Mother Accused of Burning Son with Pressing Iron Over Lost Pen Faces Court
Ho ,Volta Region - Ghana - A 25-year-old mother, Jemima Kwaku, has been arraigned before the Ho Circuit Court for allegedly burning her 11-year-old son with a heated pressing iron as punishment for losing a pen. The incident, which occurred on July 15, 2025, at Ho Barracks–New Town, has sparked widespread concern about child protection and parental discipline.
According to the prosecution, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Noah Amuzu, the accused became enraged when she discovered that her son had lost the pen she had purchased for him. The boy had explained that a classmate had borrowed the pen and promised to return it the next day, but this explanation did not satisfy his mother.
She allegedly locked the child in a bedroom, plugged in a pressing iron, and allowed it to heat up before pressing it onto the boy's body, leaving him with severe burns on his belly, chest, lips, shoulders, backside, and other parts.
The extent of the boy's injuries came to light on July 18, when his class teacher noticed his unusually quiet and withdrawn demeanor. After being questioned, the child mustered the courage to narrate his ordeal, prompting the teacher and headmaster to report the matter to the police. The accused was subsequently arrested, and the boy was taken to the hospital for treatment before being placed in the care of social workers.
Jemima Kwaku pleaded not guilty to a charge of causing harm when she appeared before the Ho Circuit Court on July 21. However, in her caution statement to the police, she reportedly admitted to the offense. The court has remanded her into prison custody until August 19, 2025.
This incident has raised concerns about child protection and the need for public education to prevent such tragic incidents. According to a UNICEF study on child protection in Ghana, 90% of children in the country had experienced some form of physical violence in 2011.
The study highlighted that physical harm is often perpetrated "under the guise of discipline," a practice that remains widely accepted in homes and schools despite its harmful effects.
Ghana's Children's Act of 1998 (Act 560) and the Child and Family Welfare Policy mandate the reporting of any suspected case of child abuse or neglect to the Department of Social Welfare for investigation. These legal frameworks are designed to protect children from "torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment," which is an offense punishable by law.
Source - Graphic Online
