- Family has limited options after ruling
- Juvenile offender gets 6-month sentence
- Lawmaker blamed for outdated regulations
A recent ruling in the East Legon accident case has left the family of the victims unhappy, but according to private legal practitioner Kwame Adofo, “the law has spoken.” In an interview on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem, Mr. Adofo acknowledged the family’s right to pursue further action, but cautioned that the ruling is likely to stand.
“The law has been made, and there’s little they can do about it. The family complaining also has a case, but the law has spoken,” Mr. Adofo said. He emphasized that the issue lies with lawmakers, stating, “We should be talking to our Members of Parliament to make laws that can change this. It’s not about complaining now, but about working to amend the law so that future cases don’t end in such unsatisfactory rulings.”
The case stems from a tragic accident in East Legon, which claimed the lives of 16-year-old Justine Agbenu and another victim. The juvenile responsible for the fatal collision received the maximum penalty permitted under the current Juvenile Justice Act of 2003 (Act 653) – a six-month sentence at the Senior Correctional Centre.
While some advocate for harsher penalties, others emphasize the importance of maintaining a rehabilitative approach to juvenile justice. Mr. Adofo noted that if the family decides to appeal the ruling, it may not be successful, but they can still pursue civil remedies against the parents of the offender to seek compensation.
