Mother jailed for inflicting burns on daughter over cassava

Assin Foso, May 9, GNA - Akua Mansah, a 30-year-old mother from Assin-Akropong who inflicted burns on her 8-year-old daughter because she found her playing with cassava she was supposed to cook, was on Friday sentenced to three weeks' imprisonment by a magistrate's court at Assin Fosu.

The court also bonded Mansah, who pleaded guilty to causing harm, to be of good behaviour for one year or serve an additional three months imprisonment.

Passing sentence, the judge said he dealt leniently with the Mansah because of the tender ages of her children. Prosecuting, Detective Police Inspector Kingsley Wiredu told the court that on April 22, Mansah returned from farm and found the victim playing with some cassava she had asked her to cook. Mansah pulled her daughter into the house, beat her up, forced her to hold her hands over fire and burnt her on the forehead and other parts of the body.

The victim's cries drew passers-by to the house and they reported the mother to the police. She told the police that she could subject the victim to any punishment because she is her daughter.