A human Rights Lawyer Madam Joyce Opoku Boateng has said the abuser and father who severely whipped his 3yr old son Ebenezer Nana Bonsu, must be punished according to the Law.
According to her, children are not properties of parents who could be treated anyhow and for that matter, the father must be severely punished to serve as a deterrent to others.
The Manhyia Divisional Police Command has arrested a 26-year old National Service person, Ebenezer Osei Bonsu, for physically assaulting his three-year-old son for damaging his phone and also wetting his bed.
Bonsu is alleged to have used cable and cane to whip the boy causing injuries to his head and back. He is currently in police custody awaiting prosecution.
The Manhyia Divisional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Mr Kwaku Buah, told the Daily Graphic that the suspect was arrested last weekend following a complaint by the mother of the boy, Barbara Obeng.
According to the police, Barbara and Bonsu were lovers but broke up. However, he said the relationship produced a boy and the parents shared custody of the child.
He said Bonsu who is doing his national service in Accra usually takes custody of the child on weekend when he comes on visit in Kumasi and returns the child when he is returning to Accra.
However, he said the last time he came for the child, he refused to return him and a resident in the area where he stays called the mother to come for the child as the father was mistreating him. Mr Buah said when Barbara, who is shop attendant went to the child, the father refused to hand him over to the mother and it had to take the police intervention to retrieve the child.
He said when the police went to pick the child, “We realized that he had a cut and swelling on his forehead with gentian violet paint on his head. He said when the police tried to carry him, the boy started crying uncontrollably and when his shirt was taken off, “it was when we saw the marks on his back.” Mr Buah said the suspect had admitted whipping the boy for causing damage to his phone and also wetting his bed.
However, the police commander said the bruises on the boy’s back could be from a cable or cane. He said the father would not tell the police what he used to whip the boy.
Commenting on the matter today on Nkawkaw based Agoo FM with Obaahemaa Yaa Mirekua, the Human Rights Activist, also an aspirant of the NPP Nkawkaw constituency Lawyer Joyce Opoku Boateng expressed disappointment over the matter.
This she said will cause a physiological effect on the boy adding that he will develop fear for the father and adults.
She added that if proper care is not taken his confidence level will be low and will be abnormal if there is no special medical care.