The Bekwai Circuit Court has sentenced a 27-year-old houseboy to seven years’ imprisonment with hard labour for pouring acid on a senior high school leaver during a dispute at Pakyi No. 2.
The convict, Ernest Agyei, was found guilty after a full trial despite denying the charge. In addition to the custodial sentence, the court ordered him to pay 500 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢6,000, as compensation to the victim, Benjamin Asante.
Asante is a former student of Yamfo Anglican Secondary School. The court heard that the attack left him with serious injuries requiring prolonged medical treatment.
In delivering judgment, the presiding judge, His Honour Mr Isaac Apeatu, rejected Agyei’s claim that the acid attack was accidental. The court held that evidence showed a prior confrontation between the convict and the victim, and that the act was intentional.
The judge noted that tensions arose during a tile-cleaning exercise involving the use of acid. Disagreements among those present escalated, culminating in the attack. The court found that the circumstances did not support the defence’s account of an accident.
Earlier, Chief Inspector Christian Amartey, presenting the facts for the prosecution, told the court that the incident occurred on December 22, 2024, at Pakyi No. 2, where Agyei was working as a house help.
According to the prosecution, Agyei became involved in an argument with one Kwadwo Tawiah during the cleaning exercise. When Agyei reported the disagreement to the complainant, Asante reportedly told him that he did not wish to interfere in the matter between him and Tawiah.
The prosecution said Agyei took offence at Asante’s response and began insulting him, leading to a heated confrontation. In the course of the argument, Agyei poured acid from a container onto Asante.
The victim was rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, where he was admitted and treated for about three months due to the severity of his injuries.
Police investigations led to the arrest of Agyei, who was subsequently charged and prosecuted by the Ghana Police Service.
During sentencing, the prosecution urged the court to impose a deterrent punishment, citing the seriousness of the offence and the lack of remorse shown by the convict. Agyei, on the other hand, pleaded for leniency.
In handing down the sentence, the court said acid attacks pose grave danger to life and safety and must be treated with the seriousness they deserve. The conviction brings the criminal trial to a close, subject to any appeal permitted by law.