Ghana Armed Forces will today hold a candle light vigil in honor of the
Late Major Mahama at the Arakan Officers’ Mess.
As we Ghanaians mourn the death of an innocent military captain, deep
down our hearts we wish and hope such an incident will never repeat itself. So
many little things come together before a bigger event occurs. As we all cry
out that justice be meted out to the perpetrators of this inhumane crime, we
still need to consider the root causes and remedies.
The former story alleged that Captain Mahama was mistaken for a thief.
Suppose this is true, which part of the law allows us to take matters into our hands?
But then again isn't it surprising that theft is an ideal excuse for brutally lynching
someone up? Let's take a moment to rewind to the spot where Ghanaians thought
it was okay to beat up an accused thief. Not to make excuses for the mob, for
they are as guilty as sin. This instant mob justice has been going on for a
long time. We all looked on in the name of instant justice. My first finger of
blame points to our systems. The criminal systems.
Have you ever sent an issue to the station and all indications points to
the fact that the officers expect you to give out bribe before the case is
handled? Almost like a formality. Probably you filed a complaint about a theft
and you had to pay, sometimes half or more the worth of the item in possession
of the thief. The worse is when you don't pay, the accused might pay his or her
way out, and might be set free. So this is a case of who make a better bargain.
Obviously the morally right person is going to lose in this case. Makes you
question if the Ghana police is for all Ghanaians or a selected few. This
picture of a faulty system is not a perception but a reality. Haven't we seen
police officers taking bribe from drivers like it was their due or a
constitutional right? We have the systems alright but it just doesn't work and
that is our problem. If we were aware that a thief, one with a weapon for that
matter, stands to get a 10 years sentence at least, at all cost we just might
not be quick to take matters into our hands. Beating up someone because he is
alleged to be a thief won't be our perfect excuse anymore.
To the other side of the story, he was beaten up on purpose, because he
was involved in halting galamsey activities. Did the galamseyers really wish
that galamsey operations were never exposed? Did they really wish the Captain
was never posted to their town? Why don't they wish to be better enlightened to
know that the call to stop galamsey was in the best interest of the nation? I
only wish they were less selfish.
The worse part of the entire incident was that his death was painful and
slow. This entire article wants to print out that most unfortunate occurrences
can easily be avoided by us. If individuals with the responsibility to ensure
that justice prevails, actually allow justice to prevail. And if we as
individuals give a helping hand any way we can. If we give our fellow human the
benefit of the doubt. Let's allow love and discipline to guide our actions.
#Let'sMakeTheSystemWork#
Rest in peace Maxwell. Ghana mourns you and sincerely wish your death
causes a difference.
