Lawyers for Ghana girls express relief at sentence but urge authorities to pursue perpetrators

January 23 2008

The legal representatives of the two 16 year-old girls convicted of drugs smuggling in Ghana have expressed relief that the juvenile justice court in Accra followed the recommendations of a social work report in handing down a relatively short custodial sentence.

Under the terms of the one-year sentence, which will include time already served and a three-month reduction, the girls can expect to be released on 18 April, 2008.

They will be held in a senior correctional home for girls in Accra.

Fair Trials International represented the two girls, and upon learning of the sentencing verdict, Chief Executive Catherine Wolthuizen said:

“While we still consider the conviction unwarranted in the circumstances, we are pleased that the court has followed the recommendation of social workers in setting a relatively short sentence of one year.

“We will receive the judgement later this week whereupon we will consider appealing against the conviction.

“Given the particular vulnerability of the girls, their lack of any previous criminal record, their youth and their status as pawns in a larger operation, run by other parties who have not yet been caught or prosecuted, it is deeply unfortunate that they, and not the men who lured them to Ghana, are bearing the consequences.

“These girls were preyed upon by the real perpetrators of the drugs trade through Ghana, and we urge law enforcement agencies to focus their efforts on ensuring these people are brought to justice,” concluded Ms Wolthuizen.

For comment, contact Catherine Wolthuizen on 07846 472 923 or 020 7762 6400