Court grants bail to two men accused of brutally assaulting 12-year-old boy

Two men accused of assaulting a 12-year-old boy in New Ankasa, Western Region, have been granted bail by the Gender-Based Violence Court in Sekondi. The case, which sparked public outrage after a disturbing video circulated on social media, is being closely followed by child rights advocates and legal observers.

Presided over by Her Honour Mrs. Naa Amarley Akowah, the court granted bail to Issa Morro (58) and Abdul Rashid (27) in the sum of GH¢50,000, with two sureties. At least one surety must either be an Assembly Member from the New Ankasa area or a Municipal Assembly officer.

As part of their bail conditions, the accused are to report weekly to the Elubo Police Station.

The case stems from a viral video showing the child victim tied with nylon ropes and subjected to severe physical abuse by adults. The disturbing footage prompted swift police action, resulting in the arrest of the two suspects.

The assault, widely condemned across social media and in traditional media outlets, highlighted the ongoing issue of child abuse in Ghana, despite the presence of child protection laws.

During proceedings, counsel for the accused, Allah Mensah, informed the court that he had petitioned the Attorney-General’s Department to amend the existing charges against his clients. The specifics of the charges were not disclosed in court, but the move could signal a possible shift in the legal direction of the case—either by narrowing or redefining the nature of the alleged offenses.

The case has been adjourned to July 25, 2025, to allow time for a response from the Attorney-General and for the legal process to continue.

This case brings renewed attention to Ghana’s ongoing battle with child assault and abuse. Though the country has in place a solid legal foundation—Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560) and Juvenile Justice Act, 2000 (Act 653)—justice for abused children is often hampered by long trial durations, community pressure to settle cases privately, and challenges in collecting credible evidence.

Specialised courts like the Gender-Based Violence Court in Sekondi are intended to provide faster, more sensitive handling of such cases. However, systemic delays and limited resources continue to be obstacles.

The upcoming court session on Friday, July 25 is expected to shed more light on the direction the prosecution will take and whether the charges against the accused will be redefined or upheld in their original form.