Correspondence from the Eastern Region

The Odumase-Krobo Circuit Court in the Eastern Region has sentenced a 26-year-old fetish priest, Ebenezer Asumah, to 15 years imprisonment with hard labour for defiling a 15-year-old girl at Osuwem, a community near Asutuare in the Shai-Osudoku District of the Greater Accra Region.

The Court found Asumah guilty of defilement contrary to section 101 (2) of the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29).

The Facts of the Case

Prosecuting, Chief Inspector John Kwesi Brahene disclosed that the complainant, Animo Mavis, a 27-year-old seamstress residing at Sawer-Sum near Somanya, is the elder sister of the victim.

The 15-year-old victim lived with their grandmother, Florence Ladjer, at Osuwern, where the accused also resided.

On August 5, 2025, in the evening, the accused approached the victim's grandmother and convinced her to allow the girl to accompany him to his house to assist with cooking, claiming he had injured his right hand. Out of sympathy, the grandmother obliged his request and allowed the girl to go with him.

The victim later prepared banku, pepper, and fish for the accused. After eating, Asumah locked the girl inside his room and forcibly had sexual intercourse with her.

The court heard that the act was repeated on three occasions.

Some weeks later, the victim began to feel unwell, prompting her sister to take her to the Somanya District Hospital on October 22, 2025, where she was diagnosed as pregnant.

Upon questioning, the girl identified the accused as the one responsible.

A complaint was subsequently lodged with DOVVSU Akuse, where police obtained statements from both the complainant and the victim.

A medical report form issued to the complainant was sent to the Akuse Government Hospital, where it was confirmed that the victim was 11 weeks pregnant.

The accused was arrested on October 23, 2025, and during interrogation, admitted to having sexual intercourse with the minor but claimed it was consensual.

After investigations, he was charged and arraigned before the Eastern Circuit Court at Odumase-Krobo.

Judgment

The presiding judge, His Honor Akwesi Appietse Abaidoo found the accused guilty and sentenced him to 15 years' imprisonment with hard labour, stressing that the punishment should serve as a deterrent to others who take advantage of minors.