State burial for Late Captain Mahama
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has directed a full state burial for the late Captain Maxwell Adam Mahama, who was murdered gruesomely a week ago by some residents of Denkyira Obuasi in the Central Region.
The President has also commanded that the deceased should be posthumously promoted from the rank of Captain to Major, upon the recommendation of Major General Obed Boamah Akwa, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).
Additionally, a memorial trust fund of GHc500, 000 is to be instituted to cater for the wife and children of the fallen soldier. Also, a monument is to be erected in honour of the late Captain, following an appeal made by his family to government.
President Akufo-Addo disclosed this on Monday when he commiserated with the family of late Capt Mahama at Burma Camp in Accra.
He said though sad and painful, there was nothing the state could do to bring the late soldier to life.
He said government, who however not spare any effort in ensuring that every individual who took part in the dastardly killing of Captain Mahama faced the law.
He said the security agencies were working round the clock to bring the perpetrators of the heinous crime to book.
About 42 persons who allegedly took part in the incident have been arrested by the police and are being processed to face justice.
The President said the Ghanaians were shocked by the horrid murder of the late Capt Mahama, saying: “We are with you, we feel and share your pain and we are really sorry.”
“The entire Ghanaian nation is horrified and upset about what happened to your husband. I have not come across anybody who has expressed anything but indignation and horror at what happened and that is why Ghanaians of all sorts, all walks of life, of all political persuasions, all sides of Parliament, government opposition, former Presidents, everybody to express to you and your family, the revulsion of our nation at what happened to your husband,” he said to the widow of the deceased.
President Akufo-Addo urged the widow to take consolation in the fact that her husband died a hero and that the entirety of Ghana had expressed outrage towards the act, assuring that the government would, within its powers, ensure that the family did not go through difficult times.
The President had at the aftermath of the incident delegated the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and his wife Rebecca empathise with the family of the late Army Officer.
President Akufo-Addo said in spite of the episode, the departed soldier died in a heroic manner, granted that he was armed and dying but chose not to use his weapon to attack those who wanted to kill him but kept trying to explain things to them even with the vicious way the people dealt with him.
“He has become a big national hero. Is there something else that can console you, he was a man of great dignity. It is the going that tells you the nature of a man and in his going, he has become a hero in our nation.”
Major Gen Akwa said the military, though pained by the incident, had taken consolation in the promise made by the State to expedite action in investigating and prosecuting all who took part in the dastardly act.
He the Military High Command, in the aftermath of the tragedy, had held forums at all the garrisons across the country and interacted with the rank and file of service, to update them on the steps being taken by the military Brass on the issue.
Regardless of the incident, the CDS gave the assurance that the personnel of the armed forces remained committed to discharging their duties to the State.
The deceased family expressed gratitude to the President for the gesture and honour done their son.
Capt Mahama’s remains would be laid to rest at the Osu Military Cemetary, after a State burial at the forecourts of the State House, in Accra on Friday, June 9.
Captain Mahama commanded a detachment of army troops that was assigned to the Upper West Denkyira District as part of a wider operation to clamp down on illegal mining.
According to reports, the officer had gone or his early morning physical training in civilian clothing, jogging through the Diaso Township, when he was lynched by a mob, who suspected him of being an armed robber because of a side arm that he carried for his protection.
His corpse was also set ablaze.
The incident has infuriated the military and civilians alike, drawing wide condemnation of the emerging culture of citizens flouting the law with impunity.
The Military High Command had asked personnel of the service to exercise professionalism during the trying period.
Source: GNA