William Baah, a former assemblyman of Denkyira Obuasi who was serving a life sentence for abetting the murder of Major Maxwell Mahama, has been acquitted and discharged.
His acquittal followed a unanimous decision by a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, which held that the trial judge misdirected the jury, leading them to return a guilty verdict against Baah.
The Court subsequently set aside the conviction for abetment of crime specifically, murder and entered a verdict of not guilty. It ruled that the prosecution’s case against Baah was insufficient and unreliable.
The appellate judges pointed out inconsistencies and suspicious elements in the statements of two key witnesses, noting that the caution statements should not have been relied upon in convicting Baah. They stressed that there was no evidence showing that Baah abetted the crime, nor were there any eyewitnesses to support such an allegation. The Court described the trial judge’s misdirection as “grave.”
While delivering the judgment, the three-member panel strongly condemned the act of lynching, emphasizing that mob justice has no place in society. They urged the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) to intensify public education to help curb such incidents in communities.
On January 30, 2024, a seven-member jury had unanimously convicted Baah and 11 others for their roles in the murder of Major Mahama. Eleven of the accused were found guilty of murder and conspiracy to commit murder. All 12, including Baah, were sentenced to life imprisonment by the High Court.
Following the sentencing, Baah, through his lawyer, Mr. Bernard Shaw, appealed the conviction. The Court of Appeal’s decision brought emotional scenes, with Baah and some relatives breaking into tears upon hearing the ruling.
Baah has since been returned to prison custody to complete the necessary formalities for his release.
