Mob justice has gradually found its way into society, becoming a norm in some parts of the country.

Despite stern warnings from authorities, such as the Attorney General’s declaration on February 4, 2024, following the sentencing of Major Mahama’s killers, that such practices will not be entertained in the country, mob justice continues to grow rapidly.

In 2019, a report by GhanaWeb showed that as many as 20 cases of mob justice had been recorded.

Similarly, another report by graphic.com.gh, revealed that an alarming rate of more than 10 cases of mob justice had been recorded in less than 4 months in the Bono Region alone in 2022.

The victims, all males, were between the ages of 20 and 35.

The communities where these deaths occurred include Wamanafo in the Dormaa East District; Penkwase, a suburb of Sunyani; and Abesim in the Sunyani Municipality.

Other communities are Odomase in the Sunyani West Municipality, Senase and Berekum in the Berekum Municipality, among others.

Tragically, for some persons, it has become the fastest route to seeking justice.

On the back of this, GhanaWeb takes a look at 4 tragic cases of mob justice in the nation’s history;

Major Maxwell Mahama

In the early hours of May 29, 2017, social media platforms were splashed with gory videos capturing the gruesome lynching and murder of Major Maxwell Mahama, a 32-year-old military officer with the 5th Infantry Battalion of the Ghana Armed Forces AT Burma Camp.

The tragic incident at Denkyira-Obuasi, now known as New Denkyira Obuasi, in the Central Region, involved the mistaken identity of the late Maxwell Mahama, who was on detachment duty in the township.

Residents mistook him for an armed thief while he was out for an early morning run.

An alarm raised by a vendor, who saw a pistol on the deceased, led to one of the worst mob killings in the country’s history.

The women who were alarmed after sighting the pistol, mistook the deceased for an armed robber, alerted an assembly member, who then organised men to capture and lynch the military man and further burnt him to ashes.

Residents of the township took videos of the lynching, with men and women attacking, beating him to death with cement blocks, stones, and sticks.

Moments after news of his death came to the fore, it was announced that the man they lynched was a military officer on active duty in the town.

A pathology report by Dr Lawrence Adusei, a Specialist Pathologist at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, disclosed that Major Maxwell Mahama died from multiple head injuries caused by blunt objects and gunshots.

Many townsfolk upon hearing news of Major Mahama being an army officer, fled the town.

Several years down the line, 12 individuals who played key roles in the lynching and murder of the late army major were sentenced to life imprisonment after being found guilty of murder, conspiracy, and abetment in the lynching.

Musician Wyllbee

The tragic passing of the budding artiste from a mob lynching has sparked public outcry.

Born Wilberforce Appiah, he met his untimely death after he was also accused of being a thief while on a visit to his alleged girlfriend's place at Abuakwa-Tanoso in the Ashanti Region, on July 5, 2024.

According to media reports, the late musician, who resided at Sowutuom, was attacked, beaten and lynched by a mob after an alarm was raised by a relative of his alleged girlfriend.

He was later taken to the hospital but was pronounced dead.

90-year-old woman accused of witchcraft

On July 23, 2020, in the East Gonja Municipality, a 90-year-old woman was gruesomely lynched to death on suspicion of being a witch.

Identified as Akua Denteh, the deceased was accused by a fetish priest of engaging in witchcraft.

She was severely subjected to severe beatings in the midst of a large crowd who had come to witness the incident.

Similarly, a video capturing the lynching went viral on social media.

2 persons lynched at Mion

40-year-old Safura Ibrahim and 70-year-old Sharu Mohammed were lynched to death in the Zakpalsi community, after a soothsayer accused them of witchcraft.

The lifeless body of 70-year-old Mohammed was found with blood stains on his face while 40-year-old Safura was dragged from the chief’s palace and lynched.

The two, according to reports, were accused of conspiring to bewitch a resident of the community, using a locally made snuff, which led to the person's death after an illness.

What do Ghana's laws say about mob justice?

The law defines mob justice as when a person suspected to be a criminal is beaten by a group of people or crowd with clubs, stones, machetes, and in worst case scenarios, set on fire.

But regardless of the situation, there are laws in Ghana that protect individuals accused of crimes, no matter the gravity or otherwise.

Likewise, mob justice is a criminal offence per Ghana's laws and its pursuant to Act 29 of the Criminal Code of 1960. The code covers various aspects of mob justice, including;

Section 46—Murder. Whoever commits murder shall be liable to suffer death.

Section 47—Definition of Murder. Whoever intentionally causes the death of another person by any unlawful harm is guilty of murder, unless his crime is reduced to manslaughter by reason of such extreme provocation, or other matter of partial excuse, as mentioned in section 52.

Section 48—Attempt to Commit Murder. Whoever attempts to commit murder shall be guilty of first-degree felony.

Also, Chapter 5 of Ghana’s constitution protects the fundamental human rights and freedom of a person with Article 13(1) stating that no person shall be deprived of his or her life intentionally except in the exercise of the execution of a sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence under the laws of Ghana of which the individual has been convicted.

Article 15, which talks about respect for human dignity highlights these points; (1) The dignity of all persons shall be inviolable. (2) No person shall, whether or not he is arrested, restricted or detained, be subjected to – torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; and any other condition that detracts or is likely to detract from his dignity and worth as a human being.

Article 19 which talks about fair trial says (1) A person charged with a criminal offence shall be given a fair hearing within a reasonable time by a court. (2) Must be presumed to be innocent until he or she is proven or has pleaded guilty.

All the above-mentioned laws protect individuals or suspected criminals from being subjected to mob justice.

MAG/AE