Mahama lynching not justifiable – Pius Hadzide

The Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Pius Hadzide, has indicated that attempts by some persons to rationalise the lynching of Captain Maxwell Mahama is worrying.

According to him, some persons are citing similar happenings around the country to indicate that such practices are not new to Ghanaians.

Mr Mahama was lynched on Monday May 29 by irate youth of Denkyira-Obuasi in the Central Region on suspicion that he was an armed robber. The Police have so far picked up six suspects in relation to the incident.

Commenting on the matter on Peace FM’s Kokrokoo on Thursday, June 1, Mr Hadzide said: “We need to look at this issue from a national point of view. There cannot be any justification for this incident. Some are talking as though they are attempting to justify this incident but there cannot be any justification.”

He further indicated: “My only small joy with the video is that it has given the investigators an easy identification.”

Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service has indicated that it will go beyond the video evidence in the investigations.

Speaking on this development in an interview with Chief Jerry Forson, host of Ghana Yensom on Accra100.5FM on Thursday June 1, DSP Sheila Kesse Abayie Buckman, Assistant Police Public Relations Officer, said: “We are taking into in account several things, we will go beyond the video evidence that all of us have seen.

“We are hopeful that with the progress that we have made as far as investigations into this matter is concerned, justice will be delivered.”

She further appealed to the general public not to resort to instant justice as a means of punishing people they suspect to be armed robbers because such practice could endanger the lives of innocent citizens.