A 54-year-old businessman has been dragged before the Somanya Magisterial District Court for allegedly attacking his 24-year-old daughter with a cutlass following a disagreement over a young girl at their family residence in Brigade, Somanya, in the Eastern Region.

The accused, identified as Ebenezer Teye Narteh, also known as Ersco, has pleaded not guilty to charges of assault and causing harm after allegedly inflicting injuries on his daughter, Deborah Narteh, a National Service Personnel.

The incident reportedly occurred on Thursday, November 12, 2026, leaving Deborah with injuries to her right shoulder and a deep cutlass wound on her right forefinger.

According to the facts presented in court by the prosecution, led by Detective Inspector Justice Nortey Coffie, the disagreement began after Deborah noticed a little girl at their family residence.

She reportedly asked the family caretaker about the child's presence and was informed that the girl was the daughter of her aunt. Believing that the child had been left in her care, Deborah instructed the caretaker to take her to her room.

However, the situation allegedly took a violent turn when her father arrived at the house later that day and became angry over her decision.

The prosecution told the court that the 54-year-old businessman initially confronted his daughter over the matter but subsequently left the scene, only to return with a cutlass.

He allegedly used the flat side of the weapon to repeatedly strike Deborah, who reportedly did not fight back.

The prosecution further alleged that the accused later turned the sharp edge of the cutlass towards his daughter and slashed her right forefinger after realising that she was neither retaliating nor crying.

Deborah reportedly raised her hands to protect herself from further attacks, but the assault left her bleeding heavily from the injury to her finger.

The accused allegedly abandoned the scene after noticing that his daughter was covered in blood.

On the same day, Deborah reported the incident to the police, arriving at the station with visible injuries to her right shoulder and a deep cutlass wound on her right forefinger.

She subsequently lodged a formal complaint, detailing how her father had allegedly attacked her.

Police issued her a medical report form to seek treatment at a hospital and have the document endorsed to support investigations into the matter.

The accused was later arrested and questioned by investigators.

During interrogation, Ebenezer reportedly admitted attacking his daughter with a cutlass. However, he offered a different account of what led to the incident.

He allegedly told investigators that he had asked Deborah to leave his house but she refused. He further claimed that she pushed him to the floor, angering him.

According to the prosecution, the accused admitted that he subsequently went inside, picked up a cutlass and used it to attack his daughter.

Following investigations, he was charged with assault, contrary to Section 84 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), and causing harm, contrary to Section 69 of the same Act.

He has pleaded not guilty to both charges.

The case is now before the Somanya Magisterial District Court.





EA