Ghanaian actress jailed for posing nude in front of 7-year-old son for an Instagram photo

Ghanaian actress Rosemond Brown, better known as Akuapem Poloo, has been sentenced to three months in prison by an Accra Circuit Court over the publication of obscene material and domestic violence.

The actress was sentenced for her Instagram post where she posed naked to take a photo with her seven-year-old son in June, last year

In the June 2020 Instagram photo, the actress wrote:

I’m naked in front of you because this is how naked I was giving birth to you, so in case you find me naked lying somewhere don’t pass by me but rather see me as your mom who brought you to life. Happy birthday to you @sonof_poloo

The Child Rights International, a child rights organization, petitioned the Ghanaian Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to look into the matter. In a released statement, they wrote:

As a child rights organization, we deem this act as a violation of the Welfare Principle of the Children’s Act and abuse of the child’s rights to privacy and dignity. We wish to notify your esteemed office to investigate the taking of the said images and its circulation.

The actress had faced serious backlash over the photoshoot. It was stated that she pleaded for mercy as the court sentenced her to 90 days in jail.

“Mummy please, Mummy, I beg you, Mummy please,” the actress reportedly begged the judge as the jail sentence was read.

Akuapem’s lawyer, Mr Andy Vortia, prayed for a more lenient sentence but the court declined, stating that the actress must be jailed to serve as a deterrent to others.

Akpueme: Instagram

Akuapem was convicted on her own plea after she had pleaded “guilty” to three counts of publication of “obscene materials, engaging in domestic violence namely a conduct that in any way undermine another person’s privacy or integrity, and engaging in domestic violence namely conduct that in any way detracted or was likely to detract from another person’s dignity and worth as a human being.”

American rapper, Cardi B who described the Ghanaian actress as her “twin sister” during her visit to Ghana in 2019, condemned the jail sentence.

“I seen a lot of Americans do photoshoots like that”, the rapper tweeted in response to question from Afromusik. “Even tho is not my style I don’t think she was going for sexual more going the natural idea. I think jail is a bit harsh. Maybe social media probation or community service,” she added

I seen a lot of Americans do photoshoots like that .Even tho is not my style I don’t think she was going for sexual more going the natural idea.I think jail is a bit harsh .Maybe social media probation or community service. https://t.co/ncdwvggvFK

— iamcardib (@iamcardib) April 17, 2021