The tragic shooting of 45-year-old Issah Nawutou Baricle by a police officer at Gagbini in the East Mamprusi Municipality, as reported by JoyNews yesterday, is yet another painful reminder of how quickly law enforcement misconduct and mob retaliation can spiral into chaos.
According to the report, Issah was fatally shot at a police checkpoint following a confrontation over a bribe demand of GH¢10. When he protested and attempted to flee, the officer allegedly pursued and shot him dead. In response, enraged residents vandalised the checkpoint in what has been described as an act of instant justice.
In another development, an anti-illegal mining operation carried out by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) on November 1, 2025 near Bronikrom–Hwediem, in the Ahafo Region, resulted in some irate youth resisting the NAIMOS task force during a raid on an illegal mining site in the area.
The Chronicle also reported in yesterday’s edition that a Police Station at Ehi, a village in the Ketu North municipality of Volta Region was vandalised by an irate mob on November 3, 2025 after a suspect, who was on detention over his alleged involvement in a murder case, was removed to a secret location by the police to avoid being lynched.
This disturbing event once again exposes the deep-seated frustration citizens feel towards unchecked police extortion and brutality. However, it also highlights an equally dangerous trend mob justice, which continues to spread like wildfire across the country.
These violent reprisals are fast becoming a national menace. Ghana is a nation of laws, not mobs. When citizens begin to replace lawful redress with street justice, the foundation of civil order starts to crumble.
We must be clear: mob violence is not justice; it is chaos. It does not restore the life lost, nor does it guarantee accountability. Instead, it breeds more violence, destroys property and widens the mistrust between civilians and the police. Each act of mob reprisal only deepens the cycle of anger and fear, leaving behind scars that take generations to heal.
The security agencies and government must act decisively and urgently. The irate mob who perpetrated the unlawful acts must be identified, arrested and prosecuted swiftly and transparently.
Equally, there must be a national campaign against mob violence, led by the Ministry of Interior, traditional leaders, and civil society groups. Ghanaians need to be reminded that mob action is a crime punishable under the law and participation in such acts only worsens the suffering of communities.
Traditional and community leaders must also help restore calm in tense areas. Their moral authority can play a crucial role in urging restraint and channeling grievances through lawful means. The media must also continue to expose mob-related violence.
We, as a society, must confront the hard truth: mob violence is becoming normalised. It is no longer a rare reaction to extreme provocation, but it is creeping into our daily lives. From petty theft cases to police altercations, the instinct to destroy before due process is now a reflex. If this continues unchecked, the rule of law — the very bedrock of democracy — will be at risk.
The government must fix the broken trust between citizens and security agencies, while citizens must reject mob vengeance as a solution. Justice must be pursued in courtrooms, not on the streets. Mob violence must stop now before it consumes us all.
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