Crime & Punishment of Friday, 29 June 2018

Source: ghananewsagency.org

NGO facilitates the release of two female inmates from Kumasi Prison

The two female inmates were jailed for  defaulting court fine The two female inmates were jailed for defaulting court fine

The Management of Crime Check Foundation (CCF), a Prison NGO, has facilitated the release of two female inmates of the Kumasi Central Prison.

The two; Ama Nima, a Sanitation worker and Madam Akosua Owusua, a Petty Trader, were jailed for different offences.

Madam Ama, who is heavily pregnant, was convicted to a fine of GH¢ 1,200.00, or in default serve a five-year jail term for biting the hand of a family member during a fight.

On the other hand, Madam Akosua, was also accused of stealing items belonging to the owner of a house, she took care off.

The court convicted Akosua to a fine of GH¢3,600.00 or in default, a four-year jail term. Mr Kwarteng, the Executive Director of CCF, told the GNA that after posting an interview he had with the women on social media, some well-meaning Ghanaians paid for their release.

He said: “l was shocked to see heavily pregnant Ama at the Kumasi Female Prison."

He explained that, Ama earns GH¢120.00, a month for working on a refuse dump site and could not raise the money, so had to go to prison in her state, leaving her two kids at home. “Management intends to find Nima, a suitable rented accommodation in Kumasi and help put her two kids in school,” he added.

Mr Kwarteng, who is also the Ambassador Extraordinaire of Prisons, said the convicts, who could not meet the fine terms were sentenced to five and four-year jail terms.

He said in the case of Akosua, little did, she know that her husband had used a spare key to steal the items in the other room.

"We at Crime Check Foundation stepped in and got some good guys to pay Akosua's fine after sharing her story," he said.

Mr Kwarteng said the convict could now reunite with her four children after spending 8 months in jail, saying that, "all she wants to do now is to sell charcoal."