Proprietor of Great Lamptey Mills School to be put before court

Accra, Sept. 14, GNA - The Proprietor of Great Lamptey Mills School, Enoch Nii Lamptey Mills, is likely to be put before court on Wednesday, September 16, by which the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service would have gathered enough evidence to prosecute him.

He would be charged with forced marriage of a minor and failing to take responsibility as a father.

A source at DOVVSU told the Ghana News Agency in an interview on Monday that the mother of the minor, who was forcefully married to the proprietor, had been interrogated by the Unit for aiding and abetment of crime.

The proprietor was arrested by the police for allegedly impregnating and forcing to marry a 16-year-old former student of the school.

The source said the victim, now 18 years, mentioned the proprietor as being responsible for her pregnancy when the mother interrogated her. According to the source, the family of the victim sent a delegation to the proprietor, who asked that the pregnancy should be aborted because of his reputation but they objected.

After two months, the source said, the proprietor met the family of the victim and performed the marriage rites during which he promised the victim a house, upkeep of the child and sponsorship to continue her education.

It said the proprietor failed to honour his promises after the delivery of the child, and this led to his arrest last Wednesday, September 8, and spent the night at the Ministries Police Station cells.

The source reminded the public that the Children's Act 560, 1998 section 14 subsection two, indicates that the minimum age of marriage of whatever kind should be 18 and that a person who contravenes the law would be liable to a fine not exceeding GH¢500.00 or a term of imprisonment not exceeding a year.