A Ghanaian court, the Wa Circuit Court has sentenced Ahmed Rashid, a 35-year-old local master of ceremony, to 76 years in prison for multiple counts of defilement.
According to BBC Pidgin, Rashid was charged with 10 counts of defilement, involving the sexual assault of minors.
Appearing before the Wa Circuit Court, Rashid initially pleaded not guilty to the charges. However, after a thorough trial, he was found guilty of having sexual intercourse with seven minors, which contravenes Section 101 of the Criminal Offenses Act, Act 29.
The prosecution revealed that initially, twelve victims reported the incidents, which had been ongoing for an extended period.
Subsequently, four more victims were confirmed to have suffered multiple sexual penetrations by Rashid while the case was under investigation.
During the court proceedings on August 23, a medical officer at the Wa Municipal Hospital, Dr. Alhassan Mohammed Mubarak, confirmed the assaults.
His testimony revealed that all the victims had lost their hymens as a result of the sexual assaults.
Presided over by the Wa Circuit Court His Honor, Jonathan Avogo, handed down the significant 76-year prison sentence to Rashid, sending a strong message against child defilement in the region.
This sentencing underscores the importance of protecting minors from sexual exploitation and sends a clear message that such offenses will not be tolerated by the judicial system.
