A Prison Officer at the Kete-Krachi Local Prison, ASP Maxwell Asumah, has cautioned young women against destroying their partners’ properties in moments of anger following heartbreak or infidelity.
In a public advisory, ASP Asumah said it is common for some women, out of hurt and anger after being cheated on or after a breakup, to smash televisions, damage cars, destroy phones, break windows or destroy other valuable belongings of their boyfriends.
He warned that such actions, though driven by real emotional pain, constitute a criminal offence under Ghanaian law.
“Under Section 172 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), intentionally and unlawfully causing damage to another person’s property is an offence known as Causing Unlawful Damage,” he stated.
According to him, the law does not provide an exception for persons who are heartbroken, cheated on, disappointed or emotionally traumatised.
“If you deliberately damage your boyfriend’s television, car, phone, furniture or other belongings because he cheated on you or because the relationship has ended, you may find yourself answering questions from the Ghana Police Service and eventually before a court,” he warned.
He noted that depending on the value and circumstances of the damage, the offence can attract up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
ASP Asumah advised young women to choose peaceful separation over revenge when relationships become toxic or unhappy, and to take time to calm down when overwhelmed with anger.
“Your heartbreak is real, your disappointment is real, your anger may be understandable, but destroying property is not the solution,” he said.
He further emphasized that the law applies equally to both men and women.
“The law does not become less applicable simply because you are a woman. The criminal justice system applies to both men and women, and the Ghana Prisons Service receives both male and female offenders who are committed to custody by the courts,” he added.
He urged young ladies not to exchange their freedom for a television, car, phone or any other property, reminding them that they have a bright future which should not be cut short by a moment of anger.
