A court in Ghana has handed down life sentences to 12 individuals found guilty of the murder of an army officer, Major Maxwell Mahama seven years ago.
This group was part of the 14 suspects accused of lynching Major Mahama in May 2017 in the Denkyira Obuasi area, triggering widespread outrage in the country.
On Monday, the High Court in Accra found the 12 individuals guilty of charges including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and abetment of murder. Among them is a local politician accused of mobilising the community to attack the soldier while he was jogging.
Two other suspects were acquitted as the court deemed them not guilty.
The 32-year-old Major Mahama was on duty in Denkyira Obuasi in the country’s Central region when a mob attacked him over allegations of being an armed robber. He was part of a group of soldiers deployed to the area to protect a local mine.
His death sparked nationwide outrage, leading to the arrest of over 50 suspects, with 14 eventually facing prosecution.
In the aftermath, the government posthumously promoted Major Maxwell Mahama to the rank of major and accorded him a state burial in Accra.
In 2019, authorities unveiled a statue in Accra commemorating the slain soldier, serving as a national symbol against mob violence.