A 12-year-old pupil has been impregnated by her elder sister’s boyfriend at Amuana Praso, a town closer to Nkawkaw in the Eastern Region.
A Chief, her family and police are alleged to have taken monies from the suspect to shield him, disregarding the young girl’s life and future which is at stake. Two pastors are said to have played a major role in the mediation of the matter out of court, Crime Check Foundation reported.
The foundation said, according to its source, the victim (name withheld) is a Basic six pupil who lived with her elder sister, Christiana Yeboah after the demise of her mother.
The suspect, Francis Damptey who is said to be a married man, left behind his family and relocated from Twifo Hemang to Amuana Praso to engage in galamsey activities.
The suspect, Christiana and the victim were living together.
It is alleged that Francis slept with both Christiana and the victim. He is reported to have impregnated the young girl though he always asked Christiana to commit an abortion anytime she took seed.
Initially, when school authorities got wind of the suspect’s alleged affair with the victim, her father, Boateng Sekyere intended to cover up to avoid ’embarrassment’. He threatened to curse anybody who pursued the matter.
The victim, who is three months pregnant is said to have revealed that the suspect was responsible for the pregnancy.
Francis is said to have gone into hiding after hearing that the matter had been reported to the police.
Our source says that threats to arrest Christiana prompted her to seek help to apprehend the suspect who had gone into hiding at Suhum.
Though the matter was reported to the police at Nkawkaw by a relative, the suspect’s brother-in-law who is said to be a pastor at Nkawkaw approached the family of the relatives to settle the matter out of court.
This led to the release of Francis from police custody without the knowledge of the complainant.
Crime Check revealed that its sources, established that the Gyaasehene (a chief) of the town, Nana Attah Boateng, uncle of the victim, a former headteacher, Richard Ofori and a relative Kwaku Mpong who is a pastor of the Cherebum and Seraphim Church sat on the matter and took various sums of money from the suspect to free him.
The source also alleges that the Nkawkaw Divisional police were paid Ghc 2,500 to strike out the case from their books.
The suspect is said to be walking freely, while we are told the family of the victim is planning to help her abort the pregnancy.
“We condemn the unprofessional conduct of the Nkawkaw Divisional Police Command and call on them to prosecute the perpetrators involved in covering up the matter“, Crime Check added.
“We also call on the the Ghana Education Service and DOVVSU to seek justice for the young girl to protect her life and future”
SOURCE: Crime Check Foundation
However, in a responsible journalism, Republic Online Journalist Andy Frimpong Manso in a telephone conversation with ASP Beatrice Enyonam, head of Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) in Nkawkaw indicated that, the reportage speaks different from the facts. According to ASP Enyonam, her outfit has not in any way acted unprofessional, neither has it taken any inducement from anyone.
Her initial remarks established that the suspect, Francis Damptey, was to be arraigned before the Mpraeso Circuit, however he was arraigned before the Nkawkaw District Magistrate Court due to the unavailability of the Judge at the Mpraeso Circuit Court. The case, according to the investigators will be withdrawn and refiled at the Mpraeso Circuit after reappearing on September 30 at the Nkawkaw District Magistrate Court.
ASP Beatrice Enyonam told Republic Online that the suspect continues to remain in police custody. She said suspect was remanded on last Tuesday, September 16. He’s expected to reappear on September 30.
“The case was presented to the Nkawkaw District Magistrate Court because the Mpraeso Circuit Court judge was on leave. The Judge is back and the suspect will reappear at the court on September 30“, she stated via phone call.
