Why Barbara covered face during Major Mahama final funeral in Tumu

The final funeral rites of the late Ghana Army major, Maxwell Mahama, took place at the Upper West Regional own of Tumu on Saturday.

Mother of the late Major Mahama (left) and his widow, Barbara (third left) attend his final funeral at Bole.



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Many people wondered whether it was the culture in Tumu for widows to have their faces covered during mourning. However, it turned out that Barbara was not wearing a veil at the event, according to one of the organisers of the funeral who spoke to mynewsgh.com. The man said there was no custom in Tumu that required women to wear a veil during mourning. He said muskets were fired during the funeral, prompting Barbara to cover he face to avoid seeing what was happening. The organiser said the shots, which were loud, caused Barbara to recall how her husband was shot and killed by the Denkyira Obuasi mob. Major Mahama was killed by a mob at Denkira Obuasi, where he was on detachment duties. The then army captain was on a 20 kilometre walk when he was reportedly mistaken for a thief by some women from whom he stopped to buy snails. The women who thought he was an armed robber after spotting his official pistol called the assembly man in the area to raise an alarm. The assembly man then quickly organised people in the town to lynch the soldier, according to the police.

William Baah, the assembly man who reportedly directed Major Mahama’s killing.

Major Mahama’s death provoked widespread condemnation and outrage and sparked a campaign against mob violence. After being posthumously promoted to Major by the military, he was buried with full military honours in Accra last week Friday. Source:Yen.com.gh