The Tarkwa Circuit Court has handed down a 10-year prison sentence in hard labour to a 47-year-old man for assaulting his 13-year-old daughter. The man, identified as John Ansah, pleaded guilty to charges of causing harm, indecent assault, and female genital mutilation.
According to Police Superintendent Juliana Essel-Dadzie, the victim’s mother is a supervisor at the Ghana Rubber Estates Limited (GREL), and the accused is a charcoal producer. Ansah, who is a single parent, lived with his children, including the victim, at Kwapong within the GREL plantation.
The court heard that Ansah had been subjecting his daughter to various forms of abuse, accusing her of engaging in sexual activities with men. On March 24, 2024, Ansah tied up his daughter in their bamboo house, heated two cutlasses in a fire, and inserted them into her vagina, causing severe burns.
Despite the victim’s cries for help, Ansah continued to torture her until she became weak. He then left her tied up until the next day when she managed to free herself. After the incident, Ansah started monitoring the victim out of fear that she would expose him.
This appalling act of violence against a child highlights the urgent need for stronger measures to protect vulnerable individuals from abuse and harm. The sentencing of the perpetrator sends a clear message that such actions will not be tolerated in our society. Let us all work together to create a safer and more secure environment for our children.
