Ghana's president suspends official over comment after soldier's lynching

Ghana’s President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has suspended the District Chief Executive (DCE) of the area where an army captain was lynched, for comments described as provocative.

Upper Denkyira West DCE, Daniel Apiannin, had said during a radio interview after the gruesome murder on Monday that the soldier was in the area to protect illegal Chinese miners contrary to claims by the military command.

He also added that there was no official military operation in the area led by the lynched Captain Maxwell Adam Mahama against illegal mining activities, despite confirmation by the army.

The DCE’s comments infuriated the public and the family of the deceased who described it as insensitive and a seeming justification of the lynching.

The president on Thursday said it was “necessary” to suspend Apiannin and ordered an investigation into the circumstances of the comments.

“The District Chief Executive made comments in this matter that appeared to be somewhat provocative. I have taken the decision that he should be suspended pending an inquiry into all circumstances in the matter and the comments that he made,” President Akufo-Addo said in an audio message.

The suspension, which was announced earlier, was condemned by the DCE who said he was still at post until he receives an official notification.

“Ever since this incident happened, nobody has called to find out my side of the story. So if they are suspending me and it will be on radio without communicating to me that is their problem,” he told local radio Starr FM.

A suspension letter was reported to have been signed to that effect per the instruction of the president.

Captain Maxwell Adam Mahama was lynched by a mob who mistook him for an armed robber while jogging in a suburb of Denkyira-Obuasi in the Central Region. His body was subsequently burnt by the mob.

The police have since arrested a number of suspects who are in prison custody while investigation is ongoing.

“I’ve told the law enforcement agencies that they should spare no stone and make sure that those who are responsible for this brutal act are brought to face the consequences and are brought before trial in our courts and justice done accordingly,” the president assured.

Captain Maxwell Adam Mahama is survived by a wife and two children.