Lawyer for William Baah, the former Assembly Member for Denkyira Obuasi, George Bernard Shaw, has detailed why the Court of Appeal acquitted and discharged his client, previously sentenced to life in prison.
According to the lawyer, the evidence presented during the trial did not support the charge of abetment.
The lawyer noted that the charges levelled against his client could not stand because there was no evidence suggesting that the former Assemblyman assisted, helped, encouraged or commanded anybody to commit the murder.
Speaking on Eyewitness News with Sammie Wiafe, “There was no evidence to show that he either assisted, helped, encouraged or commanded anybody to do the unfortunate thing that they did”.
“The charges couldn’t stand. There was a misdirection from the judge… It has been rectified. He’s very free”, he added.
The lawyer further extended condolences to the family of Major Mahama, adding that no one deserved to die through mob action.
According to the lawyer, other accused persons, who faced direct murder charges, were the individuals who inflicted the fatal blows on the late Major Maxwell Mahama.
William Baah, previously sentenced to life for abetting the lynching of Major Maxwell Adam Mahama, was acquitted and discharged.
The former Assembly Member for Denkyira Obuasi, was freed by the Court of Appeal, which overturned the conviction.
It will be recalled that back in January 2024, a seven-member jury at the High Court in Accra found William Baah and 11 others guilty.
They were found guilty of the 2017 mob lynching of Major Maxwell Adam Mahama.
William Baah was convicted of abetment of murder.
The eleven others were convicted of conspiracy to commit murder. Eight were additionally found guilty of murder.
Bismarck Donkor and Bismarck Abanga, two accused were were acquitted and discharged.
According to reports, a three-member panel, in a unanimous judgment, ruled that Justice Mariama Owusu, a Supreme Court Justice, then, as a High Court judge, misdirected the jury, resulting in a wrongful guilty verdict.
The court cited that the misdirection was so fundamental that “the jury would not have returned a verdict of guilt if they had been properly directed.”
The Appeal Court further revealed that the High Court erred by relying only on cautioned statements from two accused persons.
“The Judge was bound to disregard the incriminating statements when directing the jury”, the court stated.
The Appeal Court added that the errors were grave enough to nullify the conviction of the former Assembly Member for Denkyira Obuasi, William Baah.
Meanwhile, a video has been shared on social media of the moment former Assemblyman for Denkyira Obuasi was captured leaving the courthouse after he was acquitted and discharged after previously being sentenced to life in prison.
In a viral video shared on Facebook by GH One on Thursday, November 20, 2025, William Baah, the former assemblyman and another individual were seen wearing white shirts and black trousers.
William Baah was bathed in a white powder substance smeared on their heads to indicate their victory.
They were also escorted by prison officers while cameramen followed behind.