Daniel Gadzeti, a carpenter, was sentenced to five years imprisonment by a Ho circuit court on Tuesday for being in an incestuous relationship with his 19-year-old daughter Mabel Gadzeti, a seamstress apprentice.

Mr Frank Owusu Afriyie, the presiding judge, deferred sentence on Mabel until after medical tests for pregnancy and sex-related diseases.

Mr Afriyie described the conduct of Gadzeti, a father of four, as “very irresponsible”.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Kwadwo Nkansah told the court that Gadzeti, who lives at Nkonya-Ntumda, invited his daughter, who was with her mother at Nkonya-Tayi to come over and stay with him.

He said Gadzeti started having sexual intercourse with his her.

Mr Nkansah said a friend of Gadzeti once visited him and saw him and his daughter bathing together and asked him if he was having sexual relationship with her.

He said Gadzeti took offence and reported the matter to the chief of Nkonya-Ntumda who summoned the friend before the traditional court which fined him to compensate Gadzeti because according to the court, the friend had no evidence to support his allegation.

About a year later Gadzeti confessed his incestuous relationship to his uncle, a catechist, and expressed his desire to perform customary rites to marry her as his second wife to her mother.

He said Gadzeti’s uncle informed the chief of the town who summoned Gadzeti’s wife and daughter were summoned before the chief and elders of the town.

A fine was imposed on Gadzeti and his daughter which they paid.

He said a few days later, information about their relationship got to the police leading to their arrest.