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Criminologist and adjunct lecturer at the GIMPA Law School, Professor Ken Attafuah, has described the growing trend of mob justice in Ghana as “instant injustice”, warning that the practice undermines the rule of law and reflects a deeper societal decay. Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show with host Kwaku Nhyira-Addo on Monday (3 November), Prof Attafuah said the term “mob justice” is a dangerous misnomer because “there is no justice in it — only collective lawlessness.” “The only thing correct about the phrase is the ‘mob’ or ‘instant’ part,” he explained. “But the ‘justice’ element is completely misplaced. It is actually instant mob injustice.” He noted that Ghanaians often justify mob attacks as “swift punishment” for wrongdoing, but such actions are unconstitutional and degrade the very essence of justice. Prof Attafuah identified eight recurring situations that often trigger mob violence — including accusations of armed robbery, witchcraft, sorcery, ritual murders, hit-and-run driving, and petty theft. He recalled personal experiences where he narrowly escaped lynching, emphasising how easily mobs are incited by suspicion rather than evidence. “When people believe they’ve caught a thief, they assume guilt and become executioners. But our Constitution mandates that justice must go through due process — not mob rule,” he said. He cautioned that the public’s distrust of law enforcement has worsened the problem. “People have lost confidence in the police and sometimes even see them as accomplices,” he lamented, urging government and civic bodies to restore public trust in the justice system. Prof Attafuah concluded that addressing mob violence requires strong civic education, improved policing, and a cultural shift toward patience and due process. “If we lose our conviction in due process, we will return to the state of nature — where life is nasty, brutish, and short,” he warned. Asaase Broadcasting Company airs on Asaase 99.5 Accra, Asaase 98.5 Kumasi, Asaase 99.7 Tamale, Asaase 100.3 Cape Coast, AsaasePa 107.3 (Accra). Affiliates: Bawku FM 101.5, Bead FM 99.9 (Bimbilla), Mining City Radio 89.5 (Tarkwa), Nandom FM 101.9, Nyatefe Radio 94.5 (Dzodze), Sissala Radio 96.3 (Tumu), Somuaa FM 89.9 (Gushegu), Stone City 90.7 (Ho) and Wale FM 106.9 (Walewale). Listen online: asaaseradio.com, Sound Garden and TuneIn. X: @asaaseradio995, @Asaase985ksi, @Asaase997tamale, @asaase1003, asaasepa1073 Instagram: asaaseradio99.5, asaase985ksi, asaase100.3, asaase99.7tamale, asaasepa107.3 LinkedIn: company/asaaseradio995. TikTok: @asaaseradio99.5 Facebook: asaase99.5, asaase985ksi, Asaase100.3, asaase99.7, AsaasePa107.3. YouTube: AsaaseRadioXtra. Join the conversation. Accra: call 020 000 9951/054 888 8995, WhatsApp 020 000 0995. Kumasi: call 059 415 7985 or call/WhatsApp 020 631 5260. Tamale: call/WhatsApp/SMS 053 554 6468. Cape Coast: call/WhatsApp 059 388 2652. #AsaaseRadio #TheVoiceofOurLand
