John Okoe Mensah, a visibly frail 75-five year-old man has been discharged from the Nsawam medium security prison where he was being held on remand for the offence of murder.
Arrested and detained since October 31, 2018, the old man had been in prison for six years because he could not satisfy a one hundred thousand Ghana cedis bail.
At the adhoc court sitting inside the Nsawam medium security prison on Wednesday, it was revealed that state prosecutors had within the period, failed to issue advice for the case to progress.
The sitting judge, Justice Lydia Osei Marfo who felt empathetic towards the weak old man, was swift to discharge him.
She ruled that “since the Attorney-General is yet to issue advice on the case, and the accused person looks frail and old, he is discharged.”
Prior to him being discharged, however, the judge asked him to shake and move his hands. He was also asked to stand and take three steps forward.
Curiously though, unlike other inmates who were emotional after being discharged, John Okoe Mensah was indifferent about the fact that his liberties have been restored after close to six years of being caged.
He walked out of the adhoc court sitting as though nothing had happened.