Supreme Court nominee Justice Kweku T. Ackaah-Boafo issued a strong rebuke of mob justice during his parliamentary vetting on Friday, warning that extrajudicial actions such as lynchings and vigilante violence threaten constitutional governance and the rule of law.

“No one can resolve a legal matter through mob justice or public demonstrations,” Ackaah-Boafo told members of Parliament’s Appointments Committee in Accra. “Using mob justice is illegal, and those who engage in it must be dealt with by the law.”

His remarks came in response to a query from Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who raised concerns about the rising trend of mob actions in Ghana and their corrosive impact on the nation’s legal institutions.

Justice Ackaah-Boafo emphasized that Ghana’s Constitution provides clear legal pathways for resolving disputes and addressing criminal acts. “If somebody has done something wrong, the judicial process should be allowed to take its course,” he said.

The judge also addressed what many see as the root of mob violence: a deepening mistrust in the judiciary. Ackaah-Boafo urged Ghanaians to put faith in the country’s legal institutions and those who serve in them.

“Those who work in the justice delivery system are Ghanaians,” he said. “Let us have faith in the judicial system and allow the courts to work rather than taking the law into our hands.”

Mob justice has been a recurring blight in Ghana’s recent history. In 2017, Major Maxwell Adam Mahama was brutally lynched in Denkyira-Obuasi after being mistaken for an armed robber—a killing that drew nationwide condemnation. More recently, in 2021, two brothers were killed by a mob in Ejura, sparking public protests and a ministerial inquiry.

Justice Ackaah-Boafo’s comments come at a time when Ghana’s judiciary is grappling with questions about public trust and institutional legitimacy. His nomination to the Supreme Court has reignited debate about how the nation addresses lawlessness and ensures equal justice under the law.

Source:TheDotNews