Young cocaine addict begs for help

A young prison inmate at the Awutu Camp Prison is appealing for support after his efforts to shun cocaine have been unsuccessful.

Theophilus has been battling cocaine addiction and his continuous use of the drug landed him in prison.

The young man is currently serving a fifteen-year prison sentence at the open Camp Prison.

Though he wasn’t jailed for the usage of drugs, he was pushed into criminal acts.

“I have been battling cocaine addiction for a long time. At a point I even decided to go to a rehab centre for help,” Theophilus told crimecheckghana.org.

During its visit to prisons, Crime Check Foundation (CCF) met Theophilus at the Awutu Camp Prison.

After interacting with him, the inmate said he wants to be useful to society. He therefore needs support to establish a cultural troupe business.

“I am at playing traditional Akan drums very well and I want to establish a dancing troupe when I leave prison,” he said.

 Theophilus was fined Ghc 2, 500 by a Koforidua Court when he was found guilty of stealing.

Background to his prison journey

According to Theophilus, he was arrested when he attempted to steal a copper wire from a shop.

Unfortunately for him, the owner of the wire was laying ambush because of a previous incident.

“The copper wire owner was hiding quietly in his shop while I made the attempt to steal and he got hold of me,” he recounted.

 I was unlucky because the owner of the copper wire had been a victim of theft so he was laying ambush to catch the thief,” said.

Theophilus said it was a near-death experience when the victim subjected him to a machete attack.

“After attacking me with the machete he took me to the police. I had a fractured skull so I was taken to the hospital for treatment before they arrested me and then arraigned me before court,” he narrated.

Theophilus was jailed for fifteen years when he was unable to pay his fine.

Time With The Prisoner

Crime Check Foundation (CCF) screens interviews with prisoners to caution the youth on the consequences of crime.