Crime & Punishment of Wednesday, 7 September 2005

Source: GNA

Rape victims' parents appeal to IGP

Suhum (E/R), Sept. 7, GNA - A 56-year-old fisherman, Nedewupaha Amponsah, at Akorkoma, a fishing village near Asesewa in the Eastern Region, has appealed to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to investigate the raping of her six-year-old daughter by a 35-year-old corn miller.

Speaking to Ghana News Agency at Asesewa, Opanin Amponsah said on April 6, this year, when he and the wife were leaving for fishing, they left the victim in the house with other children.

He said the suspect, David Opoku, popularly called "Lamizana", who also lived in the neighbourhood, invited girl into his room ostensibly to send her to buy him food.

He said when the victim entered the room, the suspect forcibly undressed her and raped the victim who started crying. Mr Amponsah said the cry of girl attracted the other children who reported the incident to an old woman in the house. The woman also raised an alarm and the people in the neighbourhood rushed to the house, forced the door open but the suspect escaped through a window.

Mr Amponsah said a report was made to the police and the suspect was arrested and later granted police enquiry bail but since then nothing had been heard from the police.