Television personality Captain Smart is facing public scrutiny following allegations that his comments may have contributed to the recent violent invasion of the AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) mine in Obuasi. This incident resulted in multiple fatalities.
In a video circulating on social media, Captain Smart is reportedly seen urging the youth of Obuasi to take action against AGA, accusing the company of exploiting the region while leaving its residents impoverished. During a broadcast on Onua TV, he allegedly stated, “Ghanaian youth in Obuasi, go to the mine. Attack the mine and take what you want so that when you get hungry, you get something to eat.”
The incident occurred when approximately 60 illegal miners breached security at the mine’s Deep Decline area, leading to a confrontation with soldiers deployed under Operation HALT II. Armed with rifles, pump-action guns, machetes, and other weapons, the miners reportedly opened fire on the soldiers, who retaliated in self-defense. The clash left eight miners dead and one injured, while a soldier was also wounded and has since received medical care. Authorities recovered six pump-action guns and BB cartridges from the site.
The comments attributed to Captain Smart have sparked debate about whether they could constitute abetment under Ghanaian law.
According to Section 20 of the Criminal Offences Act 1960. (Act 29 )
(1) Every person who, directly or indirectly, instigates, commands, counsels, procures, solicits, or in any manner purposely aids, facilitates, encourages, or promotes, whether by his act or presence or otherwise, and every person who does any act to aid, facilitate, encouraging or promoting the commission of a crime by any other person, whether known or unknown, certain or uncertain, is guilty of abetting that crime, and of abetting the other person in respect of that crime.
(2) Every person who abets a crime shall, if the crime is committed in pursuance or during the continuance of the abetment, be deemed guilty of that crime.
(3) Every person who abets a crime shall, if the crime is not committed, be punishable as follows, that is to say-
(a) Where the crime abetted was punishable by death the abettor shall be liable to imprisonment for life; and
(b) In any other case the abettor shall be punishable in the same manner as if the crime had been committed in pursuance of the abetment.
This incident has ignited broader discussions about the responsibility of public figures to exercise caution in their statements, especially when such remarks may influence public actions or result in legal consequences.
By: Edwin Kobina Coleman