The woman who was seen with a 12-year-old girl at the Democracy Hub street protest has been charged with the offence of exposing a child to danger.
The Ghana Police Service has said the woman, Grace Asantewaa is 50-years-old and not 68 years as claimed.
In a statement, the police said she had brought the 12-year-old girl to the protest and at the time of the arrest, the police did not separate her from the child as a guardian.
The two were taken to the police station where she was granted a police enquiry bail to enable her go home with the child.
“Following the arrests, the attention of the Ghana Police Service has been drawn to reports suggesting that a 12-year-old child, a 68-year-old woman, and a pregnant woman were among those arrested and detained. We would like to categorically state that all these are false. We, therefore, urge the public to disregard these reports and treat them with the contempt they deserve,” the police update statement signed by Grance Ansah-Akrofi, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) and Director of Police Public Affairs said.
The police explained that in “the case of the 12-year-old child and the 68-year-old woman, in the course of the arrest, Police realized that one of the suspects, Grace Asantewaa, a 50-year-old woman, who is being reported as a 68-year-old, had a child with her.”
“In order not to separate the child from the woman, the child was allowed to accompany her to the Police Station. At the Police Station, Police provided the child with food and for the sake of the child, her guardian, Grace Asantewaa, was granted a Police enquiry bail and allowed to go home with the child.”
It said the Ghana Police Service has charged Grace Asantewaa with the offence of exposing a child to danger, by bringing her to the demonstration grounds, contrary to section 71 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
“We would like to use this opportunity to advise members of the public to be mindful of involving our beloved children in activities that have the potential to expose them to danger,” the police statement added.
Graphic.com.gh
