Tokor: The Circuit Court at Tokor in the Ketu South Municipality, presided over by Mr. Joseph Ofosu Behome, has sentenced a 36-year-old father to 10 years imprisonment with hard labour for impregnating his daughter.
According to Ghana News Agency, the convict, Kofitse Zigah, an electrician residing at Adoteykope, a suburb of Aflao, defiled his 15-year-old daughter on two occasions, resulting in the pregnancy. He pleaded guilty to the charge of defilement and was sentenced accordingly.
Police Inspector Albert Kombor, who prosecuted the case, narrated to the court that Miss Faustina Elikplim Korwu, the Assembly member for Avoeme West Electoral Area, led the victim to lodge a complaint at the Aflao Police Station on May 01, 2025, which led to Zigah's arrest. The incident first came to light when the victim consumed a non-alcoholic beverage given by the convict during his birthday in February. She dozed off and later found a dried whitish fluid substance on her lap and pants, but Zigah did not comment on it.
Inspector Kombor further stated that on April 15, 2025, the convict celebrated the victim's birthday and once more gave her a soft drink suspected to be laced with a sedative. He then took her into the bedroom and had sexual intercourse with her. Later that month, the victim experienced tiredness and headaches, which she reported to Zigah.
On May 01, 2025, while the victim was on an errand, the complainant, Miss Korwu, encountered her. Upon questioning, the victim narrated her ordeal, leading to the case being reported to the police. A medical examination at Ketu South Municipal Hospital confirmed that the victim was 15 weeks and 4 days pregnant.
Zigah pleaded guilty simpliciter when first arraigned before the court on May 05, 2025, receiving his sentence during his second court appearance. Reacting to the sentence, Miss Korwu expressed satisfaction with the swift delivery of justice, although she expected a longer jail term. She speculated that the judge might have considered Zigah's complete admission of guilt and his apparent poor health.
Per the Criminal Code, 1960 (ACT 29), a person convicted of having sexual intercourse with a child under age 16, with or without consent, faces imprisonment for a minimum of seven years and a maximum of 25 years.
