On June 30, 2020, Rosemond Brown, popularly known in the entertainment circles as ‘Akuapem Poloo’ celebrated her son’s seventh birthday by posting semi-nude photos together with her son, who was also half-naked and posted same on her Instagram page.
The pictures went viral on social media and attracted comments which accused her of undermining the dignity of her seven-year-old son among others.
A write-up accompanying the picture read: “I am naked in front of you because this is how naked I was giving birth to you, so in case you find me lying somewhere don’t pass by but see me as your mom who brought you to life.”
Mr. Bright K. Appiah, who is the Director of Child Rights International Ghana, petitioned the Director-General CID on the matter and the matter was referred to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU).
Rosemond, the prosecution said, was arrested and in her caution statement, admitted posting the nude picture with her son unintentionally.
She was charged with publication of obscene material, and two counts of engaging in domestic violence.
In November last year when she was arraigned, she pleaded not guilty but pleaded guilty to all three charges in court yesterday, April 14, 2020, and was convicted on her own plea by the court.
The court has deferred her sentencing to Friday, April 16, 2021.
This is to enable her to undergo a pregnancy test in compliance with the law regarding a woman who has pleaded guilty in court.
In light of this, some celebrities have taken to social media to support Akuapem Poloo and ask that she be pardoned. Using the hashtag #Freeakuapempoloo, these celebrities have expressed the need for Akuapem Poloo to be freed.
Sarkodie
Michael Owusu Addo, known professionally as Sarkodie who was born July 10, 1988, is a Ghanaian rapper and entrepreneur from Tema. His contributions to the Ghanaian music industry have earned him numerous accolades, including the Vodafone Ghana Music Award for “Artiste of the Decade”.
He was announced the first winner of BET’s Best International Flow artist at the 2019 BET Hip Hop Awards. He is also considered one of the major proponents of the Azonto genre and dance and one of the most successful African rappers of all time.
Sarkodie expressed that taking a mother away from a child will be a very harsh punishment and asked that she be freed.
I think it’s a little harsh to separate a child from the mum just because of pictures taken … would want to plead with the law to pardon our sister 🙏🏾 #FreeAkuapemPoloo
— Sarkodie (@sarkodie) April 15, 2021
Lydia Forson
Lydia Forson was born on 24 October 1984 in Mankessim, Ghana. She received her early education at Wilmore Elementary School in Kentucky. At the age of nine, her family moved to Ghana, where she continued her education at Akosombo International School. She also attended St. Louis Secondary School, Kumasi, where she completed her secondary school education. She graduated from the University of Ghana, earning a bachelor’s degree in English Language and Information Studies.
Her acting career started with cameo roles in Hotel St. James (2005), Run Baby Run (2006), among others. Shirley Frimpong Manso, CEO of Sparrow Productions, who had previously worked with her in the Ghanaian television series Different Shades of Blue, brought Forson back to the screens through the movie Scorned which led to her first African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) nomination as the Best Upcoming Female Actress.
She tweeted that despite being a victim of Akuapem Poloo’s many shenanigans on social media, she thinks her arrest and conviction is a miscarriage of justice.
You don’t have to like Akuapem Poloo or her antics, and trust me as someone who’s suffered because of the many hurtful accusations she’s leveled against me, I completely understand your reservations.
BUT this is a miscarriage of justice‼️
(thread) 👇🏾👇🏾 #FreeAkuapemPoloo
— miss forson (@lydiaforson) April 15, 2021
Ama K. Abebrese
Ama K Abebrese is a British-Ghanaian actress, television presenter, and producer. She was born in Ghana and raised in West London in the United Kingdom. She won the 2011 Best Actress in a Leading Role at the AMAA Awards for her stellar performance in Sinking Sands.
Her film credits include Azali (film) which is Ghana’s first-ever selection for the Oscars, and the 2015 Netflix movie Beasts of No Nation directed by Cary Fukunaga and stars Idris Elba.
She stated that she is doubtful that Akuapem Poloo’s post was meant to cause harm to her child especially after she publicly apologized, She also expressed that a jail term will be extreme.
I myself saw Akuapem Polio’s pics online and reported it for Instagram to take them down. The pictures were removed and she apologised publicly. She is his mother and I don’t think she meant any harm to her child. However I don’t think she should be handed a jail sentence.
— Ama K Abebrese (@Ama_K_Abebrese) April 14, 2021
I hope the judge is lenient in this case.
There are literally peadophiles and child molesters whom are are walking free. I hear of some cases where some people who have raped and sodomisied children are not prosecuted.— Ama K Abebrese (@Ama_K_Abebrese) April 14, 2021
Jessica Opare Saforo
Jessica Opare Saforo (born 29 April 1981) is a Ghanaian media personality, TV and radio broadcaster, and entrepreneur. She has worked in radio for about 20 years and TV for about 16 years hence she is one of the longest-serving presenters on the Ghanaian scene.
She started working as a radio presenter in 2000 at Vibe FM and then in 2004 moved to Choice FM. She later moved to Citi FM in 2005 where she became the host for Citi Drive and then later, Brunch in The Citi and then, The Traffic Avenue. She hosts Sister Sister, an all-women relationship talk show, and is currently the Programmes Manager of Citi 97.3 FM and Citi TV, two of Ghana’s most influential channels.
Jessica expressed that the Akuapem Poloo conviction feels like killing a fly with a sledgehammer.
Don't know how to feel about this Akuapem Poloo conviction. Feels like killing a fly with a sledge hammer.
— Jessica OS on Youtube (@jessicacitifm) April 14, 2021
Efya
Jane Awindor, born April 10, 1990, better known by her stage name Efya, is a Ghanaian singer, songwriter, and actress from Kumasi. Efya got her first exposure to fame when she participated in the maiden edition of the Stars of the Future talent show. She won the Best Female Vocal Performance category at the Ghana Music Awards in four successions, beginning in 2011.
Her debut mixtape TINT was released on November 11, 2013. It consists of songs that were released between 2011 and 2013. The mixtape was supported by two singles: “Getaway” and “Best In Me”. She released her long-awaited debut studio album Janesis on April 22, 2016.
On May 8, 2016, she was announced as one of the newly signed acts to Wizkid’s Starboy Entertainment.
The announcement came following Wizkid’s performance at the Ghana Music Awards. In March 2021, she was among the Top 30 Most Influential Women in Music by the 3Music Awards Women’s Brunch.
Efya was a celebrity tweet I saw on the issue of Akuapem Poloo. The songstress simply tweeted #Freeakuapempoloo.
— EFYA (@EFYA_Nokturnal) April 14, 2021
Other celebrities who have added their voices to this call are A Plus, DKB, among others
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By: Daisy Palinwinde Jacobs| Ghana Weekend