Dear GhanaWeb: I got my employee arrested

Dear GhanaWeb,

Three months ago, I had one of my most trusted employees arrested after discovering that he had allegedly stolen from my businesses.

I gave this young man a chance when he had no degree. He worked for me while schooling on weekends, and because he seemed smart and reliable, I eventually put him in charge of my Momo shop and made him supervise workers at my pharmacy, cosmetics shop, and kids’ boutique.

Everything seemed fine until I started noticing missing money. The workers complained that whenever he collected cash from their shops for Momo transactions, the figures never added up. An audit later revealed that over GH¢350,000 had gone missing.

When confronted, he admitted to taking the money. He returned GH¢100,000 he had hidden at home, but more than GH¢250,000 remains unaccounted for. I later learned he had even imported a car with some of the money.

I chose not to pursue the matter in court immediately because I knew his mother well and hoped the family would quietly raise the money and settle the issue. But three months later, he is still in custody and not a pesewa has been paid.

What makes this situation difficult is his mother. She comes to my house almost every day in tears, begging me to release her only child. She says she has tried everything to raise the money, but cannot. Watching her cry has started affecting me emotionally.

I want my money back, but I also feel sorry for a mother who fears losing her only son. At this point, I honestly don’t know whether to keep pushing for repayment or show mercy and let the law take its course.

I’m confused and don’t know how to handle this.

I need your suggestions, please.

FG/EB

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