Her Honour Sedinam Awo Kwadam, presiding over the Accra Circuit Court, has sentenced a 39-year-old labourer, Abraham Nii Adjei Laryea, also known as “Game Boy,” to six years in prison with hard labour, for causing harm to two children during a heated confrontation.
The accused pleaded guilty with an explanation, telling the court that the incident occurred at his family house at La, which belongs to his grandmother.
He claimed a misunderstanding broke out between him and the complainant, Georgina Hayford, who is a tenant in the house.
According to Laryea, he had approached his grandmother when the altercation began.
“A scuffle ensued and my leg hit a pot of hot water, which splashed on the girls,” he explained. He expressed remorse and pleaded for leniency, stating his willingness to compensate the victims, but citing financial constraints.
However, Her Honour rejected his plea for mercy, stating that the explanation confirmed his guilty plea.
The court also noted that photographs submitted by the prosecution clearly showed the injuries sustained by the two victims.
The prosecution, led by Inspector Vivian T. Gyabaah, told the court that the incident happened in the early hours of June 9, 2025 at around 4:30am at the Loom Furniture area in La.
The complainant, a porridge seller, had placed a pot of water on fire outside her door, in preparation for the day’s work.
A confrontation erupted when Laryea, passing through the compound, engaged the complainant over a prior disagreement from the previous day.
As tempers flared, the complainant’s two daughters, Christiana Tashiec Anang and Georgina Hayford, were awakened by the commotion and came outside.
Despite efforts by neighbours to calm the situation, Laryea left briefly, but returned shortly after and, in a fit of rage, kicked the coal pot and boiling water onto the two children.
The victims sustained severe burns to their legs and bodies and were rushed to the Police Hospital, where they remain under medical care.
A report was made to the police and Laryea was arrested. In his caution statement, he admitted to the offence.
Laryea was convicted on one count of causing harm, contrary to Section 69 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
The court sentenced him to six years’ imprisonment with hard labour.
