But for the benevolence of Ghana’s Speaker of Parliament, Prof Mike Aaron Oquaye, an expectant mother would have been left to struggle in the cells of the Nsawam Female Prison.
Akosua Sarfowaa who is carrying a five-month-old pregnancy and a mother of a one-and-half-year-old boy was sentenced to two years in prison following her inability to pay a fine of GHC3400 despite her condition.
A report by Crime Check Foundation reveals Akosua was charged with assault for hitting her husband’s girlfriend with a sandal during a fight.
Narrating her offence to the Crime Check Foundation, Akosua said, “her husband brought in his girlfriend into the house and gave the lady her dress to wear. She couldn't believe what was unfolding in her eyes and could not contain the humiliation. She confronted the lady and a fight ensued. In the course of the struggle, she hit the lady with a sandal she laid hands on”.
She was then arrested and put before a circuit court in Suhum where she was convicted for assault and asked to pay a total fine of GHC3400 or in default serve two years in jail.
The heavily pregnant woman was, however unable to pay her fine and had to go to jail along with her one-and-half-year-old son.
Following the report by the Crime Check Foundation, news on Akosua’s condition went viral on social media and upon reaching the Speaker of Parliament, he decided to pay the fine and get the vulnerable young expectant mother released.
He paid the fine of GHC1400 and another GHC2000 for the injuries caused to “victim”, making it a sum of GHC3400. In an interaction with the Executive Director of the Crime Check Foundation (CCF), Ibrahim Oppong Kwarteng, Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye expressed concern about the gaps in Ghana's laws which have seen many people serving various jail terms instead of committing them to community sentences.
“Why should a pregnant woman and her unborn child be committed to prison sentence when other alternatives could be explored to save the situation?” Prof. Oquaye quizzed.
He, therefore, promised Parliament will quicken the passage of the Non-Custodial Sentencing Bill into law to save the poor and vulnerable from being jailed “wrongfully”.
Source: ghanaweb.com
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God bless you Prof
I am Rev Joel Lawson, Thank you Hon. you show similar to MP Mr Letsa, but the Judge who closed her or his eye at Suhum Court and knew that this lady is pregnant and more over the cheated girl friend comes to her house and and the man gave up a dress of this poor lady to his girl friend to put on, this is a great pain, can the man accept with the wife brought a man to the house and gave up his shirt or trousers to the boyfriend to put on what will happen ? Mr or Mss Judge you are a big disgrace god will continue to punish your family from generation to generation, you so called judge, you will suffer and suffer at last you will be knocked down by an known car, i cursed you this morning, you that lady who comes to some one home to snatch the husband, later put on the wife dress, dont think you will be free from your life this day i cursed you, you will be a roaming ***barred word*** in Jesus name, nothing will come out as a gain in your prostitution, but rather police complains in Jesus name, and to you the man who causes the danger to this innocent lafdy to face prison with un born baby, you will go naked on the street, picking up rubbers and walking from 1000 kilometers to 2000 kilometers without stop in Jesus name. naked will be your reward. The innocent child that lead her mother to prison, from this day on you are bless, you will be a man of dignities, Rich man you are you will be a billionaire and put your mum in your own mansion in jesus name, you will have a sister that will be your second in advice, this un born baby will be a girl, and she will safe the nation as a lawyer or nurse in Jesus name. My Hon. Mike Quaye, your family tree will be fruitful will blessings and promotions, thousands of the wicked ones will fall in your presence, any one that blesses will be bless and any one who curse you will be curse, I wil soon pay visit to the Prison to assist such a painful convicts thanks
I WILL NOT THANK MR MIKE QUAYE FOR THIS GESTURE WHY BECAUSE THESES ARE THE INJUSTICES IN THE LEGAL LOOPHOLES IN THE JUDICIAL SYSSTEM THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO ADDRESS AS PARLIAMENTARIANS AND WHAT DO THEY DO? THEY SEEK WAYS TO MAKE MONEY IN PARLIAMENT EG. DOUBLE SALARY SAGA ETC. WAYOMI IS STILL A FREE MAN AND THIS POOR WOMAM WOULD HAVE LANGUISHED IN PRISON FOR TWO YEARS FOR A VERY TRIVAL ISSUE.MAY THE LORD HAVE MERCY ON THE SUPPOSED JUDGE WHO SENTENCED HER TO PRISON. IDOOOTS.
thank you hon, mike for the kind gesture. but for the husband and the girlfriend, i call on heavenly fire to consume you both and to the judge who gave the sentence, the flowing tears of all poor and vulnerable women will be a curse to you.
the laws of this country are only made to punish the poor while the rich are left to go free. this is what happens in a hell-like place. sometimes i want to believe i our country is part of the hell the bible is talking abt. God bless u Honorable. but pls instead of just paying of her bills, help us make changes to the law so that the rich can also go through what the poor goes through. thank you.
GOD BLESS PROF MIKE OQUAYE FOR HIS COMPASSION AND BIG HEART. MY BEEF IS WITH THE JUDGE WHO CLOSED HIS/HER EYES TO THE POOR GIRL'S CONDITION AND PASSED SUCH HARSH SENTENCE. WOULD HE/SHE HAVE DONE THAT IF SHE WERE A SO CALLED BIG SHOT DAUGHTER? OR IF SHE HAD MONEY TO EITHER BUY HIM/HER A GOAT OR PAY A HEFTY BRIBE. GOD WILL PUNISH THE JUDGE AND HIS/HER UNBORN GENERATIONS. I AM SO ANGRY I WOULD SPIT ON THAT APOLOGY OF A HUMAN BEING. WAYOME, BETTY MOULD-IDDRISU,OPUNI,AND ALL THE N.D.C TIFFS ARE PLAYING LEGAL GYMNASTICS WITH THE NATION WHILST POOR AND UNCONNECTED PEOPLE ARE THROWN INTO JAILS WITHOUT A STINT OF COMPASSION FROM MORONS SITTING AS JUDGES. GOD WILL PUNISH YOU ALL ONE BY ONE. EVERY DROP OF TEAR FROM THE POOR GIRL SHOULD TURN INTO A RAVAGING SEA TO SWALLOW YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY. ONCE AGAIN THANKS TO THE HONOURABLE SPEAKER.
This is the good thing Oluman has done. Thank you so much. Anyway, you should consider go on pension. You look too old and weak. I saw you walked past the late P Kay's body. You looked weak. Don't say l'm lying. Take this moment and rest. Give the position to a more energetic fellow. Haba!