A chilling case of child abuse has ended with a 15-year prison sentence slapped on Ishmael Addo, a 43-year-old chainsaw operator who defiled his 12-year-old step-daughter.
The Gender-Based Violence Court at the Police Headquarters in Accra handed down the sentence after Addo pleaded guilty to two counts of defilement.
According to the prosecution, Addo had been living with the victim and her mother, his girlfriend, in Asofa.
When the mother traveled to Afram Plains last month, she left the victim in Addo’s care. However, during her trip, she received a disturbing call from a friend and co-tenant that the victim was not well.
Upon her return, the mother discovered that Addo had sexually abused her daughter, who is a class three pupil.
The victim confided in her mother that Addo had threatened to punish her if she told anyone about the abuse.
Further investigation revealed that Addo had previously had sex with the victim twice while her mother was asleep at night.
The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Opoku Aniagyei, presented a damning case against Addo, who was subsequently arrested and charged with defilement.
The court, presided over by Dora Araba Eshun, convicted Addo on his own plea and sentenced him to 15 years imprisonment on each count, to run concurrently.
In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered Addo to compensate the victim with GH¢3,600 and pay her medical bills.
-BY Daniel Bampoe