INSTANT JUSTICE : A SCOURGE TO OUR SOCIETY
blog·@genesis-project·
0.000 HBDINSTANT JUSTICE : A SCOURGE TO OUR SOCIETY
Instant justice is a detestable act which has become so commonplace in Africa such that despite concerted efforts by the media and various governments, aimed at curbing it once and for all, the very bricks of democracy, equity, fairness and the rule of law, crush under its pressure. In Africa not many topics have caused people to fear and dread their daily decisions of travel as much as instant justice. It is a ghastly, inhumane act which takes people with carnivorous capabilities to charge another person with a crime in their minds, pass their own judgement and met out whatever mode of justice they deem fitting. <hr>  <hr> Having fought our way through thick and thin to attain the level of freedom we have as black Africans, it is astoundingly shocking that our modernity and contemporary lives haven't been spared of the gruesome act of instant justice. This act, which was shamefully perpetrated by our white counterparts at the tail end of the nineteenth century to the early twientieth centuries has shockingly found its new home amongst and within the walls of our very own selves. In Africa, especially Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa, instant justice is seen as an extrajudicial act which can be undertaken at the faintest chance of someone affronting the law. In Ghana for instance, people have been brutally killed or injured given the most trivial circumstance; a notable encounter which drives a hole through my brain and shows the lowest level of reasoning is the recent murder of an army captain, Captain Maxwell Maham, when he was on an official assigment in the central region of Ghana. I am in no way condoning the acts undertaken by suspected persons but if we do not trust the legal systems in our countries then where have we gotten to as a continent? THE EVILS OF INSTANT JUSTICE <hr>  <hr> Instant justice is also called mob action, and it most often than not, takes the form of lynching or people being beaten into a pulp. This harsh and barbaric act puts humanity at par with that carnivore you see in a movie which every character in the movie dreads. And while there aren't enough words to describe the inuhumanity of the act, it is latently unfair, harsh and an insult to nature as every individual is born with certain rights at birth, many of which, are spat upon when people are subjected to the act. The other downside of instant justice, is amplified in the words of ASP Afiah Tenge in her post on [modernghana.com](https://www.modernghana.com/news/528306/why-instant-justice.html) She submits: >Meting out instant justice to suspected criminals could have several implications which if not addressed, is likely to undermine our legal systems and structures as well as pose serious threat to national security. On the international front, it portrays the Ghanaian society as primordial and uncivilized, exposing our criminal justice system as incompetent and incapable of punishing wrongdoings decisively and in accordance with the rule of law. The SGP's opinion when taken into a broader light, means, instant justice portrays Africans on the international stage as barbaric, uncivilized and primordial. Instant justice is a bewildering paradox, and as hard as I have tried to see it as a necessary evil, there isn't an iota of necessity in it. ### HOW CAN WE CURB INSTANT JUSTICE? <hr>  <hr> Any country which has been hit by the unfettering bullets of instant justice has a dent in its legal system. It is a spit on the legal system; it means the people are ready to abandon the law whenever they see fitting. Therefore I am of the opinion that the foremost thing to be done is to strenghthen the legal systems in countries across Africa. By so doing we are able to send a caution to proponents of instant justice. However it is expected that despite the strengthening of the legal system, some people will still affront the law. Therefore individuals, the police, the military and any human rights loving organization should make it a point to make sure that those who undertake such acts are brought to book. Everybody must make it a point to report such incidents to the police before they get out of hand. And when one suspects that another is in imminent danger of being mobbed, they should notify the police before things go awry. Also in order to help send deterring messages to proponents of instant justice, I believe the laws of every country must be altered to reflect punishments which are likely to actually deter those who subject others to instant justice. Thus judges must be ready to slap deterring punishments on those who have been proven guilty of instant justice. In that light, people will rethink their decisions as regards, instant justice. Notwithstanding the legel alterations which can be made as a step towards curbing instant justice, it still behoves the individual who is able to look into the eyes of the other and send them to their grave, to come to an understanding, that at birth everybody is born with certain rights which should not be trampled upon unless legally stated so. The most oustanding of these natural rights, is the right to life. It is only the law court which has the right to setence a guilty person to death. Otherwise nobody has the right to do so, especially not people who act upon their impulses. By nurturing such love and respect for our natural rights, we will be able to come to an understanding that in every situation, the right channels must be used (that is the right judicial body charged with the responsibility punishing culpruts). It is worthwhile nothing that, in order to curb the canker which has hit our contemporary society, all hands must be on deck. However on your travels, remember to be very cautious of where you go and most importantly, when you go there. Also whenever you suspect something, make it a point to notify the closest police service. HAPPY NEW MONTH. STAY SAFE<3 <hr> Written by @khojo, Edited and posted by @camzy <hr> all images used were gotten from [PIXABAY](pixabay.com) <hr> <center></center> 
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