MADINA, GHANA Man allegedly betrayed his community and its unwritten rules and snitched on its members to the police. When the community found out, they immediately dragged him outside and lynched him to death.
Typically, people in smaller villages often know their neighbors and families well, help one another, and traditional authorities such as chiefs and community elders play an important role. As a result, disputes are sometimes handled first within the community, rather than being immediately referred to state institutions.
This sense of solidarity, of course, also has a darker side. Strong social pressure, reputation, and loyalty to the community can lead to a person labeled a “traitor,” informant, or criminal facing severe ostracism or even mob violence. This does not mean, however, that such violence is a common way of resolving disputes in Ghanaian villages.
