Female convict begs Prez Akufo-Addo for pardon

A 25-year-old convict at the Ho Female Prison, Gloria Pearl Atigah who is losing her eyesight as a result of burns she sustained while pouring acid on her boyfriend during a fight, has appealed to President Akufo-Addo, for clemency.

Apart from a worsening blurred vision, Atigah cannot blink and sleeps with her eyes open.

She was sentenced in February 2022 to a five-year jail term by a Sogakope court for pouring sulphuric acid on her boyfriend’s face as punishment for jilting her.

During the trial, Gloria pleaded guilty to causing harm and was convicted on her own plea.

Her boyfriend (name withheld), who endured a greater portion of the acid, has undergone surgery and is working again as a surveyor.

The convict’s mother paid for the surgery.

Atigah, a first-year student at a Senior High School at Adeiso in the Eastern Region, was allegedly accused by her boyfriend of cheating on him when she visited him at Sogakope in the Volta Region.

Subsequently, she traveled as far as Nsawam to buy the acid and returned to Sogakope to douse her boyfriend’s face with the stuff.

In the ensuing struggle, some of the acid in the jar poured into Atigah’s face, causing her to suffer burns in her eyes and parts of her face.

Remorseful Atigah said, “Please tell the President I have regretted my action. I am so sorry for what happened.”

She also extended an apology to her boyfriend and asked for his forgiveness.

Now, Gloria who is five months into her sentence wears a pair of sunglasses all the time as a result of her condition.

Prison officers send her periodically to the Ho Teaching Hospital for treatment and review.

She said her desire was to complete Senior High School and continue to become a nurse in future.