A Juvenile Court in Accra has sentenced a 15-year-old boy to 12 months in a Senior Correctional Centre after being found guilty of conspiring to murder a 10-year-old boy in Kasoa for ritual purposes.
The sentencing comes nearly four years after the tragic incident that shocked the nation.
The teenager, who was 11 years old at the time of the crime, expressed remorse in court, pleading for forgiveness from both the judge and the deceased’s father.
“It was not my intention to kill my dear friend. I pray the court forgives me and gives me a second chance,” he said emotionally.
The Court’s Decision
Presiding Judge Bernice Mensimah Ackon noted that although the juvenile had spent over three years in remand, the severity of the crime necessitated further correctional measures.
The judge explained that the additional 12-month sentence would provide the opportunity for the juvenile to acquire vocational skills, given that he had dropped out of school at Basic 6.
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Under the Juvenile Justice Act 2003 (Act 653), the court emphasized the importance of rehabilitation, noting that the sentence aimed to equip the young convict with skills for reintegration into society.
Background of the Case
The case gained national attention in April 2021 when the juvenile and an accomplice, Nicholas Kini, then 18, were arrested for murdering their 10-year-old friend, Ishmael Mensah.
The duo had reportedly sought the services of a spiritualist for money rituals, locally referred to as sakawa, and were instructed to provide GH¢5,000 and a human sacrifice.
On April 3, 2021, the two lured Ishmael to an uncompleted building under the pretense of retrieving a video game.
Once inside, Kini ambushed the victim, striking him with a club.
The juvenile then used a cement block to further assault the unconscious boy.
The pair attempted to bury Ishmael in a shallow grave with the intent to transport his remains to the spiritualist.
However, they were apprehended before they could complete their plans.
Sentencing of the Accomplice
Last year, a High Court sentenced Kini to life imprisonment after a jury unanimously found him guilty of conspiracy to commit murder and murder.
As the juvenile could not be tried in the same court, his case was referred to the Juvenile Court for sentencing, in line with legal provisions.
Public Reaction
The sentencing has reignited discussions about youth involvement in ritual killings and the influence of societal pressures to acquire wealth through dubious means.
The case continues to serve as a stark reminder of the need for greater community and parental vigilance to safeguard children from harmful influences.
The juvenile, now 15, will undergo rehabilitation at the correctional facility, with the hope of being reintegrated into society as a reformed individual.
