Tarkwa (W/R), Aug. 03, GNA - The shrill cries of an eight-month-old baby girl in police cells at the Tarkwa District Police Headquarters on Thursday attracted the attention of Mr. Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment who directed that the child should not be kept in the cells with her mother. Mr Asamoah-Boateng who visited the Police Headquarters as part of his five-day tour of some districts in the Western region, appealed to the police to allow the nursing mother and her baby to sit behind the counter instead of the cells in order not to infringe on the rights of the baby.

He urged the police to endeavour to locate the mother of the woman to take custody of the baby.

Police Superintendent Slim Manford, Tarkwa District Police Commander, briefing Mr Asamoah-Boateng said Joyce Dotse aged 24, the nursing mother was remanded in prison custody by a Tarkwa Circuit Court earlier in the day for assault.

Superintendent Manford said the accused was brought from the court with her baby and since there was no relative to take custody of the child, they were placed in the cells.

He said Joyce, who lived at Bawdie with her husband was to be sent to the Sekondi Prison but due to lack of transport the Police were compelled to keep her and the baby at the cells. 03 Aug.06