A 25-year-old mother is facing trial in Ho after allegedly inflicting severe burns on her 11-year-old son with a heated pressing iron. The incident, reportedly triggered by the boy losing a pen, has reignited discussions about child protection and the limits of parental discipline.
The accused, Jemima Kwaku, a cook, appeared before the Ho Circuit Court on July 21, where she pleaded not guilty to a charge of causing harm. According to the prosecution, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Noah Amuzu, the incident occurred on July 15 at Ho Barracks–New Town.
ASP Amuzu told the court that Ms. Kwaku became enraged upon learning her son had misplaced a pen she had purchased for him. The boy explained that a classmate had borrowed the pen and forgotten to return it, promising to retrieve it the next day. Dissatisfied with this explanation, Ms. Kwaku allegedly locked her son in a bedroom and carried out the assault.
The prosecution stated that Ms. Kwaku plugged in a pressing iron, allowed it to heat up, and pressed it onto the boy's body. The child sustained severe burns on his belly, chest, lips, shoulders, backside, and other areas. The extent of his injuries came to light on July 18 when his class teacher noticed his unusually withdrawn and quiet behavior. Upon being questioned, the boy gathered the courage to recount his ordeal. This prompted the teacher and headmaster to report the matter to the police.
Following the report, Ms. Kwaku was arrested, and the boy was taken to a hospital for treatment. He has since been placed in the care of social workers. In her caution statement to the police, the accused reportedly admitted to the offense. She has been remanded into prison custody until August 19.
The case has drawn comparisons to a similar incident in Ho from May 2024, when a 62-year-old woman, Margaret Gafa, was prosecuted for burning her nine-year-old niece. As in this case, that child was also placed into social care in accordance with Ghana’s Children’s Act of 1998 (Act 560). This legislation mandates that suspected cases of child abuse or neglect be reported to the Department of Social Welfare for investigation.
Ghana’s legal frameworks aim to protect children from torture or other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment—offenses punishable by law. The incident also highlights broader concerns about physical violence against children, often justified as discipline. A 2011 UNICEF study on child protection in Ghana revealed that 90% of children in the country had experienced some form of physical violence. Such practices remain widely accepted despite their harmful effects.
Cases like these underscore the critical role of community members and school officials in identifying and reporting abuse. They also emphasize the importance of public education campaigns to prevent such tragic incidents and promote alternatives to corporal punishment.
As Ms. Kwaku awaits further legal proceedings, this case serves as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance and collective efforts to protect vulnerable children from harm.
-Adomonline
Curated by Tetteh Belinda | GhanaCrimes
