A Ghanaian woman and her infant child are being held in custody after the mother was arrested upon arrival at Accra’s international airport following her repatriation from South Africa, according to private legal practitioner and activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, Barker-Vormawor revealed that his law firm, Merton & Everett LLP, is representing the woman, who was reportedly arrested based on an outstanding bench warrant issued while she was outside Ghana.
According to the lawyer, the woman had travelled to South Africa after becoming involved in a financial dispute with another individual in Ghana. He explained that the matter was reported to the police and that, during her absence, a court issued a bench warrant for her arrest without her knowledge.
Barker-Vormawor stated that immigration officials detained the woman when she arrived in Ghana on a repatriation flight. She was subsequently arraigned before the Dansoman Circuit Court.
He disclosed that an application for bail was filed on her behalf but was denied by the court, resulting in both the mother and her infant remaining in custody.
“Our Firm – Merton & Everett LLP – is representing a mother with an infant baby who was recently repatriated from South Africa,” Barker-Vormawor wrote. He further indicated that the woman was unaware of the bench warrant that had been issued during her stay abroad.
The lawyer also expressed concern about the circumstances facing the woman following her return to Ghana, questioning the difficulties she must now be experiencing after being repatriated and immediately detained.
Details regarding the alleged financial dispute and the specific charges currently before the court have not yet been made public. The case is expected to attract attention amid concerns about the welfare of both the mother and her infant while in custody.
