The search for an appropriate charge for parents who secluded their children for 8 solid years in Madina, Accra, has thrown up an unusual possibility – not having friends could be criminal. That is the suggestion of a private legal practitioner Edward Amuzu. He was reacting to the case in which the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service in Madina, rescued three children kept indoors since birth by their parents -Mr Sledge Mensah and Mrs Jane Mensah. The siblings are Isaiah Mensah, eight years old, Isaaca Mensah, six, and Isaana Mensah. The only friends the children had were three sheep and a fowl in their adjoining room. The children have named the three sheep Lee, Matthew and Martha, and the fowl, Genny. The children say they never bothered asking to go to school because their father would spank them whenever they did. Even though they can express themselves in English they cannot write. According to them they were taught how to speak the language by their parents. According to DOVVSU, the parents could be facing jail time if a medical evaluation they went through proves they were not mentally unstable. Chief Psychiatrist Dr. Kwasi Osei has attributed this to paranoia especially the father. But public opinion appears to be divided over the legal basis for the detention of the parents especially when their parents have taught the kids to speak English. They also take them to play tennis. Madina DOVVSU Commander ASP Christine Srofenyo explains the parents could be charged with abuse of children’s right to education and their right to movement because the kids cannot move freely. Human rights lawyer Edward Amuzu speaking on Joy News explained that there is “a full gamut of rights” that protect children. He revealed that there are four different laws such as Article 28 (4) and the Children’s Act 560(8) which guarantee the freedom of children to have the necessities of life such as sporting, social activities, medical treatment and education. The host Evans Mensah suggested to him, that the kids had access to some of these activities and that parents have the prerogative to determine the movement of a child. But the human rights lawyer said keeping the children from interacting with society amounts to seclusion, inhuman and cruel treatment. “They need to have friends”, lawyer Amuzu insisted as part of their social rights. He made reference to a confession from one of the children when he revealed they are not allowed to have friends. “From what one of them said, they do not have friends. They are not allowed to go out. Certainly there is something wrong”. He said even bringing in one or two children home to play with their wards may not suffice.