First-year SHS student nearly killed over ram theft
A first-year student at Paga Senior High School in the Upper East Region, Fuseini Braimah, narrowly avoided a potentially deadly situation after being wrongly accused of ran theft by some townspeople.
Reports indicate that Fuseini Braimah, the first-year student had visited a relative of his friend, Karim Wejong, off-campus. While urinating near an unfinished building where some sheep were resting, someone spotted him and accused him of being a thief.
This accusation triggered a mob, with shocking allegations that the Vice Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) chairman at the school, Michael Kandwe, was among those leading the charge. He reportedly incited the mob to attack the student for allegedly stealing a ram.
Fortunately, it was later revealed that the student was innocent, and the accusations were baseless. Eyewitnesses confirmed that the Vice PTA chairman, who owns a business near the school, had incited the locals, who were armed with iron rods.
The first-year student, who suffered severe beatings, has regained consciousness and is currently receiving treatment at the Paga District Hospital. Despite the seriousness of the incident, the perpetrators remain at large, as the police have yet to make any arrests.
The school’s Headmaster, Isaac Boena, confirmed the incident and stated that the victim’s family had been asked to meet with police investigators. He mentioned that he would decide on further actions once the police concluded their investigation.
The PTA Chairman of the school, Hillary Aniako, condemned the act as disgusting. He expressed confidence that the perpetrators would be arrested based on the information he had.
Aniako also mentioned that the school plans to hold a meeting with community members to educate them about the consequences of such actions and to strengthen the relationship between the school and the community to prevent future incidents. He raised concerns about the school’s environment, noting that the lack of a perimeter wall and the fact that it is a day school providing only one hot meal a day compromise student safety, as outsiders can enter the campus at any time.
He called on the government to upgrade the school to a boarding facility by constructing additional structures to accommodate students and erecting a perimeter wall around the premises.
The Kassena-Nankana West District Chief Executive, Gerald Ataogye, visited the victim to offer support for his recovery.
Mob justice remains a significant issue for many people and civil society organizations, as perpetrators often escape proper punishment, failing to serve as a deterrent.
Meanwhile, the boy’s family is determined to see the perpetrators apprehended and brought to justice. They insist on the boy’s innocence and demand that the attackers face legal consequences.
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