Alleged killers of Major Mahama storm court singing praises

• Posted on September 8, 2017
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

The Accra Central District Court on Thursday became a worship centre when the 20 alleged killers of Major Maxwell Mahama appeared in court singing praises.

Holding Bibles and other Christian literature, the 20 accused made their entrance to the court room with songs of praise.

They continued with their singing on their way back to the vehicle that was to transport them back to the Nsawam Medium Security Prison.

In the vehicle, the accused could be heard singing more praises and also praying.

Their actions attracted some people, who either joined the singing or made sarcastic comments about the spectacle.

A-G’s advice

Meanwhile, at the hearing itself, the prosecutor, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Mr George Amegah, informed the court that the police were still awaiting the Attorney-General’s (A-G’s) advice on the case.

He, therefore, pleaded with the court, presided over by Mr Joshua Caleb Abaidoo, to adjourn the case.

In response, a lawyer for the accused, Mr Solomom Boy Boison, pleaded with the police not to relax but follow up on the advice from the A-G’s office.

“The liberties of the accused are at stake and so speed up the process,’’ he said.

Hearing continues on September 25, 2017.

Background

The 20 accused persons, including the assembly member for Denkyira Obuasi, William Baah, and one female, Vivian Asahene, have been charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

The police are still hunting for 13 people who are also suspected to have participated in the lynching of the military officer.

The facts, as presented by DSP Amegah, were that Major Mahama was the Commander of a military detachment stationed at Diaso in the Upper Denkyira West District in the Central Region to check illegal mining activities.

At 8 a.m. on May 29, 2017, Major Mahama, wearing civilian clothes but with his sidearm, left his detachment base for a 20-kilometre jogging.

The prosecutor said at 9:25 a.m., the military officer got to the outskirts of Denkyira Obuasi, where a number of women were selling foodstuffs by the roadside.

He stopped to interact with the women and even bought some snails, which he left in their custody to be taken on his return from jogging.

While he was taking out money from his pocket to pay for the snails, the woman from whom he had bought the snails and a few others saw Major Mahama’s sidearm tucked to his waist.

Soon after he left, one of the women telephoned the assembly member for Denkyira Obuasi to report what they had seen.

“Without verifying the information, the assembly member mobilised the accused persons and others, some now at large, to attack the military officer,’’ the prosecutor said.

He said the mob met Major Mahama near the Denkyira Obuasi cemetery and, without giving him the opportunity to explain and identify himself, “attacked him with implements such as clubs, cement blocks and machetes, killed him and burnt a portion of his body”.

By: EMMANUEL EBO HAWKSON