Supreme Court nominee, Justice Kweku T. Ackaah-Boafo, has issued a strong condemnation of mob justice, emphasizing that no individual or group has the authority to take the law into their own hands through lynching, public demonstrations, or vigilante actions.
“I believe that nobody can use mob justice or demonstrations to resolve a legal matter,” he stated during his vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Friday, June 20.
Justice Ackaah-Boafo was responding to a question from the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, concerning the rise of mob justice and its impact on Ghana’s constitutional governance.
He stressed that all legal issues must be addressed through the country’s judicial system as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
“If somebody has done something wrong, the judicial process should be allowed to take its place. Using mob justice clearly is illegal, and people who engage in it must be dealt with by the law,” he asserted.
Regarding the public mistrust in the justice system, often cited as a root cause of vigilante actions, Justice Ackaah-Boafo encouraged Ghanaians to restore their confidence in state institutions and those who serve within them.
“The issue of people not trusting the judiciary is a result of the general perception of all of us. But as Ghanaians, we need to believe and trust in our institutions. Those who work in the justice delivery system are Ghanaians. You don’t develop mistrust just because someone becomes a judge. You either trust the person or you don’t. Let us have faith in the judicial system and allow the courts to work, rather than taking the law into our own hands,” he advised.
Mob justice continues to be a deeply troubling phenomenon in Ghana. One of the most horrific incidents occurred in 2017, when Major Maxwell Adam Mahama was brutally lynched in Denkyira-Obuasi after being mistaken for an armed robber. The national outrage that followed sparked widespread calls for reforms and justice.
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In a similar incident in 2021, two brothers were lynched in Ejura, located in the Ashanti Region, triggering a ministerial inquiry and further public scrutiny of law enforcement and judicial responsiveness.
Justice Ackaah-Boafo’s comments contribute meaningfully to the ongoing national conversation around strengthening the rule of law and eradicating extrajudicial violence. His appeal for trust in judicial institutions serves as a reminder of the role every citizen plays in upholding democratic principles and ensuring justice through lawful means.
