A man who repeatedly sexually abused his 17-year-old daughter has been jailed for 20 years with hard labour. The 47-year-old was also convicted of threatening to kill his daughter, a high school student, if she disclosed the abuse to anyone.
Investigation and trial
The Lawra District Police said investigations established that he had sexually abused the teenager over an extended period, after a report was lodged. Police said the abuse was accompanied by repeated death threats intended to prevent the survivor from reporting the offences.
The man, whose name has been removed to protect the girl's privacy, was found guilty on charges of incest and threat of death after a full trial at Lawra Circuit Court, in the Upper West Region of Ghana.
Sentence and conditions
On July 24, he was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment with hard labour for incest and 10 years’ imprisonment with hard labour for threat of death, with the sentences to run concurrently.
The court also directed the Department of Social Welfare in Lawra to provide counselling and psychological support to the survivor's recovery.
Police comment
Regional Police Commander, DCOP Francis Yiribare, said the outcome reflected the force's commitment to investigate and prosecute sexual and domestic abuse cases.
A police statement said: "The Upper West Regional Police Command has secured the conviction of [name removed] aged 47 years old by the Lawra Circuit Court for incest and threat of death, following the successful prosecution of the case."
It added: "The conviction follows investigation and prosecution by the Lawra District Police, upon a complaint, which established that the convict has sexually abused his 17-year biological daughter, JHS student, over an extended period amid threats of death if she ever disclosed his escapades to anyone."
Hard labour in Ghana
Unlike in a UK prison, there is no volunteer work detail in Ghanaian prisons. If a sentence includes hard labour, the convict will be required to engage in farming, weeding, tree cutting, and fetching water. Prisoners could also be made to work in carpentry, tailoring or vulcanising, while earning no income.
