A 35-year-old man named Rashid Ahmed, who is popularly known as Anata, has been sent to the cooler in Wa, Upper West Region, for allegedly defiling 12 schoolgirls aged between 9 and 15.
The incident took place between 2021 and 2023. Anata is alleged to have lured the girls into his home and nearby bush and given them GH¢10 after having unprotected sex with them.
He also promised to use his influence as a wedding Master of Ceremonies (MC) to get them to dance on stage during such ceremonies.
According to reports, Anata warned the girls against talking to others about the act.
An official complaint was made to the police, and the suspect was arrested at Wa and arrainged before court.
The case was adjourned until August 14. The prosecuting attorney, Saeed Abdul Shakur, expressed confidence that the suspect, who was previously charged with similar offences in 2014 and released due to lack of witnesses, would be brought to justice this time, with substantive evidence and witnesses.
This comes after on Monday, August 7, a significant number of parents, family members of the alleged defiled girls, and individuals from various backgrounds gathered at the Wa Circuit Court to catch a glimpse of the accused and to observe the legal proceedings.
The Upper West regional director of the Department of Children praised the efforts of the police and urged residents in the region to expose individuals whose actions negatively impact on the development of children.
The public and the media were urged to sustain their interest in the matter and support the judicial system to get to the end of the matter.
By Vincent Kubi