Child Abuse And Punishing A Child: Can Some Ghanaians Ever Tell The Difference Between The Two?

What is the proper way to punish a child who breaks the rules around the home?  Parents punish their children in many different ways.  Some take away their toys, and others just give them some time out away from everything and everyone.

Punishment is preventing a child to visit friends or to go out to play for some time. Punishment is making a child do extra normal chores around the house.  Punishment is not allowing a child to do some of his/her favorite things.  There are so many safe ways to punishing a child who misbehaves.

But certainly making a child sit in hot water is not punishment that is child abuse. Pressing a hot iron on a child’s skin is not punishment that is child abuse. Beating a child with a wire is not punishment it is child abuse. Making a child eat his/her feces is not punishment it is child abuse.

I came across a chilling story this morning on PeaceFm online, and thought it wise to share with some of my readers here on GhanaCelebrities.Com.

Most often I read about articles and see images of children being tortured for doing things that most children do such as urinating on a bed, taking fish from the stew or soup etc. However, the punishment that comes with such acts from some parents, grandparents or guardians can be disturbing and so inhumane.

An 11-year old girl who lives with his grandparents at Kpeshie in Accra was asked to sit in a pot of boiling water for wetting her bed overnight.  These grandparents tortured and watched their own grandchild go through the agony of sitting in the water until she was badly burned.   And after conducting such an evil act, they didn’t even bother to send her to a hospital, instead they kept her in the room to try and conceal their evil deeds.

The poor girl was left in the room lying face down on a bed because she could neither sit nor lay on her back due to her wounds.  The girl was in pain, and instead of seeking medical attention for her, so she doesn’t die of her wounds, they tried to treat her wounds with gentian violet ( a purple liquid solution that is used to treat wounds).

Unfortunately, the grandparents lack run out when a concerned neighbor who hadn’t seen the child for five days began to suspect foul play.  The neighbor went to report the case to the police, and with the help of the informant, the grandparents were arrested at home and the child was taken to the Police Hospital in Accra where she is receiving treatment for her wounds.

Sometime last year, I saw a picture of a 6 year old girl who was beaten with wires and burned with iron by her aunt and husband. The girl was kept in a room for weeks, and was tortured for nothing. The culprits were arrested, but unfortunately they were given a long bail to go and continue with their daily work while the girl continued to suffer.

Greed has overtaken some members of our judicial system and the police force. Criminals are able to pay huge sums of money to be set free after committing heinous crimes.

Is our system failing the children and the poor in society? What is your take on this?