In Denkyira-Obuasi, a resident shares their firsthand experience of the aftermath following the tragic death of Major Maxwell Adam Mahama.
On May 29, 2017, Major Mahama was brutally attacked and killed while carrying out his duties in Denkyira-Obuasi, located in the Central Region.
Initial reports suggested that he was mistaken for an armed robber, leading to the fatal assault.
In the aftermath of the incident, authorities apprehended over 50 suspects, ultimately narrowing down to 14 individuals who were considered for prosecution.
Among the 14 individuals considered for prosecution are William Baah, then-Assemblyman for Denkyira Obuasi, Bernard Asamoah (known as Daddy), Kofi Nyame (also known as Abortion), Akwasi Boah, Kwame Tuffour, Joseph Appiah Kubi, Michael Anim, and Bismarck Donkor. The remaining suspects are John Bosie, Akwasi Baah, Charles Kwaning, Emmanuel Badu, Bismarck Abanga, and Kwadwo Anima.
One of the two individuals who was ultimately released shared a harrowing account of being severely beaten by the military during the 2017 operation to apprehend Major Mahama’s killers. The brutality was such that he lost sensation in his body and was unable to walk, while his wife was caring for their three-month-old baby at the time.
“I was at home relaxing when I heard that in the early hours of the morning, the man they were beating that they claimed was an armed robber was not an armed robber but a soldier, and I said, Oh, okay, I didn’t pay attention that much. At 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., I noticed people running; they said the guy who died is a soldier, so the soldiers are coming to the town to arrest the individuals who committed the act. So they were running; I didn’t run; I stayed home,” he narrated.
He added that he was never close to the scene and didn’t even know what Major Mahama looked like, yet he spent 7 years of his life in prison while being innocent.
“I went home to sleep, then at around 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., I heard someone banging on my door; they then slammed my door open. I was brought outside in the presence of nine soldiers, and an additional two were caught along with me. A gun was pointed to my face; I was beaten mercilessly; no one was injured; I was bleeding. At 6 p.m., the commander came over and demanded where the bearded guy was. I was mistaken for another guy in the video who had a beard; I was subjected to an intense beating; I couldn’t walk or do anything; in fact, I couldn’t feel anything; I was innocent; I did nothing wrong; I mean, I did nothing wrong; I didn’t know the face of Major Mahama nor have I seen him before,” the victim narrated.
