A Circuit Court in Old Tafo has convicted a 27-year-old tricycle operator named Godfred Ofosu Appiah to 12 years in prison with hard labour for defiling a 10-year-old girl.
The incident happened in May 2024 at Sarfo near Asonomanso in the Ashanti region.
The victim’s parents travel regularly, leaving their daughter in the care of Godfred, a tenant who lived in their house without paying rent.
On the day of the incident, the victim’s father, Kandi Inusah, had reportedly travelled.
Godfred Appiah sent his wife on an errand and then sexually assaulted the girl in his room and threatened the victim to keep quiet about the incident.
Later, the victim’s mother discovered her daughter was bleeding from the vagina.
After questioning, the victim disclosed that Godfred had defiled her.
The mother reported the incident to the Mamponteng police, and a medical report confirmed defilement.
Godfred was taken into custody and admitted to the crime.t.
The accused admitted to the crime in an open court and made a plea bargain before the judge.
“No one forced me or promised me to plead guilty for a lenient sentence,” he added.
The judge then asked if he was of sound mind when he committed the crime and if he had any mental health issues, to which Godfred responded, “No. I am sound. It is the devil that made me do it.”
The court found the accused guilty based on his voluntary admission of guilt and understanding of the charges.
Godfred begged for leniency, promising not to reoffend.
However, the prosecutor, Inspector Alfred Aruk, emphasised that the accused had deliberately committed the crime despite being married and argued for a harsher sentence to serve as a deterrent to others who might consider similar actions.
The court was presided over by Judge Festus Fovi Nukunu, who sentenced Godfred to 12 years in prison in hard labour.