Couple who
abandoned baby convicted
Couple who
abandoned baby convicted
Akim Oda (Eastern Region) 03 March
2001
A couple, who dumped their
three-day old baby in the bush were on Thursday convicted by the Akim Oda
Circuit Court.
Doris Asantewaa, a 22-year-old
hairdresser and her husband, Kwabena Mensah, a 25-year-old carpenter, were
convicted on their own plea.
Asantewaa was put on a one-year
probation to enable her to nurse the baby while Mensah was sentenced to six
months' imprisonment.
The couple told the court that
they decided to get rid of the baby because of economic hardship. They said they
already have a one-and-half-year-old child who they were finding difficulty to
cater for.
The Presiding Judge, Mr George
Kingsley Mr Koomson said he was putting Asantewaa under strict surveillance by
the Department of Social Welfare, the Police and the Oda Government Hospital
during the period of probation.
The prosecution told the court
that when the couple decided to abandon their baby, Mensah put him into a
polythene bag and threw him into the bush.
The District Director of the
Department of Social Welfare, Miss Cynthia Celestine Klu, told the GNA later
following information that the Oda Police had mounted a search for the mother
of the baby the Department decided to help in the investigation.
She said she and her Assistant, Mr
Asiedu Boahene made enquiries at maternity homes in town and one of them
informed them that a woman gave birth to a baby boy there within the period of
investigation.
Miss Klu said the proprietor of
the Home identified the baby on admission at the Oda hospital as the one she
delivered.
Based on further information, she
said they located the house of the couple and reported to the police.
GRi…/
Send your comments to news@ghanareview.com