2 youths sold for ?40m each

On the front-page of the Times is another story in which two friends, Frederick Frimpong, 50, a well digger, and Owusu 42, a mason are reported to have appeared before a circuit tribunal at Kumasi for offering two youngmen for sale at ?40million each.

The paper says, the two however pleaded not guilty to charges of slave dealing involving their son and nephew and were granted ?150m bail with two sureties to appear again on July 7.

According to the paper, Police Chief Inspector, Lucy Taylor told the tribunal that on May 14, Frimpong met a friend, Seidu Ramadan, a spare parts dealer at Suame Magazine in Kumasi and told him of his desire to see a 'jujuman' who could help him become rich.

Frimpong, according to the story, proposed to offer his eldest son, Richard Yaw-Kyei, 25, carpenter, for the necessary ritual. Seidu, the story says feigned interest in buying Kyei and after bargaining, they settled for ?40m.

The story says Frimpong revealed the deal to his close pal, Sekyere, who also decided to offer his nephew, Kennedy Adu- Mensah, 25, a mason for the same price.

According to the story, on May 24, the accused persons went to Seidu at his shop and demanded money for transportation to bring along the victims and he gave them 5,000 cedis each. The accused are reported to have demanded ?100million then for the deal and Seidu asked them to wait while he cash some money, only for him to reappear with the police to effect an arrest.

Frimpong and Owusu-Sekyere are reported to have told the police that they were selling the boys because they were fed up with poverty.