Couple jailed for attempting to sell baby

A couple who decided to sell their 22- month old son for GH¢ 12,000 in order to earn money for their upkeep have been sentenced to five years imprisonment by a Circuit Court in Accra.

Yaw Amediame and his wife Kosuavi Kondo A.K.A Nkua Konda both migrant farmers from Eduano, near Assin Foso are said to have offered their son for sale to an undercover Police Officer who posed as a Catholic Priest.

The couple pleaded guilty to the charges of conspiracy to commit crime and human trafficking.

The court presided over by Mrs Rita Agyeman Budu convicted them on their plea and sentenced the couple accordingly.

Dodzi Kondo, an accomplice is said to be at large.

The trial judge ordered the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of Ghana Police Service to take the baby boy to the Department of Social Welfare to be catered for.

According to the court, it is obvious that the victim’s mother could not take care of him.

Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP Stephen Adjei told the court that the complainants Joseph Ackah and Mary Akakpo are married couple residing at Kasoa in the Central Region.

ASP Adjei said last year, the convicted couple migrated from Togo to Ghana to engage in farming.

In the course of their farming, they claimed they brought large quantity of okro to sell but they run at a loss as the vegetable was not patronised.

Prosecution said Amediame claimed he could not raise money to take care of his family as he was cash trapped so he discussed the issue with his wife Kosuavi and Dodzi.

ASP Adjei said Dodzi therefore advised the convicts to sell their son to somebody to solve their financial difficulties.

Prosecution said the convicts and Dodzi discussed the issue with Madam Mary Akakpo who assured them of a ready market.

However, prosecution said Madam Akakpo alerted the Police and informed the convicts that a Catholic Priest was ready to buy the child.

Madam Akakpo therefore introduced an undercover Police officer as Chief Inspector Gregory Agbajivor.

Chief Inspector Agbajivor introduced himself as the buyer and bargained with Amediame; they both settled on GH¢ 12,000 which was paid to Amediame.

The Police, according to prosecution apprehended the couple and the victim were sent to the Police Hospital where he is being taken care of.

GBC