Mob justice has no party colours: Let’s deal with it collectively

The nation is in a state of mourning following the gruesome murder of Captain Maxwell Mahama at Denkyira-Obuasi in the Central Region last Monday.

Many Ghanaians are traumatised at the manner in which the life of young Captain Mahama was taken by the mob which claimed that he was an armed robber.

This barbaric act has saddened most people who have seen the video on the murder that went viral. Those who have seen it have not hidden their grief and emotions, wondering whether the Ghanaian sense of hospitality and care have gone to the dogs.

Our neighbours in the sub-region and foreigners from far and near notice the warm hospitality of Ghanaians and always indicate that Ghana is the place they want to make their second home.

Unfortunately, some of our actions are compelling foreign visitors to revise their notes.

There have been many instances when the mere shout of ‘thief’ has sent some of our compatriots to the next world under very gruesome circumstances.

Mob justice is a common phenomenon in most parts of our country, especially the cities. We want our readers to recall the days of vanishing genitals in the not-too-distant past when people were lynched on suspicion that they had caused the genitals of others to vanish.

Also, the shout of ‘julor’, ‘awi’, ‘bala’ or ‘fiafitor’ in any of our communities could lead to the massing up of a mob that will not ask any questions but to go for stones, machetes and other missiles to finish off the alleged criminals.

Referees are another group of people who have many stories to tell about their nasty experiences in the hands of club supporters in our stadia throughout the country.

Crime has no colour or affiliation. That is why our people say that in every home, there is a third born. In other words, there are bad lots in every community and that is why there are clear-cut laws to deal with people who break the laws.

It is for this reason that the Daily Graphic appeals to everyone to avoid situating violence in the realms of partisan politics.

Let us condemn criminal actions not because of ethnic, religious or partisan considerations or based on the party colours of the people involved. We must do so because this mob justice is criminal and must not be allowed to take roots in our society.

We are not naïve to the fact that there is a government in place on whose desk the buck must stop, but if government needs our cooperation in order to succeed, then we all have the responsibility to expose the bad elements who live in our midst.

For some time now, armed robbery, mob action and other forms of crime have been on the increase. But since the criminals live among us, it behoves all citizens to support the law enforcement agencies to protect us.
The Daily Graphic calls on all to make a resolve never again to visit mob justice on any of our compatriots.

What happened at Denkyira-Obuasi is a tragedy and a scar on the conscience of the nation and we urge the police to do all in their power to bring all the perpetrators to book.