A first-year student at Paga Senior High School in the Upper East Region has narrowly escaped a potentially fatal situation after being mistaken for a thief by some individuals in the town.
The student, Fuseini Braimah, had gone to visit a relative of his friend, Karim Wejong, off-campus.
He was wrongly accused of theft while he was urinating near an uncompleted building where a group of sheep was resting in the shade.
Upon the false accusation, an individual shouted “thief” and instigated a mob against the young student.
Shockingly, it was alleged that the Vice Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) chairman at the school, Michael Kandwe, was among those leading the charge, encouraging the angry mob to attack the student for allegedly stealing a ram.
Fortunately, it was later discovered that the student was innocent, and the alarm raised against him was unfounded.
Eyewitnesses confirmed that the vice PTA chairman, who also runs a business near the school, goaded the locals armed with iron rods.
The student, who suffered severe beatings, has since regained consciousness and is still receiving treatment at the Paga District Hospital.
Despite the gravity 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 to Orange News’ Fatawu Bayaga.
He stated that the family was asked to meet with police investigators on Saturday, June 15, to provide updates on the investigations.
He mentioned that once briefed, he would determine the next steps to take.
The PTA chairman of the school, Hillary Aniako, condemned the act as disgusting.
He indicated that, based on his information, the perpetrators would be arrested on Sunday, June 16, to serve as a deterrent to others.
He further mentioned that the school would convene a meeting with community members to educate them on the consequences of such actions and strengthen the school-community relationship to prevent future incidents.
Mr. Aniako also raised concerns about the school’s environment, noting that the absence of a perimeter wall and the fact that it is a day school with just one hot meal a day compromise the safety of students on campus, as outsiders can enter at any time.
He appealed to 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 serious concern for many people and civil society organizations, as perpetrators are often not appropriately dealt with, failing to serve as a deterrent.
Meanwhile, the family of the boy maintains that they will never give up until the perpetrators are apprehended and brought to justice.
They assert that the boy is innocent and that the attackers must face legal consequences.
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