Assistant Chief Officer Mr Francis Agbomadzi, the Greater Accra Public Relations Officer of the Senior Correctional Centre of the Ghana Prisons Service speaking to Ghana News Agency in Accra appealed to the President of Ghana to grant amnesty to some juvenile offenders in police custody to enable them practice physical distancing during the Covid 19 period.
According to the officer, the facility currently has 266 juvenile offenders in custody and this has made it difficult for physical distancing as well as other preventive measures to be observed. He therefore pleaded on their behalf by saying that these offenders have learnt their lessons from their previous experiences and it would be convenient if they are pardoned by the state in order to make available more space hence reducing the risk of inmates acquiring the virus.
According to the officer, it is important as the Juvenile Act 658 states that the parent or sibling must accompany the offender from the court to the centers to help have effective communication with relatives to curtail criminal activities.
He also advised parents of juvenile offenders not to neglect them when they come into conflict with the law but rather show them love and support.
