Posted: Daily Guide |Friday, 04 February 2011
www.dailyguideghana.com
By Charles Takyi-Boadu
The family of the 11year-old form one pupil, Aaron Okyem Djan, alleged to have been molested by former boss of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Nana Akwasi Agyeman, has finally petitioned the office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice.
The family wants the A-G to recall the docket of the case and “deal with it expeditiously” for fear of it being influenced by the ‘forces from above.’
In the petition dated 3rd February, 2011 and copied to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU), the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) and other related institutions, was signed by the boy’s mother, Lucy Djan and his uncle, Osei Asibey.
They noted “we think that the action of Kwasi Agyeman is tantamount to the abuse of the fundamental human rights of little Aaron.”
They therefore quoted Article 14 (1) of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana which states, inter alia, “every person shall be entitled to his personal liberty except in cases permitted by law” and Article 15 (2) which states “no person shall whether or not arrested, restricted or detained, be subjected to (a) torture or other cruel inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment or (b) any other condition that detracts or is likely to detract from his dignity and worth as a human being” to back their claim.
This, they noted, was because “Master Aaron Okyem Djan was kidnapped, detained and threatened with death on Thursday, 27th January, 2011 by ex-Kumasi Mayor, Nana Kwasi Agyeman in his residence from about 4pm to 8pm.”
Furthermore, they said the action of the former major was contrary to section 75 of the Criminal offences Act, Act 29 (1960) which states “whoever threatens any other person with death, with intent to put that person in fear of death, is guilty of second degree felony.
“We also know that the rights of Aaron as contained in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child as well as his rights of protection under the Children’s Act 560 (1998) of Ghana have been grossly violated.”
The family of Aaron Okyem Djan has therefore asked the Attorney General to wade into the matter before it gets out of hand, considering the fact that it has been transferred from the Krofom Police Station, then to the Tafo/Pankrono district and divisional headquarters.
The police managed to interrogate and take the statement of Nana Akwasi Agyeman on Wednesday and it is left for them to disclose their next line of action, whether or not they would prosecute him.