Grandparents allegedly burn 4-year-old granddaughter’s finger

A couple who allegedly burnt their four-year-old granddaughter’s left finger for sucking it have been hauled before an Accra Circuit Court.

The accused persons are Kojo Badu-Baiden (grandfather), a teacher and Juliana Mensah (grandmother), a trader. Both have been slapped with the abetment of crime and child abuse.

The first accused. Badu-Baiden is also facing a charge of causing harm, he has pleaded not guilty. The second accused was however not in court when the case was called.

It was revealed that during investigations they told the police that they committed the act to prevent the victim from sucking her finger.

Narrating the facts, the prosecution led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Agnes Boafo said the complainant is a prison officer residing in the Ashanti Regional Capital, Kumasi while the victim is a pupil and a daughter of the complainant.

The accused couple residing at Agbogbloshie are the maternal grandparents of the victim who reside with them.

Per the facts, the complainant and the mother of the victim who is an Immigration Officer at Elubo were separated, and as a result, the victim was left with her grandparents.

The victim’s mother is said to have left the victim and her elder sister under the care of her parents and left for Elubo.

DSP Boafo said on January 18, 2021, the complainant visited the children including the victim and observed that the victim was nursing an injury on her left finger.

The complainant subsequently interviewed the victim who mentioned Badu-Baiden as the one who inflicted the injury on her finger with fire.

According to the victim, the second accused Juliana (grandmother) held her while her grandfather burned her finger.

A report was then made at the Tesano Domestic Violence and Victim’s Support Unit, leading to their arrest.

During investigations, the accused persons admitted the offence in the statement, explaining that they committed the offence in order to stop the victim from sucking her finger.

Bail application

Counsel for the accused persons Moses Atiga who moved their bail application said the second accused Juliana was indisposed, hence her inability to appear before the court.

He assured the court that the accused persons are respectable members of society who had people can stand for them as sureties if granted bail.

Mr Atiga further prayed for the case to be referred to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). ADR refers to resolving disputes in ways other than going to court. It consists of a wide range of dispute resolution processes and techniques (Negotiation, Mediation and Arbitration) that act as means for disagreeing parties.

The court presided over by Christina Cann is yet to decide on the ADR prayer but has admitted the first accused Badu-Baiden to a bail sum of GH¢50,000 with two sureties to be justified.

The trial judge also ordered the prosecution to file their witness statements and serve counsel for the accused persons.

It further directed the second accused Juliana who was not in court to produce her medical records, confirming that she was indeed unwell.

The case has been adjourned to August 24, 2021.