The father of Ishmael Mensah Abdullah, the 10-year-old boy who was gruesomely murdered in Kasoa by two teenagers, has called on the Ministry of Communication and Digitalisation to intensify efforts to halt all forms of advertisement for money rituals in the media.
He said such advertisements, particularly those shown on television, which sought to make people instant millionaires were a bad influence on the youth, making them engage in heinous crimes.
Frank Mensah Abdullah recalled the ministry’s earlier initiatives to curb such harmful advertising practices, particularly on TV stations, and urged a mass crackdown.
“The government must embark on an exercise to clamp down on radio stations that advertise money rituals and money doubling. I remember the Minister of Communication and Digitalisation began an earlier exercise. They must continue the exercise again to deal with stations that are into such practices. This will prevent others from engaging in such acts,” he said.
His appeal comes after the two suspects standing trial for the brutal murder of his son were found guilty of both murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
Nicholas Kini, who was 18 at the time of the crime, has been sentenced to life imprisonment, while the first accused, who was 15 at the time, has been referred to the juvenile court for sentencing as the High Court lacks jurisdiction to sentence minors.
However, Abdullah voiced dissatisfaction with the legal handling of the first accused who was referred to a juvenile court.
He urged lawmakers to consider revising regulations around juvenile sentencing in cases of serious crimes.
“We have indeed had judgement and we must come together as a family. The issue has put my family into debt. We are trusting God for something good.
“We thank the judges for bringing the matter to a logical conclusion. The government must take a second look at the law that refers a juvenile to a juvenile detention centre. They must revisit the laws.”
During the trial, the first accused admitted that he had been influenced by a video of a spiritualist who promised riches in exchange for GH¢5,000 and human blood.
He confessed to contacting Nicholas Kini to carry out the plan, which led to the brutal murder of Ishmael Abdullah.
The boy was buried alive, with a pathologist confirming that he died from asphyxiation.
Seven witnesses, including the victim’s father, the first accused’s family members, and police officers, testified during the trial.
While the first accused admitted to the crime, pleading guilty to conspiracy but not murder, Nicholas Kini maintained his innocence throughout the trial.
He claimed he was not at the crime scene and provided an alibi, saying he was with his grandfather. However, the court found no evidence to support this alibi.
After deliberations, the seven-member jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict for both teenagers on charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
The presiding judge, Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, appealed to the jury to consider the facts carefully and uphold the conscience of the nation.
The sentencing marks the conclusion of the case and brings some closure to the family of the deceased.