Correspondence from Ashanti Region

The Bekwai Circuit Court in the Ashanti Region, presided over by His Honour Isaac Appietu, has sentenced 30-year-old Kwaku Frimpong, a sachet water supplier, to 10 years' imprisonment with hard labour for defiling an 11-year-old girl.

Frimpong was convicted under Section 101(2) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) after the court found him guilty of the offence.

Background

The prosecuting officer, Chief Inspector Eric Okyere, told the court that the complainant, Juliana Nyamekye, 28, is a food vendor and resident of Kentinkyire, a suburb of Trede. The complainant and the accused were co-tenants in the same compound, while the victim lived with her mother.

The court heard that in early July 2026, Frimpong allegedly entered the complainant's room while she was away at the market and had sexual intercourse with the victim on several occasions.

The prosecution said the accused allegedly squeezed the victim's neck and warned her not to disclose the incidents to anyone.

On July 26, 2026, Frimpong reportedly entered the complainant's room under the pretext of searching for missing cooked meat, locally known as kalomo. The complainant, however, became suspicious of his intentions and reported the matter to the Trede Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service.

A police medical report form was issued for the victim to undergo medical examination and treatment at a hospital.

A team of investigators, led by Detective Inspector Gifty Asare-Brenya, subsequently visited the crime scene. During interrogation and in his caution statement, Frimpong admitted to having sexual intercourse with the minor on two occasions.

Following investigations, he was charged with defilement and arraigned before the Bekwai Circuit Court, which convicted him and sentenced him to 10 years' imprisonment with hard labour.