GhanaStar
  • News
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Music
No Result
View All Result
GhanaStar
  • News
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Music
No Result
View All Result
GhanaStar
No Result
View All Result
Home News

The Failure of Our Police and the Culture of Impunity

June 1, 2017
in News
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Since Tuesday, the nation has been mourning the death of Captain Maxwell Mahama of the Ghana Armed Forces who was callously lynched by a group of persons at Denkyira-Obuasi in the Central region.

You Might Also Like

Why Ghana and Nigeria Were Not Invited to the Russia-Africa Summit

Two People Arrested in Connection with Death of X-Rated American IG Model, Tyger Booty

Ghana’s Parliament Erupts into Chaos as NDC MP whisks away Speaker’s seat

I first read the story of the young captain’s death at a news website. The late captain was not related to me, he was not a friend, I hadn’t met him before and I hadn’t heard of him before. But my body and mood switched into one of grief and sorrow when I started reading the story of his death.

My week has since been devastated. I haven’t had the courage and fortitude to read or listen to any updates about his gruesome murder. I just can’t. Hearing anything about him pierces my heart and tears me apart. I don’t remember the last time I felt this way and I pray I overcome it soon.

Here was an obviously handsome, intelligent, smart youngman who opted to be a defender of our nation anddied in the service of our nation. He did his part. We failed him.

But captain Mahama did not only die in the service of our nation. He will be remembered as a gallant soldier whose death exposed us as a people and a nation that tolerated and befriended impunity until we were consumed by it. Yes, such is the character of our nation today.

Quite obviously and sadly, instances of persons being lynched on suspicion of being thieves or armed robbers had been on the rise. Such cases have always been reported. Unfortunately, because of who the victims of such cases are, their deaths are usually simply reported in the media and concluded with promisesof investigation by the police. That’s it! Next will be another report of mob justice and another round of promises from the police. The cycle has continued unabated.

For those who may have forgotten and also for emphasis, below is a list of some instances of reported lynching of suspected thieves and armed robbers in 2017 and 2016 all of which the police promised to investigate:

January 2, 2017: A man suspected to be an armed robber lynched at Nuaso Odjadomya in Odumase Krobo District

January 19, 2017: A man suspected of stealing a donkey lynched at Gabisi near Bolgatanga

February 1, 2017: A suspected thief lynched in Zaare near Bolgatanga

March 16, 2017: A suspected thief in his 20s lynched at Community 4 in Tema and later tied to an electricity pole

April 28, 2017: A suspected thief lynched in Wassa Akropong

May 12, 2017: A suspected armed robber in his 30s lynched at Kosoa Old Timer

May 15, 2017: A suspected armed robber lynched at FettehKakraba

May 22, 2016: A young man suspected of being an armed robber lynched at Tema

May 31, 2016: A suspected robber lynched at Asem in Western Regio

July 22, 2016: A man in his 30s suspected to be an armed robber lynched at Inchaban in Shama District

August 4, 2016: A suspected robber believed to be in his 30s lynched at Abesim near Sunyani.

August 27, 2016: A suspected robber believed to be in his 20s lynched at OpiaTraffic Light in Takoradi

September 6, 2016: A suspected thief lynched at kejetia

September 22, 2016: A suspected armed rober, 25, lynched at Zammse near Bawku

October 14, 2016: A suspected motorbike thief lynched at Oduman near Ablekuma in Accra

October 31, 2016: A suspected robber lynched at Donsoman in Accra

The list can go on and on. Can the police tell us the status of their investigations into these cases and who were punished? What action did we take on these cases as a nation? We kept quiet. Why? Because the victims were not soldiers, they were not MPs, they were not NPP and NDC executives. They were ‘ordinary’ Ghanaians, so matters didn’t matter.

Apart from the cases of mob justice, we also know of several cases of murders that have happenedin the recent past. In all the cases, the police promise to investigate. Can we know who have been punished?

The truth is that the culture of impunity for serious crimes in our country is as tragic as the lives we lose. And the failure of the police in combating the culture of impunity has been catastrophic. The situation is simply alarming.

The reality is also that a culture of impunity anywhere constitutes a serious threat to security everywhere. The biggest threat facing us as a nation is, therefore, the culture of impunity for crimes that has engulfed us. The solution is not presidential visits and assurances of justice to bereaved families. The solution lies in the rule of law, ending impunity and letting justice be seen to have been done at all times.

