortunately, this is not what is happening and we cannot hold the police responsible,” he said.

The late Major Mahama, was lynched under bizarre circumstances at Denkyira-Obuasi in the Central Region in May 2017, while serving as part of a task-force deployed to root out illegal mining in the area.

Over 50 suspects were initially arrested over the incident.

36 of the accused persons were discharged earlier by a district court.

In December 2017, a district court then freed 8 of the suspects standing trial due to lack of evidence to prosecute them.

They were among 14 persons facing trial on charges of murder and were released upon the request of the Attorney General.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post We expected more prosecutions over Major Mahama’s killing – Family appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The seven are part of 14 people who have been put before the High Court to be tried for murder, after a District Court committed them for trial.

[contextly_sidebar id=”4O2CpJlMZubmzdUD13mtnpjtrjYP6KIA”]The lawyer, George Bernard Shaw, withdrew his services at the High Court, claiming he had some challenges.

Thursday’s hearing was the first since the case was moved to the High Court. The Court is expected to set up a jury for full trial to begin. The case has thus been adjourned to March 5, 2018.

The prosecution is expected to call fifteen witnesses and present 52 different pieces of evidence as part of their case when the trial begins.

The 14 suspects, including the Assembly Member for Denkyira Obuasi, where the gruesome killing took place, were among 52 persons who were brought to the District Court when the case commenced. After investigations by the police, 38 of the suspects were discharged.

The deceased, Major Mahama, an officer of the 5th Infantry Battalion, is said to have been on his daily jogging routine on Monday [May 29, 2017], when some angry youth of the town attacked him, allegedly on suspicion of being an armed robber.
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By: Fred Djabanor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Lawyer abandons 7 suspected Maj. Mahama killers appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to the lawyer for the eight who were discharged by the court today [Tuesday], due to lack evidence to prosecute them, his clients have gone through intolerable trauma and anguish since their arrest in May 2017, hence their demand.

[contextly_sidebar id=”mOa2fOiCFqsRJ3ieKDAs24UNXc15ANpY”]The lawyer, Benard Shaw, also accused the prosecution of doing a shoddy job by responding to public sentiments after reports of the lynching of the late military officer.

The eight persons who were among fourteen persons facing trial on charges of murder, were released upon the request of the Attorney General due to lack evidence against them.

The deceased, Major Mahama, an officer of the 5th Infantry Battalion, is said to have been on his daily jogging routine on Monday [May 29, 2017], when some angry youth of the town attacked him, allegedly on suspicion of being an armed robber.

The Police subsequently arrested over fifty suspects who had fled the town to other regions in the country.

Thirty-six of the suspects have been discharged since the trial commenced at the district court.

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By: Fred Djabanor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Freed Major Mahama suspects demand compensation appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

He said the president must “think long” before signing the Act which he believes is defective.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Ov7erhVXR2qEmDykzcdm2em1QLNKWZSf”]Martin Amidu in an article expressed worry that the bill was rushed through in Parliament “as though it were a matter which cannot wait for the constitutional and legal processes connected with or related” to be exhausted.

He noted that, unfortunately, the lack of involvement of the public in consultations ahead of the passing of the bill in parliament despite the President priding himself as one who adheres to the rule of law and participatory democracy.

While questioning the authority of the Defence Minister to lay the bill before Parliament, Martin Amidu called for public reports on all investigations promised by the government and state security to be carried out into the matter following the murder of the late Major Mahama.

Read Martin Amidu’s statement below:

MR. PRESIDENT, THINK LONG BEFORE SIGINING THE MAJOR MAHAMA TRUST ACT: BY MARTIN A. B. K. AMIDU

I am writing to add my voice to three written and published appeals by three well-meaning citizens to His Excellency the President, Nana Akufo Addo to think long before appending his signature to the Major Mahama Trust Bill which Parliament passed on 8th November 2017. (See “Major Mahama Bill; good idea gone bad” on Ghana Web’s features column of 11th November 2017: “Lawyer begs Akufo-Addo not to sign Major Mahama Trust Fund into Law”, Ghana Web’s General News of 11th November 2017; and “A Bill Akufo-Addo must not sign into law just yet” on Ghana Web’s features column of 12th November 2017.)

Mr. President, the Bill that Parliament passed for your signature suffers from several constitutional, legal and policy defects that should have been conditions precedent to its enactment. Portions of the Bill passed by Parliament for your signature are inconsistent with and contravene the 1992 Constitution in several material particulars. It also seriously undermines and puts to naught several provisions of the Armed Forces Act, 1962 (Act 105) as revised, and Regulations made thereunder to compose and regulate the conduct of the Ghana Armed Forces.

