The decision by the President to reward the taxi driver who has become an instant hero after foiling a robbery attempt with a house has been described as an error.
Legal scholar Stephen Kwaku Asare has condemned the decision of the President as amounting to state endorsement of vigilantism. Whilst he said he has no qualms with the actions of the taxi driver, the decision of the President to reward him is problematic.
The US based Ghanaian legal luminary explained his stance in a post on his facebook page.
“Does the President’s state funded reward to the Koala Taxi Driver endorse vigilantism as part of the criminal justice system?” he queried.
“PS: For the avoidance of doubt, I do not have any difficulties with the Koala Driver. I like what he did and would easily give him a reward.
“But the State should be more careful. Driving your car into someone is a crime, even if the person is a suspected criminal. As tempting as it is to be seen to be endorsing what the Driver did, I strongly believe it is error for the President to reward it.
“Let us not forget that the Koala driver saw something and acted. Someone may have only seen the driver running into the suspects. Will that someone, seeing the driver running into what the driver thought were suspects but whom the someone thinks are regular motor bikers, be justified in pouncing on the driver and pouring acid on him?
“State supported Vigilantism will put all of us on a slippery slope to chaos.”
Professor Asare’s questions adds to the debate on the issue, which is heating up by the day. Whilst the taxi driver carried out a brave and noble act, has the response to his actions, especially by government- been as well thought out as it should be?