Watch what residents of Nsawam did to an alleged thief
In a surprising turn of events, residents of Nsawam in the Eastern Region chose a less violent form of punishment for a young man accused of theft, turning what could have been a case of mob justice into what they called a “weeding day.”
Instead of resorting to beatings—as is often the case in many parts of Ghana when suspects are caught—the community decided the suspect should clear a large, overgrown area of land as punishment.
Mob justice has long been a troubling issue in Ghana, with many accused persons suffering brutal attacks, some of which have led to death. But this time, the residents took a different approach, choosing a physically demanding but non-lethal form of discipline.
A post shared on X (formerly Twitter) by EDHUB on July 9, 2025, revealed that the young man was ordered to clear the entire plot of land in a single day.
In a video shared along with the post, the suspect is seen with a cutlass in hand, weeding while surrounded by a group of young men who closely monitored him.
“In Nsawam, we don’t want stealing. If you engage in that, we will discipline you. You will work very hard if you’re caught. You will weed this entire portion of land. We don’t tolerate stealing in Nsawam, nonsense!” one of the men is heard saying.
Another voice added, “When he is done, we will lash him.”
While the approach still raises concerns about informal justice and potential abuse, it marks a shift from the often deadly consequences of mob violence in such cases.
Nsawam residents ditched the usual mob justice meted out to suspected thieves, common in many Ghanaian communities, and instead declared a ‘weeding day’ for a young man they caught stealing.
He was expected to clear a large portion of land within the day. pic.twitter.com/k8ARBrisnt
— EDHUB🌍ℹ (@eddie_wrt) July 9, 2025