Upper Denkyira West MP cautions against instant justice
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Upper Denkyira West, Mr Samuel Nsowa-Djan, has urged Ghanaians not to resort to instant justice when dealing with suspected criminals.
He said such attacks could lead to severe injuries and death to innocent people who were engaged in their legitimate work.
Mr Nsowa-Djan was reflecting on the second anniversary of the killing of Major Maxwell Adam Mahama by a mob while on anti-illegal mining assignment two years ago at Denkyira Obuasi.
Name change et al
Denkyira Obuasi, which is now called New Obuasi, is one of the towns in the Upper Denkyira West.
The government last Wednesday unveiled a statue at the Airport Hills (Kpeletso) Roundabout at La, a suburb of Accra, in memory of Major Mahama .
The ceremony was attended by the top-brass of the military, including the Chief of the Defence Staff, Lt Gen. Obed Akwa; the Minister of Defence, Mr Dominic Nitiwul and the Minister of the Interior, Mr Ambrose Dery.
Effects on town
Touching on the effects that the unfortunate situation has had on Denkyira Obuasi or New Obuasi, Mr Nsowa-Djan said the attacks had regressed development in the area.
He said the area was a predominant farming community and indicated that following the murder of the soldier, many farmers deserted their farms.
Besides, the legislator said, many youth and professionals, including doctors, nurses and teachers deserted the town because of fear of reprisal attacks by the military.
He said the desertion of the area had adversely affected commercial activities of the livelihoods of the few people left in the area.
Aside the effects on economic activities, Mr Nsowa-Djan said the killing of Major Mahama had dented the image of the area and its people.
For instance, he said, wherever he went to and mentioned his name and position as the MP for Upper Denkyira West, people began to look at him with suspicion.
"The killing of Major Mahama has damaged the reputation of the area. People think that we are the killers", he said, and urged other Ghanaians to be guided by the example of the people of New Obuasi.