Domeabra (Ash), April 24, GNA- Reverend David Kofi Anokye, Chairperson of the Asante-Akyem Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, has entreated Ghanaians to desist from meting out instant justice to suspected criminals.

He said the practice was a disincentive to the country's democratic dispensation and casts a slur on the nation's image and urged the citizenry to at all times temper justice with mercy and hand over suspects to the police for the law to take its own course. Rev Anokye was speaking at a thanksgiving service to round off the presbytery's 18th annual conference held at Domeabra near Konongo in the Asante-Akim North district on Sunday.

The five-day conference was under the theme, "Go Therefore and make Disciples of All Nations".

Rev Anokye described as unfortunate the gruesome manner in which Mr Anthony Yeboah Boateng, Administrator of the Goaso Government Hospital was lynched by a mob at Atronie in the Brong-Ahafo region on suspicion of being a ritual murderer.

To nip in the bud such occurrences in the future, the clergyman admonished the law enforcement agencies to strive to uphold truth and justice in their work to ensure public confidence.

He said churches should also collaborate effectively with human rights organisations to campaign against instant justice in all its forms in order to save innocent souls from perishing.

Nana Frimpong Afoakwa, chief of Domeabra, commended the Presbyterian Church for its commitment to accelerating the nation's socio-economic development through various educational programmes and initiatives.