Social activist and law reform advocate Prof Stephen Kwaku Asare popularly known as Prof Azar has wondered why 3 male Justices Anthony Koffie, Eric Baah, and Bright Mensah (all of the appeal court) commuted Akwapem Poloo’s custodial sentence to a fine due to her motherhood and remorse but two women judges failed to do same.
This is after the 3-man Appeals Court concluded that a fine of GHS12,000 fits the “offense” while Justice Ruby Aryeetey (high court) and Her Honour Mrs. Christiana Cann (circuit court) imposed a 90 days custodial sentence on the actress.
The 3-man Appeals Court said they took into consideration “the interest of the seven-year-old son and the fact that he will need parental care” and also the fact that the Akwapem Poloo “is a single mother” and has shown remorse since her conviction. These facts didn’t make any difference to the two women judges.
Prof Azar wondered whether this lends credence to the supposed “wickedness” of female judges in general.
“It is fascinating that the men took motherhood and parental care into consideration while those considerations did not seem to sway the women that much. The observation raises several questions, including whether female judges are harsher than male judges when dealing with such matters,” he said.
Prof Azar called for more research to establish more perspective on this development.
Rosemond Brown popularly known as Akwapem Poloo was jailed for 90 days by am Accra Circuit Court for posing stark naked with her very young son and posting the same on Instagram. She has since expressed remorse for her actions.
Her lawyers appealed her conviction at the Accra High court but the same was rejected.
Source: MyNewsGh
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