Captain Mahama lynching: Unknown crowdfundraisers appear
A number of GoFundMe campaigns have been created by unknown persons attempting to solicit for funds in the name of the bereaved family of Captain Maxwell Adam Mahama.
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Out of the four campaigns monitored by Graphic Online, two have managed to raise about 5,960 dollars as of 4pm on Friday with the others receiving no donations.
GoFundMe is an online fundraising platform that helps people to raise money for charity or other causes with wide-ranging interests.
The campaigns were created by following people; Modesta Adewuje Alobawone, Beatrice Mahama, Andra CollingWoode-Williams and Proff- Kumordzie Double Double
It is unclear whether organisers of these campaigns have any connections to the family or intend to donate the proceeds to the family.
However, One profile created by Modesta Adewuje Alobawone, a woman based in New Jersey claims to be a family friend and has received approval from the family of Captain Mahama to run the campaign.
But some donors have reacted angrily and accused her of attempting to cash in on the sympathy of Ghanaians.
One user on the GoFundMe page with the name Thellixy Einstein De Cypher wrote "Even though no amount can bring you back but we pray for strength and courage that Mrs. Mahama you may move on and take good care of the kids..We also pray that Mr. Mahama may rest in peace as those culprits will be brought to book"
Another person by name Emmanuel Adu-tutu attacked the credibility of the campaign stating that "believe this account is fake. People should be careful. The name alone tells you is 499 lady taking pictures from the internet and using it for her own gain. Look at the account details. The account is Fidelity Bank Ltd Endowment Fund. The person should use the family account so that the money goes direct to the family. How can someone in the US open an account with Fidelity for a family in Ghana."
PookieSho, another user did not take it lightly with the fundraisers. "I hope to God this is genuine else the spirit of Captain Mahama will hunt you. ... This is not the time to use someone's pain for your gain! You don't know what you're about to unleash!"
Captain Mahama was lynched by residents of Denkyira Obuasi near Diaso in the Central Region on Monday May 29, 2017 after they claimed he was an armed robber.
Police account at Friday's press conference
ADDRESS BY THE DIRECTOR - GENERAL CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT. DCOP/MR. BRIGHT ODURO ON PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN MAXWELL MAHAMA
- CAPTAIN MAXWELL MAHAMA now deceased was the Commander of a Military Detachment stationed at Diaso in the Upper Denkyira District of the Central Region to check Galamsey activities. The Detachment is based at the outskirts of Diaso.
- On Monday May 29, 2017 at about 8:00 am, the deceased left the Detachment Base for a 20km walk/jogging. He was in civilian clothing but carried his sidearm. He jogged on the main asphalted Diaso-Dominase-Ayanfuri motor road. He came through Agona Port Police Barrier. Jameso Nkwanta and Dankwakrom villages heading towards Dominase.
- It has been established that at about 8:55am, the deceased in a whatsapp chat with a friend stated that, he was embarking on a 20km walk and that he started at 8.00am so he would get in touch later. It is estimated that, between this time and 9:25 am he had walked about 10km to a place at the outskirts of Denkyira-Obuasi village where a number of women were selling food items by the road. The deceased stopped to interact with the women and even bought some snails which he left with the women to pick up on his return from the walk.
- While the deceased was taking out money from his pocket to pay for the snail, the woman from whom the deceased bought the snail and a few others saw the deceased's sidearm tucked to his waist.Soon after he left the women, one of them (name withheld) telephoned the Assemblyman of Denkyira-Obuasi, William Baah to report what they had seen.
- Without verifying the information, the Assemblyman mobilized the townsfolk to prepare to attack an armed robber who had been sighted by the women who sell at the outskirt of the town. The Assemblyman called a motor rider who is popularly known in the town as “Komoko” and together with one other man called Kwasi Buah. a vulcanizer proceeded to confront the deceased.
- The Assemblyman met the deceased near the Denkyira-Obuasi cemetery, which is about one-and- half kilometers away from the food stuff sellers and about the same distance from the place where the body of the deceased was found.
- As soon as the Assemblyman and his two-man team spotted the deceased with a side arm, they accosted him without giving him the opportunity to identify himself.
- By this time message had spread that an armed robber had been sighted and so other people had come around wielding all forms of implements and started attacking the deceased.
- While the deceased was being attacked, he made efforts to explain his identity, while at the same time attempting to flee from his attackers.
Police Investigations have also established the following:
- The deceased jumped unto different motor bikes in an attempt to escape from the attack but to no avail.
- He also attempted to escape by jumping unto a timber truck (details withheld) by entering through the passenger side but the attackers fired and shattered the windscreen causing him to fall off.
- There were sporadic shooting from the attackers.
- The attackers used implements including clubs, cement blocks and machetes.
- He was finally killed at about 10:00am
- These findings indicate that the deceased left his base at about 8am of Monday May 29. 2017 and was killed at about 10am of the same day.
- Police actions taken so far include the arrest of 16 suspects. 7 out of whom have been remanded by the Court to police custody and the rest to be presented in Court on Monday June 5, 2017 together with any suspects that may be arrested in the course of the weekend.
- The seven who have been remanded are:
- William Baah
- Bismark Donkor
- Philip Badu
- Kofi Nyame
- Anthony Amoah
- Kofi Badu
- Yaw Annor
- The other arrested persons are as stated below. Some were attempting to escape arrest to other places and were intercepted, while others were arrested from other places across the country, including as far as Sunyani.
- Dolly Kormla
- Domeh Francis
- Sonu Mwaunyo
- Sonu Emmanuel
- Ernest Ally
- Kojo Mfum
- Kwasi Buah
- Issah Manu
- Prince Amponsah
- We have collected a number of evidence which have either been processed or are being processed according to due process.
In conclusion our investigations are focused on identifying all persons whose actions caused the death of the deceased.To find out what specific actions were taken by each individual and how the actions are linked to the killing as well as the intent of the actions.
THANK YOU
