According to Modern Ghana, Jaba Donle, a 54-year-old Ghanaian man, has finally been acquitted and discharged after spending 17 years in prison without trial. His arrest in 2007 stemmed from allegations of killing his younger brother during a period of mental instability.
Donle was placed under Presidential Pleasure (PP), a sentence that left him in limbo with no trial date in sight. Despite regaining his mental stability, he remained in prison, forgotten by the system. However, his luck changed when Assistant Superintendent of Prisons (ASP) Majid Alhassan and the Wa Central Prisons leadership took up his case.
ASP Alhassan collaborated with legal professionals, including Lawyer Crispin Ziekah of the Legal Aid Scheme, to advocate for Donle’s release. The case eventually caught the attention of Wa High Court Judge, His Lordship Justice Alhaji Yussif Asabey, who ordered further investigation.
Tragically, Donle’s family had given up hope during his incarceration. His two wives remarried and passed away, and two of his five children died. Only three children remain, with the eldest merely five years old when Donle was arrested.
Following his acquittal on October 17, 2024, ASP Alhassan is now focused on helping Donle reintegrate into society. Donle learned weaving in prison but his deteriorating vision hinders this skill. ASP Alhassan proposes establishing a mini provision store to provide Donle with a sustainable livelihood.
“My dream is to see him established in his community, able to cater for his livelihood without depending on someone,” ASP Alhassan said. Donle’s journey to reintegration has begun, and ASP Alhassan’s support will be crucial in helping him rebuild his life and reconnect with his remaining family.
