Attorney General Godfred Yeboah is confident that the 12-person sentence handed down in the murder of Major Mahama was a sufficient deterrent.
He said that the court’s life sentence for the 12 prisoners would dissuade others from participating in mob violence.
He regarded the trial as a hard battle, but he was pleased with the eventual outcome.
He stated that justice will be done, even if it takes some time.
He also expressed compassion for the family, stating that he was confident they would be pleased with the court’s decision.
“It’s been a long battle, starting way back in December 2017. Persons accused were committed to some trial at the High Court, that was in April 2018. It’s been about 5 years or more; the whole justice system, as we all know, grinds slowly. But today we have seen justice. Two have been acquitted and 12 sentenced. I don’t think the public will contest the acquittal of those two persons. We are satisfied with the conviction. And we can only express our sympathies with the family of the late Major Mahama. They have suffered a lot; they have gone through a lot, but at least they have seen justice, and I’m sure they should be happy about it.”
Major Maxwell Mahama, a military officer, tragically lost his life in May 2017.
He was beaten to death by a mob in Denkyira-Obuasi, located in the Central Region of Ghana.
Fifty persons were arrested, out of which 14 were eventually screened for prosecution.
They are William Baah, then-Assemblyman for Denkyira Obuasi, Bernard Asamoah alias Daddy, Kofi Nyame a.k.a. Abortion, Akwasi Boah, Kwame Tuffour, Joseph Appiah Kubi, Michael Anim and Bismarck Donkor.
The rest are John Bosie, Akwasi Baah, Charles Kwaning, Emmanuel Badu, Bismarck Abanga and Kwadwo Anima.
After seven years of trial, the court delivered the final verdict on January 29, 2024.
Twelve out of the fourteen people who were standing trial were sentenced to life imprisonment.
They include the Assembly Member of the area,
William Baah, who was accused of rallying the community to attack Major Mahama when the incident occurred.
The other two suspects, Bismark Donkor and Bismark Abanga were acquitted and discharged.
By: Rashid Obodai provencal/Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
