P
Government has unveiled an eight-foot monument and named the roundabout near the Airport Hills Estate in Accra, after late Major Maxwell Adam Mahama.
At a short ceremony, yesterday, grief stricken mourners and passers-by, defied a downpour to witness the unveiling of a statue in honour of the fallen soldier.
The family and foundation of the late soldier laid wreaths on the gold monument unveiled in his honour.
The monument depicted the late Major stretching his left arm apparently calling for the curtailment of mob action with his right hand securing his weapon.
The seven-foot high by 13-foot wide triangular pedestrian wall has a relief sculpture embedded on all the three faces with the late Major seen facing the assailants with one hand close to his pistol and other hand stopping the crowd from throwing missiles at him.
The monument had the inscription, “Major Maxwell Adam Mahama (GH/3454) was born on November 1, 1985 in Bole. After his senior secondary education, he enlisted into the Ghana Military Academy on October 6, 2005, as part of regular career course 47. Maxwell was commissioned into the Ghana Army on September 7, 2007, as a Second Lieutenant, and was posted to the 5 Infantry Battalion as a platoon commander.
During his short but illustrious military career, he rose through the ranks to become a captain and served in various capacities both at home and abroad. Unfortunately Major Mahama met his untimely death at the hands of an irate mob at Denkyira Obuase in the Central Region whilst on official duty as detachment commander, on Monday May 29, 2017. He was promoted posthumously to the rank of Major on June 5, 2017.”
In attendance were his family, the Military High Command, Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul, Minister of the Interior, Ambrose Dery, Chief of Defence Staff Lieutenant General Obed Boamah Akwa as well as other state officials and some personnel from the Ghana Armed Forces.
Unveiling the statue on behalf of the President, Mr Nitiwul said, the monument was to serve as a reminder to end instant justice, stressing that everyone was innocent until proven guilty.”
He lauded the people of La for their efforts in securing the land to build the structure.
Captain (Retired) Dennis Mahama, father of the late Major commended government for honouring his son.
Describing the act against his son as wrongful, he urged the citizenry to eschew such behaviours.
The young captain who was with the 5th Infantry Battalion died in the line of duty at Denkyira Obuase in the Central Region in 2017.
Capt. Mahama was commander of about 100 officers who were sent to the Denkyira Obuase Township to assist the government in the fight against illegal mining.
The statue has been unveiled, exactly two years after his gruesome murder by the youth in the area.
He was allegedly stoned to death and burnt by the youth of the area who mistook him for an armed robber.
He suddenly became a national hero following the callous manner in which he was killed by the very people he had been deployed to protect.
He was promoted posthumously to the full rank of Major by the President, Nana Akufo-Addo when he attended the one-week remembrance ceremony of the late soldier.
Some 14 persons, including the Assembly Member of Denkyira Obuasi, William Baah, are standing trial at an Accra High Court over the killing of Major Mahama.
BY ALLIA NOSHIE
