Major Mahama’s death: Justice will definitely be served -Karbo

The Deputy Minister of Roads and Highways and Member of Parliament (MP) for Lawra Constituency, Anthony N-yoh Abayifaa Karbo is optimistic Justice will be served in the gruesome murder of late Major Maxwell Adam Mahama.

He admits that the wheels of justice in the country may grind slowly, it is not an indication it will never be served especially in the case of the slain soldier where the country united to condemn the barbaric act.

“The sad and brutal murder of Major Mahama shocked and continues to shock the nation. In our grief, we united to condemn his barbaric murder and to give him a burial befitting of his status as a gallant soldier lost in the service of his nation. I have no doubt in the ability of our criminal justice system to find and punish the perpetrators of the heinous crime against Major Mahama. Justice may be slow but it shall certainly be served”, he said.

Commenting on the incident for the first time on his official Facebook page, the Deputy Minister disagreed with calls for the military to intervene in the situation and mete out extrajudicial sanctions as well as calls he said are construed as a nostalgic desire for the return of the military in the body politics of the country.

“For me and on a very personal level, I find these calls to insensitive and treacherous for the many, many people who suffered what has been euphemistically termed the ‘excesses’ of the period and, most importantly, to our constitutional order”, he stated.

Read full text of what he wrote

I like to begin by paying tribute to Major Mahama, who was buried over the weekend, and send my best wishes to his family. The sad and brutal murder of Major Mahama shocked and continues to shock the nation. In our grief, we united to condemn his barbaric murder and to give him a burial befitting of his status as a gallant soldier lost in the service of his nation.

Some commentary marking the aftermath of his murder sadly reveals, however, a disconcerting distrust among some members of our society in our constitutional order and its ability to mete out appropriate punishment to people who go contrary to our laws. Calls for the military to intervene in the situation and mete out extrajudicial sanctions as well as calls which can be construed as a nostalgic desire for the return of the military in our body politic has been made by people who know, should know and ought to know better.

For me and on a very personal level, I find these calls to insensitive and treacherous for the many, many people who suffered what has been euphemistically termed the ‘excesses’ of the period and, most importantly, to our constitutional order.

There can be no doubts about this: no matter the shortfalls of constitutional rule, it is our best bet against tyranny, abuse of power and a reign of terror.

While military rule may seem as offering a quick fix to problems, it takes back whatever benefits it purports to give with a forceful hand.

We must, of necessity, have an unwavering commitment to the constitution of Ghana. We must believe in it. We must have faith in it. And where there are shortfalls, our interest must be working together as a people to address it instead of suggesting that it be abandoned.

Key among the reasons why God punished the people of Israel in the Bible was the ingratitude they showed after Moses had freed them from slavery; it is reported in Exodus 16:3 that they gathered to murmur against Moses saying they would have had a better treatment in Egypt.We mustn’t signal similar ingratitude. We have come a long way as a nation and mustn’t fantasize even in jokes a desire to go back.

Collectively, let us work to make our rule of law work.

I have no doubt in the ability of our criminal justice system to find and punish the perpetrators of the heinous crime against Major Mahama. Justice may be slow but it shall certainly be served.