Accra, Aug. 20, GNA -Angel-Zoe Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), working to bring relief to women and juveniles in prisons, on Thursday called for the proper rehabilitation of Eric Adjei Bawuah, who was jailed on Wednesday, August 19 for rape and theft. Ms Abena Asomaning, Founder and Chief Executive of the NGO noted that rehabilitation of the convict would prevent him from committing similar offences when he is released from prison.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, she condemned the action of Bawuah saying it was the highest disrespect to womanhood. Ms Asomaning said since Bawuah was sentenced to engage in hard labour, he could come out of jail a much stronger person and continue to terrorise women. Bawuah, 28, was a Gymnasium Instructor who raped a 19-year-old lady at dawn on July 29, in full glare of the public at the Asafo Neoplan Station in Kumasi when the lady was waiting to board a vehicle to Accra after a visit to her sister in Kumasi.

Following the incident, a Kumasi Circuit Court sentenced Bawuah to 25 years in prison for rape and another 30 years for stealing GH¢30 belonging to the victim. The sentence will run concurrently. Ms Asomaning commended the court for the swift manner in which it dealt with the case and asked that similar approach should be attached to other rape cases. She described the duration of the sentence as fair, adding that this would deter others from committing crimes. Ms Asomaning called on the mandated state institutions to counsel the victim to overcome the physical and psychological trauma that she might be going through.