25-year-old Ekua Naomi who resides in Nsawam in the Eastern Region of Ghana tells crimecheckghana at the Sekondi Female Prison she was pushed into drugs by her wayward boyfriend.
She said she had to steal to buy more drugs because of financial difficulties. Naomi was then arrested and convicted to a year in prison because of her inability to pay her court fine of five hundred and sixty Ghana cedis.
According to Naomi, she started taking care of herself at the age of 12 years because she had no support and proper upbringing from her parents. “I sleep with men for money because I had no one to support me financially. Because of commercial sex work, I got pregnant at the age of 17”. She told crimecheckghana.
The crestfallen mother of one said she travels around the country depending on where her commercial sex work will be profitable to her. “I have traveled to lots of places including Tarkwa, Ajumako, and other places all in search of wealthy men to sleep with.” She said.
She further said she met a gentleman at Ajumako who later became her boyfriend, and the said boyfriend introduced her to stealing and drugs.
“I became a drug addict without money so I had to try all means to be able to buy the drug. So I started stealing as a means of getting money to buy the drugs. One faithful day, I was caught for stealing a phone and I was arrested by the police.” She told crimecheckghana.
Naomi said she was convicted to a year in prison because of her inability to pay her court fine of five hundred Ghana cedis.
After serving three months of her sentence, Crime Check Foundation CCF, through its Petty Offenders Project has surprised her by paying her fine and releasing her from prison. In addition, the foundation gave her two hundred Ghana cedis to return to Nsawam where she hails from. This kind gesture was made possible by a CCF donor, Madam Janet who wants to remain anonymous.
Ekua Naomi amid tears said, “I thank God almighty and Maa Janet, God richly bless you and your finances. I pray God replenishes all that you have lost because of me. Thank you, Ma.”
She advised Ghanaians to be cautious in their doings especially the youth who are not content with what they have. She entreated them to respect the elderly and pay heed to advice.
Ekua pleaded with Ghanaians to support her in getting a vocational skill now that she is out of prison, to enable her to make a living out of it.
CCF’s Petty Offenders Project pays the fines of first-time offenders who have been committed to prison sentences because of their inability to pay court fines imposed on them.
