Man jailed four years for threatening to stab his mother

The Tarkwa Circuit Court has sentenced a 26-year-old unemployed man, Joseph Quaye, to four years' imprisonment in hard labour for threatening to stab his mother with a pair of scissors and a knife.

Quaye pleaded guilty to threat of death and was convicted on his own plea by the presiding judge, Her Honour Bernice Mensima Ackon.

Prosecuting, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Veronica Tibson told the court that the complainant, Afua Adenzie, is a trader and Quaye's mother. She lives at Ningo, near Benso in the Western Region.

According to the prosecution, mother and son had been at odds for some time, and Quaye had repeatedly threatened to assault her.

At about 7:00 p.m. on June 12, 2026, Quaye arrived at his mother's home in Ningo. She noticed an offensive odour coming from him and advised him to bathe properly. The advice angered Quaye, sparking a quarrel during which he insulted his mother, calling her a prostitute and accusing her of having a smelly mouth.

The confrontation escalated when Quaye took a pair of scissors from his pocket and threatened to stab her. ASP Tibson said the complainant pleaded for her life.

The threats resumed hours later. At about 2:00 a.m. on June 13, Quaye returned to the house while his mother and siblings were asleep and threatened her with a knife. He also said that if he had a gun, he would have shot her in the ribs. His elder brother witnessed the incident.

The prosecution said Quaye was later picked up by the Benso Police over a separate matter involving a stolen gun. On learning of his arrest, his mother went to the station and lodged a complaint about the threats.

He was charged with threat of death and arraigned before the court, where he pleaded guilty and was sentenced.