The Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr, has questioned whether the support offered to a 67-year-old food vendor, Ama Forson, can compensate for the years she spent in prison after being wrongfully convicted of a drug offence.

Forson was sentenced to 11 years in prison for possession of narcotic drugs but spent four years and seven months behind bars before a higher court found her innocent.

In a post on social media on August 14, 2026, the veteran journalist described the case as “more than interesting” and raised concerns about the broader implications of wrongful convictions.

Though an earlier report did not indicate that the state had compensated her, a philanthropist offered her GH¢20,000 to start a livelihood.

“Can the offers made to Madam Forson repair the damage done to her life by her wrongful imprisonment?” he quizzed.

Forson has reportedly been given GH¢ 20,000 to start a business, together with electrical appliances and a pledge to support the education of her son following her release.

Wrongfully jailed food vendor gets GH¢20,000 support

The assistance is intended to help her rebuild her life after spending years in custody.

However, Kwesi Pratt questioned whether such interventions could adequately address the personal and social consequences of her wrongful imprisonment.

He also raised concerns about other people who may be serving prison sentences for crimes they did not commit.

“How many more innocent people are languishing in jail for crimes they did not commit?” he asked.

Reports indicate that Forson was convicted after narcotic drugs were allegedly found among her belongings.

She maintained throughout the case that the drugs did not belong to her and that they had been hidden among her possessions by a customer shortly before the police arrived.

She was subsequently arrested, prosecuted and convicted, resulting in an 11-year prison sentence.

Forson challenged the conviction through the appeals process while maintaining her innocence.

Further investigations into the circumstances surrounding the case reportedly established that she was not responsible for the drugs, leading to her acquittal and eventual release.

Her release brought an end to four years and seven months of imprisonment, despite the original 11-year sentence.

See his post below:

#INTERESTING
The case of Madam Ama Forson, a 67-year old food vendor is more than interesting.

She was prosecuted and jailed 11 years for possession of Narcotic drugs.

Madam Forson served four years and seven months of her term in prison before a competent higher court found… pic.twitter.com/hZ11zS4c2O

— Kwesi Pratt Jnr. (@kwesiprattjr) August 14, 2026