A 23 year-old trader, Rose Adjei, has been sentenced to 5 years imprisonment in hard labour by a Tarkwa circuit court for trafficking a 13 year-old girl to Accra without approval and consent of the parents.

The convict, who pleaded guilty to the charge, wept uncontrollably in court when Mr. Samuel Obeng Diawuo, the judge, pronounced his judgment.

Police Detective Chief Inspector Oscar Amponsah told the court earlier that the complainant, Mariama Osumanu is a mother of the victim Emmanuella Koffie, both residing at Cyanide, a suburb of Tarkwa, whilst the convict lives in Kasoa.

He said on May 27 this year, around 1800 hours, the victim left home to sell ice water but did not return.

According to the Prosecutor, the complainant went in search of the victim but could not trace her.

Inspector Amponsah said the victim’s brother Emmanuel Koffie on May 28, at about 0400 hours set out to look for the victim and saw her at the Tarkwa Railway station area and informed her that the complainant was looking for her but she ignored him.

He said the brother followed the victim to the Tarkwa Ford station and saw her together with the convict boarding a bus to Accra.

The Prosecutor said the brother rushed home immediately to inform the complainant but when they got back to the station the bus had left.

He said the complainant informed the station master and he contacted the driver on phone to cause the arrest of Rose Adjei at the nearest police station.

Inspector Amponsah said when the driver got to the Takoradi Apremdo police barrier, he informed the police on duty and the convict was arrested.

He said all the parties involved were brought to the Tarkwa Domestic Violence and Victim Supportive Unit (DOVVSU) for further investigation.

The Prosecutor said after investigation the offender was charged.**