Mob justice has increasingly embedded itself in society, becoming a prevalent practice in various regions of the country.
Despite strong condemnations from officials, including a warning from the Attorney General on February 4, 2024, after the sentencing of Major Mahama’s murderers, mob justice continues to proliferate.
In 2019, the media reported up to 20 instances of mob justice.
Similarly, a 2022 report by graphic.com.gh highlighted a troubling trend, with over 10 cases of mob justice occurring in under 4 months in the Bono Region alone.
The victims, all men aged between 20 and 35, faced these violent acts.
The incidents took place in communities such as Wamanafo in the Dormaa East District, Penkwase near Sunyani, Abesim in the Sunyani Municipality, as well as Odomase in the Sunyani West Municipality, Senase, and Berekum in the Berekum Municipality.
Sadly, for some individuals, mob justice has become a rapid means of seeking retribution.
Major Maxwell Mahama
In the early morning of May 29, 2017, social media was flooded with disturbing videos showing the brutal lynching and murder of Major Maxwell Mahama, a 32-year-old officer from the 5th Infantry Battalion of the Ghana Armed Forces based at Burma Camp.
The tragic event took place in Denkyira-Obuasi, now known as New Denkyira Obuasi, in the Central Region. Major Mahama was mistakenly identified as a criminal while he was out on a morning run.
A vendor, alarmed by the sight of a pistol on the deceased, triggered one of the most horrific instances of mob justice in the country’s history.
The women, who saw the pistol and mistook Major Mahama for an armed robber, alerted a local assembly member. He then rallied men from the community, who captured, lynched, and ultimately burned the military officer to ashes.
Videos of the lynching showed both men and women participating in the brutal assault, beating him to death with cement blocks, stones, and sticks.
When news emerged that the victim was a military officer, many residents of the town fled in fear.
A pathology report by Dr. Lawrence Adusei from the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital revealed that Major Mahama died from severe head injuries inflicted by blunt objects and gunshots.
Years later, 12 individuals who were significantly involved in the lynching and murder of Major Mahama were sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of murder, conspiracy, and aiding in the crime.
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 brutally lynched on suspicion of witchcraft.
The victim, Akua Denteh, was accused of practicing witchcraft by a local fetish priest.
She endured severe beatings from a large crowd that had gathered to watch the horrific event.
Additionally, a video of the lynching spread widely 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 concept of mob justice is defined by law as the collective beating of a person suspected of criminal activity by a group using clubs, stones, machetes, and in extreme cases, setting them on fire.
Regardless of circumstances, Ghanaian laws protect individuals accused of crimes, irrespective of their severity.
Similarly, mob justice is explicitly outlawed under Ghana’s legal framework, specifically addressed in Act 29 of the Criminal Code of 1960. This legislation covers various aspects related to mob justice, including:
Section 46 — Murder: Punishing those who commit murder with death.
Section 47 — Definition of Murder: Stating that intentionally causing someone’s death through unlawful means constitutes murder, except under circumstances that may reduce the charge to manslaughter as per Section 52.
Section 48 — Attempt to Commit Murder: Declaring attempted murder a first-degree felony.
Additionally, Chapter 5 of Ghana’s constitution safeguards fundamental human rights and freedoms. Article 13(1) ensures no individual shall be intentionally deprived of life except through lawful execution following a criminal conviction under Ghanaian law.
Article 15 reinforces respect for human dignity, asserting the inviolability of everyone’s dignity and prohibiting torture, cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.
Article 19 guarantees fair trial rights, stipulating that individuals charged with criminal offences are entitled to a fair hearing within a reasonable time by a court, and are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
These laws collectively protect individuals, including those suspected of crimes, from being subjected to mob justice.