14-year-old spends 5 months in jail despite being discharged by court

According to a starrfm.com.gh report, the case of the 14-year-old inmate was discovered when the Justice For All Program held an in-prison sitting on July 22 at the Kumasi Central Prisons.

Cases of 31 pre-trial inmates were heard by the organisation.

Addressing the incident, Justice Angelina Mensah Homiah, the Steering Committee Chairperson for the Justice For All Program, described it as unfortunate.

She stated that the 14-year-old’s case would have gone unnoticed if her outfit hadn’t engaged inmates.

“This is very unfortunate and we will ensure that this prisoner who has overstayed for five months leaves the Kumasi Central Prisons today before we also leave the premises. Had it not been the Justice For All program, we would not have uncovered this event,” she insisted.

The acting officer in charge of the Ashanti Region Prison Command, CSP Alex Adjei, expressed shock over the incident, saying a signed court warrant was presented to him by the investigator in charge of the case.

“I am surprised by this Nkawie case but it is not our fault. So far as the warrant is genuine, we don’t know any other thing until the police come for you,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Justice Angelina Mensah Homiah assured that the investigator responsible for this action will be held accountable and will be made to explain why the teenager spent 5 months in jail.

“I continue to ask who signed the warrant for the investigator to bring the accused person back to prison? In this case, he was discharged by the court. You have told me he has been released now but I am still probing for further answers. The Justice for All program needs more answers,” she stressed, the report added.