50-year-old farmer jailed for rape

Techiman (Brong Ahafo) - A 50 year-old farmer of Boye, a village near Prang in the Atebubu District, who defiled an eight-year-old primary school girl has been sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment in-hard-labour by the Techiman Circuit Tribunal. Gyepuri Gyege pleaded guilty.

The tribunal presided over by Mr Nicholas Abodakpi, heard that some time in 1998, the victim's father, Mr Kofi Bunbora, a Boye farmer, left for his hometown in Walewale, and left his family behind. The accused, who also hails from Walewale, took advantage of Bunbora's absence and took the victim to his farm to bring home yams. While in the farm, the accused took her to his barn and sexually assaulted her, warning her never to disclose the act to anyone. However, when the victim's father returned from Walewale three weeks later he detected his daughter was sick and, therefore, sent her to a health centre at Prang.

A medical report revealed that the girl had been carnally known and upon interrogation, the girl named Gyege as the one, who sexually abused her. Passing sentence, Mr Abodakpi observed that female abuse was becoming too rampant in the society and stressed that the accused was being given a severe punishment to serve as a deterrent.