I ended up telling my friend that childhood is bliss because the amount of joy that filled by heart after spending a few hours among these kids cannot be explained. It was as though I was back to my teenage years having fun and dancing my brains out like no one’s business. Those were really the day.
As human as we are, you’d agree with me that we all make mistakes. Right from the day we were born into this earth, the struggle starts and we have to do all we can to overcome it and be the best versions of ourselves. If you knew me as a kid, you’d know I was trouble. I was a good kid, but also a troublesome one. I didn’t really get into trouble much but I always managed to do the unthinkable. As I grew older and got to my teenage years, things changed. I made a lot of mistakes but not ones that affected people. I also heard and saw mates of mine commit crimes and make mistakes that affected their own lives and that of others. Most of these crimes weren’t really ones to be prosecuted for unless it was that serious.
I really don’t know much how the system works in Ghana with regard to minors who are convicted of crimes. Mostly, they are sent to jail and once they get out of jail, it’s either their take the right path or go back to the same old. But we all know for a fact take anyone out of jail is a totally different person and needs a lot of help to get back on their feet. If I’m to be honest, Ghanaian jail isn’t a place I’d wish on even my worst enemy so I can’t imagine a minor spending even a day that.
That aside, what happens to their records? I really don’t know much into that but I’d lie to assume there would be something on there unless things happen backstage and it is scraped off. Generally, I believe no matter the crime a minor has committed, once they are out of prison and have severed their time, they at least deserve a second shot at a good life cleaning their records would actually be a great start. Someone would probably disagree with me but someone of us have committed worst crimes but we just haven’t been caught. Imagine this was you, or even your kid, you’d want a good life for yourself or your kid because we’d all say it was an immature decision which led to that.
So yeah, I believe minors deserve a second shot at getting things right and not going back to the same things that ruined a few years of their lives. They should be able to know and feel that the system actually wants the best for them so they can push and work hard for a better life.
all images belong to me.
