I support calls for review of Ghana’s criminal code – Akufo-Addo

President Akufo Addo has declared his support for calls by the family of the late Major Maxwell Mahama, and others demanding a review of Ghana’s Criminal Code, particularly, those that border on the offense of murder.

The family was of the opinion that the trial of only fourteen persons was not enough. They would have wished that all other persons involved in the killing of the late soldier who were initially apprehended by the Police, would have been made to answer for their involvement in the murder of their son before a court of competent jurisdiction.

The family contended that the number of persons who were finally charged to face the law were too small compared to the number who were initially arrested. This the family attributes to old provisions in the country’s Criminal Code.

The family’s call follows the arrest of over forty (40) persons and subsequent prosecution of only fourteen (14) persons at the High Court.

Addressing members of the family of the late soldier at the Presidency when they paid a courtesy call on him, President Akufo-Addo said throughout history, major reforms of the law have been carried out as a result of tragedies that have occurred.

Certainly, the tragic death of Major Mahama can be the vehicle through which Ghana can introduce essential reforms to our Criminal Code of 1960, the President articulated.

The leader of the family delegation, Ahmed Zakaria Sakara, registered their sincere thanks for the opportunity to meet the President. He expressed their appreciation to the President for the establishment of the Major Mahama Trust Fund and the commencement of the construction of a national monument in honour of the memory of the late soldier.

Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, on the 29th of May, 2018, inaugurated a seven-member Governing Board for the Major Mahama Trust Fund charging the members to adhere to the tenets of Act 960 in applying the funds for the welfare of the wife and children of the late military officer.

The delegation’s mission according to the leader, was to thank the President for all the several interventions he put in place to comfort the family at the time of their loss.

Background

Then Captain Mahama who was leading a detachment at Diaso in the Upper Denkyira District of the Central Region was murdered on suspicion that he was a robber.

He was an officer with the 5th Infantry Batallion of the Ghana Army who’d gone for his usual morning exercise on May 29, 2017, when residents attacked and lynched him at Denyira Obuasi.

Captain Maxwell Adam Mahama following his sad passing was posthumously promoted to the rank of Major on June 5, by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Parliament in November 2017, approved a bill that will make the spouse and children of Major Maxwell Mahama the state’s responsibility. The bill was in fulfillment of the President’s promise to the family of Major Mahama.