Despite public education against lynching of suspected criminals, the act seems to be catching on, not only in Accra, but also in other regional capitals. A young man of about 26 years old had a nightmarish experience when he was nearly lynched by a mob that suspected that he had snatched a mobile phone.

The man, whose name was given as Nana Yaw, was attacked by the mob near Silver House, a popular drinking spot in the Sunyani Municipality at about 11pm. He had been chased by a group of riff raffs who alleged he had snatched a mobile phone from a passerby at the Coronation Park area and took to his heels.

However, the youngman run of luck when he got to the drinking spot. Yaw was arrested by the gang who beat him mercilessly, leaving his face swollen. But for the timely intervention of a neighbour, who whisked the youngman away in a Toyota Hilux (pick up) with registration number GR 9252 R, he would have been mob-lynched.

Ironically, the people who administered instant justice on Yaw, said they could not find any phone on him; neither could they tell who his alleged victim was.