Tarkwa (W/R), May 15, GNA - Two unemployed men were sentenced to a total of forty years imprisonment for attempting to sell a sixteen-year old carpenter apprentice at sefwi Essakrom in the Western Region. They are Kenneth Owusu Badu, 26 and Mason Moses Atongo, 20, both residents of Ntonso near Kumasi in the Ashanti Region. They both pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy and slave dealing and the court presided over by Mr John Ajet Nasam, sentenced them to 20 years imprisonment each.
Inspector Florence Tawiah told the court that the victim, Kwasi Buabeng, lived with Moses Atongo at Ntonso near Kumasi. She said about two months ago, Kenneth Owusu Badu and Moses Atongo planned to sell the victim so they convinced him to accompany them to Sefwi to engage in small scale mining (galamsey), to which Buabeng agreed.
Inspector Tawiah said on May 3, this year, Kenneth went to Atongo's house at Ntonso and planned to move the victim to Sefwi Essakrom near Sefwi Asanwinso and sell him through an agent. She said, Atongo gave Kenneth and the victim twelve Ghana cedis to pay for their transport and promised to follow-up later that same day. Inspector Tawiah said the alleged agent whose room the victim was sent informed the victim about the intension of Kenneth and Atongo. She said to confirm what he told the victim, the agent alerted the police while the victim was hiding under his bed to hear what would transpire between them.
Inspector Tawiah said two policemen in disguise acting as the buyers went to the agent's house where Kenneth asked them to pay 40,000 Ghana cedis but which was reduced to 20,000 Ghana cedis after bargaining. She said the two policemen made part payment of 1,000 Ghana cedis with a promise to pay the remainder the next day. She said policemen had also surrounded the house of the agent without the notice of Kenneth. Inspector Tawiah said after Kenneth received the money, the two policemen in disguise disclosed their identity and with the help of the other policemen outside, Kenneth was arrested. She said Kenneth mentioned Atongo as his accomplice and he (Atongo) was arrested later at his house at Ntonso. 15 May 08
