Odumase-krobo: The Odumase-Krobo Circuit Court has handed down a 15-year prison sentence to two men for defiling a 13-year-old girl in Akuse, located in the Eastern Region. The convicted individuals, Benjamin Awuku, 46, who is the victim’s uncle, and Bismark Zinu, 24, were charged under Section 101 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), specifically for defilement of a child under sixteen.
According to Ghana News Agency, the prosecution, led by Chief Inspector John Brahene, identified the complainants as Grace Onyame, the victim’s mother, and Delight Princess Arthur, a child protection officer at the New Anointing Child Development Centre, a nongovernmental organisation based in Akuse. The victim, Charity Amenyo, is a sixth-grade student at Amedeka M/A Basic School and resided with the accused and her mother in Amedeka, a suburb of Akuse.
The case came to light on August 8, 2025, when Arthur invited the victim and her mother to her office following reports that the girl was involved with an older man. During the meeting, the victim revealed that Awuku had been abusing her for nearly two years and identified Zinu and another individual, Etornam, who is currently at large, as additional offenders. The victim stated that the last incident with Awuku occurred on the morning of August 8, 2025.
Following these revelations, a formal complaint was filed, and the victim underwent a medical examination. The police apprehended the accused on August 10, 2025, at their hideout. During interrogation, Awuku admitted to both anal and vaginal intercourse with the victim, while Zinu confessed to anal intercourse and an unsuccessful attempt at vaginal penetration. The medical report, received on August 11, corroborated the victim’s account of abuse. Efforts are ongoing to locate and apprehend Etornam.
The court’s decision to impose a 15-year prison sentence on each of the accused is intended to serve as a deterrent to prevent the sexual abuse of minors.