A 53-year-old mason, Simon Mensah has been put before an Accra Central District Court for failing to provide basic needs for his two kids. Mensah, charged with failing to supply basic necessities of health, education and reasonable shelter for a child when legally liable to do so, pleaded not guilty.

The court presided over by Stephen Owusu admitted Mensah to a bail of GH¢1,000.00 with one surety to reappear on April 19. Prosecuting, Sergeant Simon Tekpor, said the complainant was a 39-year-old trader residing at Adeisu in the Eastern Region.

The accused person resides at Mataheko, a suburb of Accra. The prosecution said the complainant and accused person were ex-lovers who had two children; two and five years.

According to the prosecution, when the relationship broke down in 2015, the accused person failed to remit the children as well as rent a place for the complainant and his kids to live.

The complainant, the prosecution said, therefore reported the matter to the Officials of the Social Welfare, at the Ministries Police Station, where the accused was asked to remit the children with GH¢200.00 every month starting from June 2016.

The prosecution said in addition, the accused person was also to rent a place for the kids and the complainant.

Accused however turned deaf ears to the Social Welfare Officials’ directives; hence a report was made to the Police at the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit and he was arrested.