A 47-year-old charcoal producer, John Ansah, accused of consistently assaulting his 13-year-old daughter, has been remanded into police custody by the Tarkwa Circuit Courts.
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Ansah, facing charges of causing harm, indecent assault, and female genital mutilation, pleaded guilty to the offenses.
While the presiding judge, Hathia Ama Manu, convicted him based on his plea, the court postponed his sentencing to Thursday, April 18, 2024.
Additionally, the court requested a social enquiry report from the Social Welfare and Community Development office in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality to assist in its decision-making process.
During the prosecution’s submission, Police Superintendent Juliana Essel-Dadzie informed the court that the complainant, a supervisor at the Ghana Rubber Estate Limited (GREL) residing at Agona Nkwanta, accused Ansah, the victim’s biological father, of the assaults.
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Ansah, a single parent living with his children, including the victim, in a cottage at Kwapong within the GREL plantation, had subjected the victim to various forms of abuse, alleging that she was involved with men and engaging in sexual activities.
On March 24, 2024, Ansah allegedly tied the victim’s legs and hands with a rope inside their bamboo house. He heated two cutlasses in a fire and inserted them into the victim’s vagina, causing severe burns around her vagina and thighs.
Despite the victim’s cries for help and her weakened state, she remained bound until the following day when she managed to free herself.
Fearing that the victim might escape and expose him, Ansah closely monitored her. However, on March 26, 2024, the victim managed to escape from the cottage and was rescued by a witness who took her to the Nsuaem Government Hospital for treatment.
A complaint was lodged with the Nsuaem police, leading to Ansah’s arrest, after which he was transferred to the Regional Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service for further investigation.
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