A 15-year-old boy has been sentenced to 12 months in prison for conspiring with another teenager to murder a 10-year-old boy for money rituals, in a chilling case that shocked the nation.
The juvenile, who was arrested in April 2021, had been on remand for three years before appearing in court.
During his sentencing, the emotional convict begged for forgiveness, expressing deep remorse, stating, “It was not my intention to kill my dear friend… I pray the court would forgive all my sins and give me a second chance.”
Despite his apology, Judge Bernice Mensimah Ackon explained that the gravity of the offense warranted a prison sentence, but added that the juvenile would be sent to the Senior Correctional Centre to acquire vocational skills during his 12-month term.
The case stemmed from a botched “sakawa” (money rituals) attempt in March 2021, when the boy and his accomplice, 18-year-old Nicholas Kini, consulted a spiritualist in exchange for GH¢5,000 and a human life.
They lured the victim, Ishmael, into an uncompleted building where the 15-year-old struck him with a cement block after his accomplice hit him with a pickaxe.
The boy pleaded for his life before being struck, but his pleas were ignored. The pair then attempted to bury the body, intending to present it to the spiritualist.
The tragedy resulted in a conviction for both, with Kini receiving a life sentence, while the 15-year-old received a sentence that balanced justice with his age and potential for rehabilitation.
