A year ago today, on Monday, May 29, 2017, Major Maxwell Mahama was lynched by a mob at Denkyira-Obuasi in the Central Region.
News of his grisly killing emerged the next day to shock Ghanaians.
What followed was the general lament and condemnation of Ghana’s culture of mob justice.
The town of Denkyira-Obuasi also gained infamy following the killing, with many noting the town as having a history of violence.
Major Mahama was an officer of the 5th Infantry Battalion and was on active duty in the area.
He was said to have been on his daily jogging routine when the mob attacked him.
Monument in his honour
Today [Tuesday], the Ghana Armed Forces and the family of the late soldier will cut the sod for the construction of a memorial at the Airport Hills Roundabout in Accra Region.
This would be in line with a request from the family of the late military officer.
Major Mahama’s family made the request known during a courtesy call by the leadership of Parliament last year, where it expressed the hope that this monument would serve as a reminder of the tragedy and a deterrent to the canker of mob justice in Ghana.
A family spokesperson said, “after the burial, the family wants a monument to be built anywhere in Ghana on his behalf so that in the future, we use that to remember and that in our lifetime we don’t want to see anything of this sort again.”
Other activities lined up today to mark one year of his passing will include a church service at the Catherine Catholic Church at Burma Camp and a wreath-laying ceremony at the Military Cemetery.
Major Mahama is survived by a wife, Barbara, and their two kids.
The government announced the setting up of a memorial Trust Fund with seed money of GH¢500,000 to support the education of Major Mahama’s children.
The Major Mahama Trust Fund Bill was read for the third time and passed by Parliament in November 2017.
The late army officer was laid to rest on June 9, 2017, with full State and army honours.
Ongoing trial
After a drawn-out process, the selection of a jury to hear the murder trial of Major Mahama was completed by an Accra High Court in April.
The setting up of the jury had suffered some setbacks, which included some selected jurors recusing themselves, as well as opposition to a number of the potential jurors by the accused persons.
The Prosecution examined its first witness on May 10.
The trial had Warrant Officer Sabi Kwasi, who was a member of the late soldier’s team, narrating events at the camp before the late Soldier’s departure for his daily jogging on that fateful day.
Out of the over 35 people initially arrested in connection with the killing, 14 are now standing trial after the others were discharged.
After news of the killing broke, President Nana Akufo-Addo vowed to ensure that the perpetrators of the murder were brought to light and made to face the rigours of the law.
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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citinewsroom.com/Ghana
