OccupyGhana condemns abuse of alleged lady criminal by mob in Kumasi

OccupyGhana has described as unfortunate the mob justice meted out to a woman in Kumasi.

The group says the video circulating on social media which shows a young woman being stripped naked and abused by a mob in Kumasi depicts the rather dark side of our country’s history.

The woman was allegedly caught attempting to steal GH¢1,100 from a shop owner in the PZ Area in Adum, Kumasi.

“It is unconstitutional, barbaric, unjust, unfair and criminal, and often has fatal consequences. It often ensnares the innocent and deprives law enforcement of the chance to thoroughly investigate cases. Moreover, it denies victims due process and constitutes an abuse of their human rights and violation of their dignity,” the group said.

What this woman went through was clearly a violation of her dignity and self-worth, and no member of that mob had the right to do that to her, regardless of her alleged crime, it also said.

The lady has not been put before any court and, no court of law would have sentenced her to public stripping and abuse. The alleged crime, stealing, does not merit the ‘punishment’ she received, it added.

Beyond that is also the issue of shaming. Nothing is as demeaning to a woman as being stripped naked and abused publicly. That is the ultimate reduction of the worth of a woman, it explained.

As a society, we are and should be better than this. We ought to rise above such dark and barbaric practices that sink us all into depravity. Regardless of what factors have led to this practice, it needs to stop, it further said.

The group appealed to the police to use the video to arrest the men responsible for the abuse of the woman.

‘We demand that they be prosecuted to the full extent of the law as a deterrent to others. We appeal to all Ghanaians to respect the individual human rights and dignity of their fellow men and women so that together we can grow this great nation,” the release said.

By Pamela Ofori-Boateng.