Sixty-five year old woman, Maa Abena, who spent thirty-two years in prison shares her life’s twists and turns after being arrested for allegedly poisoning her in-laws’ children.
In an interview with Rev. Nyansa Boakwa on Happy FM’s Nsem Pii, Maa Abena, as she now courageously revealed was her name, narrated how for 2years and three months after being arrested, was kept imprisoned in Kumasi without trial.
She shared that after this period of over two years, she was then sent before court for the first time, where she was now allowed bail. Lucky enough for her, a good samaritan, who was also a lawyer, paid her bail and she was free to go back home.
Upon reaching the house, her husband’s family did not agree that she should be released from prison, hence with their wealth and power, made arrangements so they could get her back to prison.
According to her, she stayed home for two years, after which she was visited by the police telling her that her statement had now been processed, hence, she was to get herself a lawyer and prepare to appear in court at a circuit court in Dunkwa.
Her good samaritan, Lawyer Manu, accepted to be her lawyer but on the day she was to be present before court, her lawyer told her he had forgotten some files at home and had to go back for them.
Lawyer Manu failed to show up at court and on that fateful day, her opponent lawyer brought forth some files which rendered her guilty. Maa Abena was charged with murder and was taken to Sekondi to be arraigned before the high court for a final verdict and sentence.
She was put in another prison in Sekondi for four years awaiting arraignment before the High Court. On the final day of the court proceedings, jury was to decide but half the jury took her side and half of them took her in-laws’ side. The judge then gave his final verdict as guilty and condemned her to death by hanging.
By: Maureen Dedei Quaye