The President of the University of Leicester Alumni Ghana, Jonathan Teye, and the Managing Director of the International Distance Education Centre, (IDEC), Emmanuel Kwashie Agbodzi, on Monday June 6 visited the family of the late Major Maxwell Mahama to commiserate with them.

The army officer was a Distance Learning student at the University of Leicester’s Department of Criminology, reading a Master of Science (MSc) program in Security and Risk Management.

He had enrolled on the degree in 2015, and was due to graduate at this summer’s degree ceremonies before his demise. Mr. Agbodzi stated that, the International Distance Education Centre, IDEC, and the alumni body shared in the pain of the widow, children, parents, family and the Ghana Armed Forces.

He described Captain Mahama as someone who carried out his work with a great level of patriotism. “Captain Mahama showed great honour and a spirit of commitment to his work.
As a student of Leicester, he demonstrated the motto of the institution, ‘Ut Vitam Habeant, so they may have life’ in his line of work,” Mr Agbodzi said.

The President of the Alumni body, Jonathan Teye, said the nation had lost a great hero, one that cannot be replaced. “We have indeed lost a great hero. You are simply irreplaceable. You are and were a beacon of excellence in academia, and in the service of your nation,” he said.

The University of Leicester last week, in a statement published on its website, said the death of Captain Mahama was regretful. Capt. Mahama was an officer of the 5th Infantry Battalion, and was said to be on his daily jogging routine on Monday, when he was lynched by some residents of Denkyira Obuasi. He had been deployed there as part of an anti-illegal mining operation.

The residents claimed Captain Mahama was a robber as he was in mufti at the time, and had a weapon on him. Forty-One persons have so far been put on trial for their alleged roles in the murder. The incident ha shocked Ghanaians and has angered army personnel who almost vented their spleen on the community members.

It has been condemned by all well-meaning Ghanaians, and the President, Nana Akufo-Addo, has vowed to ensure that the perpetrators of the crime are punished. Nana Addo promotes Capt. Mahama; pledges statue in his honour A monument is to be erected in honour of Major Adam Maxwell Mahama.

President Akufo Addo, who made the announcement when he paid a visit to the family of the deceased, also announced other packages for Adam Mahama’s family, including a 500,000 Education Trust Fund for his children’s education.

The President, who doubles as the Commander in Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, also promoted Adam Mahama from Captain to Major posthumously. He would also be given a state burial.