General News of Saturday, 28 October 2017

Source: ghanacrusader.com

How BBC reported exoneration of rapist by Ghanaian gods

The defiled victim and her mother The defiled victim and her mother

The defilement of a four-year-old girl in Assin Adadientem in the Central Region has received an international attention.

The little girl’s case got the anger of the general public after the chief of the area exonerated the accused stating that the gods have cleared him of any wrongdoing.

The girl who could hardly walk have since been receiving treatment at the St Francis-Xavier Hospital in Assin Fosu.

This has forced a social media campaign to put pressure on the police to bring the accused person to book.

The Inspector General of police has since directed the Central Region Police command to take over the investigation into the matter.

However this has attracted international attention particularly on the BBC.

Below was how the BBC reported the sad story.

Ghana’s inspector general of police has ordered an investigation into the alleged rape of a four-year-old girl after national outrage over the case.

The parents of the child said a local chief told them nothing could be done because the community god’s deemed the suspect innocent.

Many said the case demonstrated a culture that shielded sex attackers.

Local police are also now under investigation following accusations of poor handling of the incident.

Ghana’s police Chief David Asante-Apeatu has summoned the commander of Central Region for questioning after a public outcry about the handling of the incident.

The 18-year-old suspect has not been arrested since the attack nearly two weeks ago, the BBC’s Thomas Naadi reports from the capital, Accra.

The case has caused concern, dominating radio and social media conversations with the hashtag #JusticeForHer trending on social media.

There is also anger about the traditional leader’s alleged attitude to the rape.