Court remands woman for pouring hot-water on 9-year-old sister

The Tafo Circuit Court in the Ashanti Region has remanded a 36-year-old sex worker to custody for allegedly pouring hot water on her nine-year-old sister and inflicting knife wounds after the child defecated in the room.

The accused, identified as Beauty Alakwe, faces charges of assault and causing harm.

The victim, Ruth Wisdom, is presently under the care of Social Welfare Officers in Kwabre East, who are responsible for her treatment and overall well-being.

Reports by co-tenants suggest that Alakwe has been mistreating the child, who was brought from Nigeria to reside with her in Duase, within the Kumasi Metropolis.

The alleged incident took place after the girl was beaten and injured for defecating in the room.

According to the co-tenants of the accused, she typically locks both the victim and her own child in their room overnight while she goes to work, only returning the following evening.

The room does not have a toilet facility, which forces the children to depend on a nearby public toilet.

When the victim is unable to reach the toilet in time and resorts to using a plastic bag, the accused reportedly reacts with severe beatings.

The incident, which occurred on Saturday, November 22, prompted neighbours and co-tenants to rescue the girl and take her to Manhyia Hospital, where health workers observed multiple old bruises indicative of long-term abuse

During court proceedings on Tuesday, November 25, the accused requested legal representation, which the court granted.

The court, presided over by His Honour Festus Fovi Nukunu, initially remanded her in police custody.

However, the prosecution requested that she be remanded in prison instead, citing non-functional washroom facilities at the Kenyasi Police cells.

Beauty Alakwe has been remanded into prison custody and is expected to reappear in court on December 12, 2025.