As a gallant soldier, Captain Mahama will by now be resting in the heavens. He will only be wondering why our nation and our police had tolerated and glossed over similar acts of mob justice perpetrated against other citizens for so long. He will be wondering why a culture of impunity has engulfed our country. He will be praying for those of us who are alive to survive the insecurity of our culture of impunity.

For Captain Mahama, justice will not only mean punishing his murderers. Justice will also mean punishing all others who have, and will commit similar crimes against others regardless of the status of the victims. Justice will be about rule of law in Ghana.

May you rest in perfect peace, Captain Mahama!

Join GhanaStar.com to receive daily email alerts of breaking news in Ghana. GhanaStar.com is your source for all Ghana News. Get the latest Ghana news, breaking news, sports, politics, entertainment and more about Ghana, Africa and beyond.

Tags: accraBanks - NECcaptainConstruction Supplies & Fixtures - NECcrimeCriminal justiceCrowd psychologyelectricity poleGeography of AfricaghanaImpunityLaw_CrimeLynchingMaxwell MahamaMPsVigilantismyoung captain

Related News

Why Ghana and Nigeria Were Not Invited to the Russia-Africa Summit

Why Ghana and Nigeria Were Not Invited to the Russia-Africa Summit

by ghanastar
July 28, 2023
0

The Russia-Africa summit, which took place in St. Petersburg in July 2023, was notable for the absence of two of...

Two People Arrested in Connection with Death of X-Rated American IG Model, Tyger Booty

Two People Arrested in Connection with Death of X-Rated American IG Model, Tyger Booty

by ghanastar
January 2, 2022
0

The Ghana Police Service has announced the arrest of two persons in connection with the death of Julie Diane Williams,...

Ghana’s Parliament Erupts into Chaos as NDC MP whisks away Speaker’s seat

Ghana’s Parliament Erupts into Chaos as NDC MP whisks away Speaker’s seat

by ghanastar
December 1, 2021
0

Ghana's Paliament on Wednesday erupted into chaos with minority and majority members shoving and pushing each other. The heated confrontation...

Cedi records highest depreciation against dollar in 36 weeks

Cedi records highest depreciation against dollar in 36 weeks

by ghanastar
December 1, 2021
0

The local currency is back into free-fall mode against its major counterpart trading currency, the US dollar, as it records...

Next Post

Minister Express Worry Over Streetism, Child Labour and Child Marriages

SpaceX To Launch First 'recycled' Cargo Ship

Categories

  • Africa & World
  • African Music Lyrics Directory
  • Business
  • Business Directory
  • celebrities
  • Computing
  • Diaspora
  • Entertainment
  • Events
  • Feature
  • Featured
  • Ghana Elections 2016
  • Headlines
  • Health
  • International
  • Internet
  • Jobs
  • lifestyle
  • Music
  • News
  • Offbeat
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Profiles
  • Religion
  • Security
  • Seth Terkper
  • Smart Home
  • Social Networks
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Top Stories
  • World News

Tags

accra addo africa Association football Banks - NEC business Business_Finance chairman Donald Trump economy education Entertainment_Culture environment Geography of Africa ghana Ghanaian people government Government of Ghana Human Interest John Dramani Mahama john mahama Law_Crime mahama minister MPs elected in the Ghanaian parliamentary election Nana Addo Nana Addo Dankwa Nana Akufo-Addo National Democratic Congress National Democratic Congress (NDC) New Patriotic Party New Patriotic Party (NPP) nigeria politics Politics of Ghana president Social Issues Social Media Social Media & Networking sports United Kingdom United Nations United States Vice President War_Conflict

Recent Posts

  • Government of Ghana Unveils Official Portraits of President John Dramani Mahama and Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang
  • Who Is the Woman (Sheena Gakpe) in Sarkodie’s Latest Hit “No Sir” and Why Everyone Is Talking about It
List of Ghana Holidays for 2020
Ghana Geocoding
Ghana Cedis Exchange API
Ghana Maps Service
Toyota Cars Auto Auction History
  • African Music Lyrics Directory
  • Business Directory
  • Diaspora
  • Top Stories

All rights reserved © 2021 GhanaStar.com

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Music

All rights reserved © 2021 GhanaStar.com