President Akufo-Addo shaking hands with some of traditional rulers of Denkyira Obuase
As part of efforts to erase the negative perception people have about Denkyira-Obuase and the hatred they have developed against the community –Â following the lynching of Major Maxwell Mahama by a mob in the town – the chiefs and the people have now decided to rename the town New Obuase – which was its former name.
Denkyira-Obuase came to be known later in May this year after the soldier was lynched by the residents of the farming community on suspicion that he was an armed robber.
His death took the country by storm as Ghanaians could not fathom why human beings could subject their fellow human being to such treatment.
The late army officer was laid to rest on June 9, 2017, with full state and army honors.
Over 50 suspects, some of who had fled the town to other regions in the country, were later arrested in connection with the killing and are being tried for murder. The town has since had its image dented.
During a visit to the town on Monday by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the first time after the unfortunate incident, the acting paramount chief of Denkyira, Nana Agyei Nkyere II, appealed to all Ghanaians to forgive their sins and do away with the perception that all those from the community are murderers.
“We are pleading with all Ghanaians, particularly the family of the late army officer, to forgive us. This incident should not happen again anywhere in the country,” he stressed.
He emphasised that those arrested in connection with the tragic death of the army officer should be dealt with according to the law.
He, therefore, announced that the town had changed its name to New Obuasi and must be called as such thenceforth.
President Akufo-Addo expressed regret that such a gruesome act happened during his presidency and urged Ghanaians to learn from it and not tarnish the hard earned image of Ghana to the rest of the world.
The president told the people that in the era of democracy, such violent acts must not be entertained.
“It is either the police, judges or lawyers who are supposed to deal with such cases according to the law and so never again should we take the law into our own hands,” he cautioned.
The President later visited the exact spot where the army officer was allegedly killed.
Present was Lt. Gen Obed Akwa, Chief of Defence Staff and other army officers.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Denkyira-Obuase