James Agalga, a former Deputy Minister for the Interior, has stated that the murder of Captain Maxwell Mahama is an indication of a breakdown of law and order in Ghana.

Capt Mahama was lynched by irate youth of Denkyira Obuasi on suspicion that he was an armed robber after a group of residents from whom he asked for directions during a Monday dawn jogging session spotted a pistol on him.

Speaking on this development in an interview with Chief Jerry Forson, host of Ghana Yensom on Accra100.5FM on Wednesday May 31, Mr Agalga, who is also a Member of Parliament for Builsa North, said: “The incident is sad, it is barbaric, it is condemnable, and should never ever be allowed to happen in this country again.

“It is sad that the young officer by name Captain Mahama would die in that manner and I know for a fact that the entire Armed Forces, the whole nation, is mourning with his family and I want to send my condolence to his family, his wife and, of course, the High Command of the Armed Forces.”

He added: “As Minority in Parliament, we definitely believe that what is unfolding is symptomatic of a breakdown of law and order in our country and the earlier we nipped this development in the bud, the better for all of us because we can’t afford to defend the state of lawlessness we are witnessing in the country.

“It didn’t just start with the lynching of Captain Mahama. There are several incidents happening and our response to those incidents may have emboldened people to think that they can take the law into their hands in any way and go free. And so the culture of impunity is beginning to gain root and that must stop.”