By Morkporkpor Anku, GNA
Accra, July 26, GNA – The Management of Crime Check Foundation (CCF), a correctional facility focused NGO, with support from the Speaker of Parliament Professor Aaron Mike Ocquaye has rescued an eight-month old pregnant woman from prison.
Madam Akosua Sarfowaa, the pregnant woman, was convicted to a fine of GH¢1,400 and GH¢2,000 for injuries caused to her victim or in default serve a 2-year jail term.
Mr Ibrahim Oppong Kwarteng, the Executive Director of CCF, told the Ghana News Agency that as part of his “Time with the Prisoner” TV Series, he met Akosua and shared her story on social media for support.
He said it was there that he received an invitation from the Speaker of Parliament for a meeting and after the engagement, Professor Ocquaye decided to help pay for the fine for the release of the lady.
Mr Kwarteng said during the meeting, the Speaker expressed concern with some gaps in the country’s laws which have contributed to many people serving various jail terms instead of committing them to community sentences.
He said upon his appeal to the Speaker for the Non-Custodial Sentencing Bill to be passed into law to serve the poor and the vulnerable, the Speaker promised that Parliament would ensure its passage.
Mr Kwarteng said the Speaker asked why a pregnant woman with his one and a half year old son and the unborn child would be committed to prison sentence when other alternatives could be explored to save the situation.
He said after the meeting, the Speaker dispatched his aide with him to the Suhum Circuit Court, where Akosua was convicted to pay the fine.
Mr Kwarteng, who is also the Ambassador Extraordinaire of Prisons, expressed the hope that the Speaker would see to the passage of the Non-Custodial Sentencing Bill into law.
He said Akosua has since been re-united with her family.
Madam Akousa, narrating what brought her to prison when the Foundation and GNA visited the prison earlier, said her husband brought her girlfriend home and gave ‘my dress to her to wear and on seeing that I confronted the lady and a fight ensued”.
She said in the course of the struggle, she hit the lady with a sandal and laid my hands on her.
She said a report was made to the police and she was arrested and arraigned.
She was found guilty and convicted for assault and fined adding that she could not pay the fine and was thus given a two year jail term.
GNA
