Residents of Wam, near Kasapin in the Asonafo municipal district of the Brong-Ahafo Region, were on Friday March 19 shocked to the marrow as they woke up to the news that the mentally-challenged princess of Wam had been raped.

What is more, Afia Sophia, 23, daughter of the chief of Wam, Nana Twumasi, was allegedly raped in the bush by a 69-year-old man.

Soon after, the alleged rapist, known only as Ochokor, is said to have pleaded guilty before the Wam and Akwaboa Traditional Council that sat on the case, and a lamb was slaughtered to atone for the sin committed and to pacify the gods to avert what the council described as the "dire consequences" of Ochokor's misconduct.

Although Ochokor admitted having raped the princess in the bush, he denied being the father of Afia's two children. He claimed it was his first time of sleeping with the chief's daughter.

Apparently the princess had on two other occasions been abused or seduced into having sex as a result of which she had the two children.

For the offence, the old man was fined GH¢300, 'a sacrificial lamb', two bottles of Schnapps and a cock as his punishment.

Nana Owusu Boakye Yiadom, the Akwaboa Nifa Hene, who is also a member of the traditional council, told the Spectator that on the day of the incident, the victim who was always seen walking about aimlessly in the community was embarking on a journey to an unknown destination when the old man found her and started following her.

He said Ochokor followed the girl to a nearby bush where he ordered her to take off her clothes after which he had sex with her.

Whilst Ochokor was still in the act, he said, a group of young men who were returning from their farm, chanced upon them and raised alarm.

Realising he had been found out, the old man took to his heels but was soon outpaced and overpowered by the young men who arrested him and took him to the Wam palace for trial.