Farmer jailed for selling step son

Accra, Feb. 21, GNA - A farmer who sold his eight-year-old step son to a man in Kano, Nigeria, for unspecified amount was on Tuesday sentenced to six years' imprisonment in hard labour by a Circuit Court in Accra.

Razak Mohammed pleaded guilty to child trafficking and the court convicted him accordingly.

In his explanation to the court, Mohammed said he was cash strapped and pleaded with the court for leniency.

The prosecutor, Chief Inspector Mary Agbo zo told the court presided over Mrs Jennifer Dodoo that in late December 2005, Mohammed informed his wife Joyce Kruwaa that he was visiting his aged mother at Kintampo and wanted the victim to accompany him. Kruwaa agreed and she saw them off.

Chief Inspector Agbozo told the court that Kruwaa later had information that Mohammed had taken the victim to Nigeria and sold him to a man who was now at large.

This information got to the Ghana High Commission in Nigeria, who inturn informed the Minister of Women and Children's Affairs, who also conveyed same to INTERPOL, Ghana.

On June 5, last year, Kruwaa joined INTERPOL Ghana to Nigeria and the victim was found in the custody of National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficked Persons, a non-governmental organisation in Abuja, Nigeria.

The prosecution said the victim was handed over to INTERPOL Ghana who handed him over to his mother.

Mohammed was handed over to INTERPOL Ghana last Friday, prosecution said.