Sergeant Emmanuel Duah,now 47, went on trial in 2023, two years after he coerced a14-year-old girl into a newly constructed police station and engaged in sexual intercourse with her against her will.
The incident occurred in September 2021 at Ave-Xevi in the Akatsi North District.
The perpetrator, a police officer, was on duty at a police barrier just a few meters from the victim’s residence.
The victim’s aunt stated that around 3:30 p.m. that day, the young girl had gone to collect rainwater from a basin in front of the newly constructed police post. However, she was cynically dragged into the room by the police sergeant.
Later, at around 5:45 p.m., the victim was found on a nearby cassava farm and taken home for questioning. Her aunt, with whom she lived, had already searched for her upon returning home from the community but was unable to locate her.
After hearing the girl’s account, the aunt went to the Ave-Dakpa police station to file a formal complaint. There, she was provided with a medical form to ensure the victim received necessary examination and treatment.
Several months after the incident, the police’s silence on the matter prompted EIB Network’s Faisel Abdul-Iddrisu to follow up with the Divisional Command at Sogakope.
After pursuing the case with a Right to Information (RTI) request to the Regional Police Command and the Attorney General’s office, the reporter managed to push for the prosecution of the convict.
Prosecution finally began in February 2023 after the police officer was charged with defilement.
Ms. Enyonam Letsa, an Assistant State Attorney, leading the prosecution, informed the court that Duah was arrested following the initial complaint from the victim’s aunt.
However, he was later granted bail during the police inquiry. The court was told that on October 12, 2021, the police visited the crime scene at Ave-Xevi. There, the girl guided investigators to the room where the accused had sexually assaulted her and demonstrated how the act was carried out on the floor.
During interrogation, Sergeant Emmanuel Duah told investigators that he only held the girl’s hand and touched her breast, but he denied having sexual intercourse with her, as stated by the prosecution to the court.
Although Sergeant Emmanuel Duah appeared in court for the first time without legal representation and was two hours late, he pleaded not guilty to the charge. He was granted bail with two sureties, set at GHC50,000.
Following a trial lasting over a year, Sergeant Emmanuel Duah was found guilty by the Ho Circuit Court, presided over by His Honour Felix Datsomor.
On Tuesday, March 26, 2024, the court sentenced him to a 12-year jail term involving hard labor.
