Actress Jackie Appiah is the latest to condemn the gruesome killing of army Captain Maxwell Adam Mahama by a group of irate youth at Denkyira Obuasi on Monday, 29 May, 2017.
The mob mistook the soldier for an armed robber and lynched him after a group of people he asked directions from while jogging spotted a pistol on him.
Ms Appiah, in a statement posted on her Facebook wall condemning the killing, said: “Instant justice is not justice.”
According to her, although Ghanaians do not trust the police and justice system and the process of seeking justice is slow and imperfect, it is better than resorting to instant justice where most victims turn out to be innocent.
Ms Appiah’s message of condemnation read: “Sorrow fills my heart this morning. I've tried to avoid watching the video but I finally saw it and indeed, I haven't seen anything more heart wrenching and gruesome in my life. I can't keep silent. How a young, innocent, vibrant and accomplished family man was given the worst form of death possible. Smashed like an animal, bludgeoned to death within the blink of an eye without even being heard out. Transitioning from a handsome man to an unrecognisable being.
“Indeed, I am deeply upset and sorrowful. I've never met this man and I feel this way. I can only imagine what his wife, oh God, his wife and his family must be feeling now. THIS WICKEDNESS MUST END! We are worse than the armed robbers or thieves we think they are when we dish out this barbarism to them.
“You look your fellow human being in the eye and hit him with huge blocks even when he is down and dying especially when he has done nothing to you and you think you're better than an armed robber? You think you're better than a thief? You're the scum of the earth. You're lower than an animal. At least animals kill to eat, what benefit does killing an innocent man have for you?
“We have all heard or seen of stories where the innocent have been lynched only for the perpetrators to find out after the murder that he or she was innocent. From the days of the lynching of people, because someone alleged they touched them and their genitals got lost till now, these heinous mob killings have been a part of the Ghanaian 'people's justice'.
“Social media has enabled us to see it in all its gory inhuman detail with Captain Max's case. IT MUST BE THE LAST! We cannot continue like this as a nation. We call ourselves a peaceful nation yet do wicked things to our fellow citizens, even one who had given his life to serve and protect us? Don't demonise just the people of that town. This has happened in almost every town in this country before. There needs to be a national change of attitude towards so called 'instant justice'.
“INSTANT JUSTICE IS NO JUSTICE! INSTANT JUSTICE IS INJUSTICE! It could have been any of us. This was in broad daylight. All it would take would be for someone to shout 'thief! thief! at you and you're done. Nothing you say or do will save you. He was a soldier and had a gun yet look how they slaughtered him. If a soldier trained in combat and carrying a gun could be brutally murdered like this then how about you and I who are just civilians? Instant justice is a threat to all of us.
“We must stand up and speak against it. There's a reason we pay taxes to have the police and a court system. If we trusted our police and justice system and handed 'alleged' criminals to them, Captain Maxwell would be alive today. Yes it may seem slow and imperfect at times but it is better than this.
“Let us focus on building a better justice system if we don't like this one rather than taking the law into our own hands. As long as we live in a country where no one is safe, no one is safe. My condolences to Captain Maxwell Adam Mahama's family. May his death not be in vain, may we each take it upon ourselves to make sure it isn't. We must use the outrage and sorrow it's generated to force ourselves to eliminate instant justice or mob lynching from our country. Again, INSTANT JUSTICE IS INJUSTICE.”
Source: classfmonline.com
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
Well said Jackie....I think the Police must be blamed for these injustice.I had an experience where a guy who had wanted to rob me was handed over to the police.The officer asked, "What should i charge him with since he attempted but didnt succeed"? So they let him go....Hmmmmmm....Ghana. I feel so sad for this gentleman.I know he cant rest in peace.
YOU SAID IT RIGHT. LOOK ARE POLICE SHOULD TAKE A CUE FROM THIS. PEOPLE RISK THEIR LIFES AND ARREST CRIMINALS AND HAND THEM OVER TO THEM THE POLICE. THE NEXT DAY YOU FIND THE SAME CRIMINAL WALKING FREE IN TOWN AND EVEN COME AND ATTACK THOSE WHO ARRESTED THEM. THE COURTS TOO MUST WAKE UP. I FEEL SO SORRY FOR THE CAPTAIN THE HEART AND SOUL OF THE NATION IS BROKEN. I WISH I HAVE THE POWER TO BRING HIM BACK TO LIFE. TOO PAINFUL. BUT LETS NOT BLAME THOSE WHO TOOK THE SHOTS. SEEING THE IMAGES HAVE MADE US FEEL MORE FOR THE GENTLEMAN. I BEG THE BARRAKS BOYS TO KEEP COOL. I KNOW IF GIVEN THE CHANCE THEY WILL BURN THE WHOLE TOWN IN SECONDS. BLOOD IS OPON THAT TOWN. A STATUE SHOULD BE BUILT AT THE SPOT HE GAVE UP THE GOAST IN REMEMBRANCE OF HIM.
This is pathetic! Even animals defend their kind; animals with "no conscience" don't kill their own species, how much more human beings? Human beings who can reason, human beings with emotions to feel for and be felt for? What happened to us? Sheer lunacy and wickedness! It's a pity my heart keeps editing the kind of words I want to use, but I would oblige and be civil. Such a cold and disgraceful murder to a man who could have sprayed death on everyone at the scene. It's such a pity! I still cannot come into terms with this viciousness that has overshadowed the erstwhile peaceful Ghanaian society. Is this Ghana? Formerly, you would hear such savage stories in the news and you would be sure that they happened in other countries, but now... As Jackie rightly said, instance justice and this culture of impunity happen every now and then, and we all are to blame. The least said about our police and court system, the better! Ghana, I believe, needs a rebirth.
Jackie well said. I love you. This barbaric act really has to stop. Mob indiscipline must end
Well said Jackie.
JJ'S COUP AND J.B DANKWA'S MURDER ?
INSTANT JUSTICE MUST STOP NOW!!!!!! I THINK WE HAVE TO ORGANISE A DEMO AGAINST INSTANT JUSTICE
You see, the police and the courts are the problem. Police and courts must be effective so that we don't take the law in to our own hands
You haven't seen anything like this before because you are too young to know what JJ Rawlings and his PNDC/NDC did to the innocent Ghanaians to the extent of killing and burning three judges including a breastfeeding mother (judge), of three months old child.
Nana addo unleash the military into the town and cities...the lawlessness must stop!!! Blacks are just stubborn...they dont need rule of law but slaps !!!