Mr. President, the speed with which the Major Mahama Trust Fund Bill was laid on 24th October 2017 and passed by Parliament on 8th November 2017 without citizens being given the chance to make any inputs into its constitutionality and legality ought to be sufficient reason for you, who promised participatory democracy to the electorate, to make haste slowly in signing this Bill. Major Mahama was killed on 29th May 2017 by Ghanaian citizens who at the time could not have known his official identity, let alone his name and tribe. The perpetrators committed a criminal offence for which they must face the consequences under the Constitution and laws of Ghana, which presumes them innocent until proven guilty.

Mr. President, the appeals you are receiving from patriotic citizens (some of whom have been your ardent supporters over the years) is an indication that the Bill was treated as though it were one under a certificate of urgency, without adequate invitation to the public to make inputs to ensure acceptability by the mass of Ghanaians and particularly a substantial portion of the membership of the Ghana Armed Forces when enacted.

Mr. President, Lieutenant-General Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka, Captain C. Y. Borkloe, Captain A. K. Avevor and Sergent Osei Grunshie fell during the insurrection of 17th April 1967. They had been preceded by Pte. Adjoba Grunshie; Pte. Lawrence Mensah; Cpl. Lassey Sewoatsri; Sgt. Abudulai Allasan; Pte. Arnold Kwao and Cfn. Daniel Odame who died in the 24th February, 1966 Revolution. These events happened during a military regime but it took the National Liberation Council (NLC) and the Ghana Armed Forces almost three and four years respectively to pass the General Kotoka Trust Act, 1969 (NLCD 339) not for Gen. Kotoka alone but all the gallant men who fell during the two events.

Mr. President, the NLC saw wisdom in allowing the criminal justice system and the Armed Forces Act to exhaust their processes in accordance with the due process of law before acting on the matter.

Mr. President, I know your love and penchant for democracy, the rule of law and due process. My worry, Mr. President, for the Nana Akufo-Addo I have known over the years, is why this matter is being rushed through as though it were a matter which cannot wait for the constitutional and legal processes connected with or related to the gruesome killing of the army officer to be exhausted before you decide on enacting the Major Mahama Trust Fund Bill into law.

Mr. President, you have shown by word and deed that Ghana is a constitutional democracy, ruled under laws in accordance with the rule of law and the due process of law. In view of the fact that the victim of the gruesome act turned out to be a commissioned officer of the Ghana Armed Forces one expected that in addition to the Constitutional processes and the criminal laws taking their natural course fairly and impartially, the Armed Forces Act, 1962 (Act 105) as revised would be complied within whatever actions the Government wanted to take in this matter.

Mr. President, the Executive, and Parliament of Ghana through its Defence and Interior Committee has a duty as representatives of the electorate of Ghana under the 1992 Constitution to investigate and disclose to the electorate of Ghana the circumstances under which a fellow citizen, in this case a member of the Ghana Armed Forces, found himself at the time and place he was killed. Why was the officer in that village at that time of the morning alone? Was he on active duty or on a frolic of his own? The answers to these questions will not excuse the lynching of any citizen whether a soldier or a civilian but for a member of the Ghana Armed Forces it is a condition precedent to further actions under Act 105.

Mr. President, is it true that Major Mahama was repatriated from Lebanon on Ghanabatt 82 in 2015 for driving into what seemed like a no-go area that was under the control of Hezbollah elements and was consequently repatriated on the last chalk 4? Mr. President, this question is important for those who are questioning the lone mission he was on in the village at the time of his killing. The records are to the best of my knowledge at the IPO at Burma Camp and you as Commander-in-Chief should have been briefed by now. This is public knowledge in Burma Camp!

Mr. President, on 30th May 2017 the Minister of Defence was reported by Joy FM to have promised Ghanaians a thorough investigation into the killing of the army officer which he described as weird. On 2nd June 2017 Class FM reported that the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Lieutenant General Obed Akwa promised Ghanaians that: “…investigations will be conducted into why Captain Maxwell Mahama, …was jogging alone at the time he was attacked.” Mr. President, the CDS was reacting to very pertinent military issues raised by Major Osahene Boakye-Djan (rtd).

Mr. President, you know that under the Armed Forces Act, 1962 the death of the army officer would of necessity have to be investigated and the people of Ghana are entitled to the results of that investigation. Ghanaians are not aware that this has been done. The Minister of Defence who promised an investigation has also not made available to the electorate any results of any investigations. What was his authority under Act 105 for presenting the Bill to Parliament under his signature as the Minister of Defence as though he was acting under the Armed Forces Act for and on behalf of the Ghana Armed forces?

