'I didn't want to be a burden on my mother so I had to steal' - Liberian jailed in Ghana speaks

Liberian national Martin Kennedy, who is serving a three-month prison sentence at the Winneba Local Prison, has shared his ordeal of living in Ghana with his family since 1999.

According to the 30-year-old Kennedy, he and his family arrived in Ghana in 1999 during the Liberian civil war and Ghana has since become their home.

“We came to Ghana in 1999 during the Liberian civil war with my mother, father, and sister. However, my father later returned to Liberia and eventually died. We used to stay at the Liberian refugee camp but the camp has been demolished so we now live across the street from where it used to be,” he said.

Kennedy explained that life became difficult for him after the family's relocation and as a result, he fell in with a bad group of friends who influenced him to engage in theft.

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Speaking in an interview with Crime Check TV GH on YouTube, Kennedy revealed that he had stolen from more than 200 people in Kasoa and its surrounding communities.

He said his most recent imprisonment resulted from an attempted theft during which he was caught, beaten by residents and subsequently arrested.

“I was arrested and taken to the Kasoa Police Station. Later, they released me, took my statement and sent me to court,” he recounted.

Explaining the incident that led to his conviction, Kennedy said, “I was about to steal when they caught me. It was at a woman's shop. At night, she usually doesn't stay there, so I intended to steal from the place. Sometimes when I get caught, people beat me and let me go.”

When he was questioned on why he chose to steal, he responded, “I didn't want to be a burden on my mother so I had to steal.”

Martin was sentenced to three months in prison after he failed to pay a fine imposed by the court.

He has advised others against engaging in theft, stating that he deeply regrets his actions.



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