Efua Benneh, the grandmother of Justine Agbenu, one of the victims of the tragic East Legon accident, is calling for amendments to Ghana’s Juvenile Justice Act 2003 (Act 653) to impose stricter penalties on offenders.
Benneh’s call comes after the sentencing of a 16-year-old boy involved in the fatal crash that resulted in two deaths.
The juvenile received a six-month sentence at the Senior Correctional Centre, the maximum penalty under the current law.
Speaking to journalists, Benneh expressed her dissatisfaction with the light sentence. “I hope that measures can be taken to change the law. It is unacceptable that someone can cause the deaths of two people through reckless driving and receive such a light sentence,” she stated.
The case has ignited a national debate on the need for reform of Ghana’s juvenile justice laws, with many advocating for harsher penalties while ensuring a balanced approach to juvenile rehabilitation.