Mr. President, the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Interior which has a constitutional duty to investigate this matter on behalf of the electorate has taken no such steps to the best of my knowledge to do so. Yet when four United States of America soldiers were killed in active service in Niger a few days ago Sen. John McCain, the chairman of the Senate Armed Forces Committee threatened to issue a subpoena to the Executive for more information. He was reported in the following terms: “the White House was not being up front about the Niger Ambush, and he said he would like the information his committee ‘deserves and needs’”.

Mr. President, in Ghana, Parliament on the contrary has rather presented you with a Bill to sign into law in which the Chairman of the Defence and Interior Committee and his Ranking member are to be trustees of the fund with financial benefits even before they could undertake their constitutional duties to the people of Ghana under the 1992 Constitution. Could this be an incentive to kill any parliamentary investigations?

I have been away since 3rd November 2017 to my village where electricity and network is a scarce commodity that is why I am trying to get this appeal to you so belatedly through the media before the budget overtakes the pertinent issues I have raised herein tomorrow.

Mr. President, there is a tendency on the part of many politicians and political appointees to over please every sitting President in whatever he says. Your wishes when you state them ought to be implemented in accordance with the due process of law where feasible. I sincerely do not think the Bill presented to you for signature meets constitutionality and due process of law. That is why I urge you to think long before you sign it.

Martin A. B. K. Amidu (Citizens Vigilance for Justice – CIVIG-JUSTICE)

About Major Mahama Act

The Major Mahama Trust Fund bill seeks to give the legal backing for the establishment of a fund to cater for the wife and two children of the Late Major Maxwell Mahama.

Major Mahama, who was lynched under bizarre circumstances at Denkyira-Obuasi in the Central Region in May 2017, was part of a task-force deployed to root out illegal mining in the area.

Following the death, President Akufo-Addo committed to establishing the fund, in which government will put a seed money of GH¢ 500,000 to take care of the late officer’s family.

Prof. Asare cautions Nana Addo against Maj. Mahama Trust Fund Bill

Meanwhile, a Ghanaian lawyer based in the United States, Professor Stephen Kweku Asare, has also questioned the legal basis for the Major Mahama Trust Fund Act.

He has thus cautioned Nana Addo not to set a bad precedent and undermine the tenets of the rule of law by assenting to the Bill.

According to him, the Fund, which will have Major Mahama’s family as sole beneficiaries, violates the principles of non-discrimination and generality.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Martin Amidu cautions Akufo-Addo against ‘defective’ Maj. Mahama Bill appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to Dr. Adusei, he has been unable to finish his work because the police are not cooperating with him.

[contextly_sidebar id=”S7tND8DlvaAfLCUl17VoyfWFc0vcSfH8″]Dr. Adusei told the court today [Thursday], that since the body of the late military man was presented to him, his request of having the essential key police investigators in the case make themselves available for the pathology process to begin have not been met.

He further told the court that parts of the body of the deceased could not be traced.

His testimony follows a court order directing him to appear before it, to answer questions on why the pathology report is not ready as stated by the police.

The prosecutor, DSP George Amega, during the last hearing of the case, informed the judge that they have been chasing the report from the medical officer since investigations began without any success.

Major Mahama, an officer of the 5th Infantry Battalion, was said to have been on his daily jogging route on May 29, 2017, some residents of the town attacked and lynched on suspicion of being an armed robber.

Over 50 suspects, some of whom had fled the town to other regions in the country, were later arrested in connection with the killing.

Twenty-five persons are currently facing prosecution for their role in the suspected murder of Major Adam Mahama at Denkyira Obuasi. The suspects have been charged with murder.

The magistrate, Ebenezer Kwaku Ansah, adjourned the case to the 23rd of November 2017, where the report is expected to be presented following assurances from the pathologist and the police.

The late army officer was laid to rest on June 9, 2017, with full State and army honors.

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By: Fred Djabanor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Police not cooperating on Maj. Mahama’s autopsy – Pathologist appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Major Mahama, who was lynched under bizarre circumstances at Denkyira-Obuasi in the Central Region in May 2017, was part of a task-force deployed to root out illegal mining in the area.

[contextly_sidebar id=”bEwWBtqrNpAQtvgDgMRdn8iuY18Qbhrs”]President Akufo-Addo,  following the incident, pledged to establish a Memorial Trust Fund with a seed money of GH¢ 500,000 in honour of the officer.

The Minister of Defence, Dominic Nitiwul, in an interaction with the media after laying the bill, said, “the objective of the Fund is essentially to take care of his family and their welfare; nothing more, nothing less. …it has trustees, headed by the Minister for Defence, and then four other members including the Chairman of the Committee on Defence and Interior in Parliament, and then the Ranking Member on the Committee on Defence and Interior, then the former government statistician, Madam Grace Bediako, and the Tumu Chief, because Major Mahama hails from Tumu. His father hails from there. We would be going out to source private money into the fund, but until then, we’re just dealing with public funds that’s why we are in parliament to ensure that we do it,” he said.

The Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye, has since referred the bill it to the Finance Committee as well as the Defence and Interior Committees of Parliament for consideration and subsequent report to the plenary.

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By: Akosua Ofewaa Opoku/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Major Mahama Trust Fund Bill laid in Parliament appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The order followed an application by state prosecutors asking for the release of the postmortem report.

[contextly_sidebar id=”ve5eZv6mhXCnTzrDgr15m1C6N3UAcYXl”]According to the lead prosecutor, DSP George Amega, they have been chasing the report from the medical officer since investigations  commenced but they have not been successful.

Major Mahama, an officer of the 5th Infantry Battalion, was said to have been on his daily jogging route on May 29, 2017, when some residents of Denkyira Obuasi in the Central Region, attacked and lynched  him on suspicion that he was an armed robber.

Over 50 suspects, some of whom had fled the community to other regions in the country, were later arrested in connection with the gruesome killing that shook the nation.

The late army officer was laid to rest on June 9, 2017, with full State and army honors.

25 persons are currently facing prosecution for their role in the killing. The suspects have been charged with murder.

The magistrate, Ebenezer Kwaku Ansah, adjourned the case to the 26th of October 2017.

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By: Fred Djabanor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Pathologist summoned for delaying Maj. Mahama’s autopsy appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Speaking to the people of the town, he assured that perpetrators of the killing of the army officer will be dealt with by the law.  

Major Mahama, an officer of the 5th Infantry Battalion, was said to have been on his daily jogging route on May 29, 2017, some residents of the town attacked and lynched on suspicion of being an armed robber.

Over 50 suspects, some of whom had fled the town to other regions in the country, were later arrested in connection with the killing.

The late army officer was laid to rest on June 9, 2017, with full State and army honors.

The town of Denkyira-Obuasi came to gain some degree of infamy following the killing, with many noting the town as having a history of violence.

Despite the unfortunate incident, the President said life must go on. He assured the people of the town that they had not been forgotten by government and were going to benefit from government initiatives.

He, however, expressed sadness that such a gruesome act happened during his presidency and urged Ghanaians to learn from it and not tarnish the hard earned image of Ghana to the rest of the world.

“Ghana is a peaceful country and we should not do things that would bring the name of Ghana into disrepute. We are not like some other countries where after elections, we hear all sorts of bad news. So this should be the last time that such an incident should happen in this country,” President Akufo-Addo said.

During the visit, the acting paramount chief of Denkyira, Nana Agyei Nkyere II announced that the town had changed its name to New Obuasi and must be called as such henceforth.

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By: Obrempong Yaw Ampofo/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Nana Addo visits Denkyira Obuasi; pays respects to Major Mahama appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Police investigators traced the mobile phone – an iPhone7, to the room of Kwodjo Fordjour, a driver at Denkyira Obuasi.

The Accra Central District Court on Wednesday remanded Fordjour to police custody reports Graphic Online’s Emmanuel Ebo Hawkson who was in court.

The prosecutor, Detective Inspector Simon Apiosornu told the court that they retrieved the phone from Fordjour’s room at Denkyira Obuasi when they picked intelligence that the suspect was in possession of the mobile phone.

Inspector Appiosornu pleaded with the court to adjourn the case so the police can do further investigations to consolidate Fordjour’s case with the 19 suspects remanded earlier in connection with the lynching of the army officer who was mistaken to be an armed robber.

The Magistrate, Worlanyo Kotoku adjourned the case to August 3

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Source: Graphic Online

The post Man who stole Major Mahama’s iPhone 7 arrested appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Then Captain Maxwell Mahama was attacked by a mob in Denkyira Obuasi back in May after they had reportedly mistaken him for a robber, and died as a result of the injuries he sustained.

He was posthumously promoted to the position of Major following the widespread furore that greeted the incident.

An Accra Magistrate Court has since ordered for the nineteen people being tried for the incident to be remanded into custody.

The school in a post on its website said when news of his death broke that they had “learnt, with great regret, of the death of Maxwell Mahama, a Captain in the Ghanaian Army.”

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

Madam Veronica Bamford could hardly control her emotions as she stepped up to the podium to receive the certificate.

The crowd gathered at the auditorium rose as one to acknowledge their fallen counterpart, sustaining their applause for over half a minute.

See video here:

Major Mahama was laid to rest in June, at the Osu Military Cemetery.

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By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Maxwell Mahama’s mum receives posthumous MSc [Video] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.