The Circuit Court in Tarkwa has sentenced an environment rehabilitation officer to 20 year’s imprisonment with hard labour for defiling a 10-year-old girl at Brahabebome in the Western Region.

Charles Amankwah, 26, who was charged with two counts of having sex through the vagina and anus of the victim, pleaded not guilty.

After the full trial, the court presided over by Mrs Hathia Ama Manu found Amankwah guilty of the crime and sentenced him to 10 years in prison on each count.

The sentences were, however, to run consecutively.

The prosecution, led by Chief Superintendent of Police Alex Odonkor, told the court that the complainant is the mother of the victim, and they resided in Brahabebome.

According to him, Amankwah had a good relationship with the complainant and the victim because they lived in the same house.

He said the accused took advantage of the friendship between them and since 2023, he started having vagina and anal sex with the victim when she was 9-year-old and in Primary Four without the complainant’s knowledge.

Prosecution told the court that Amankwah had sex with the victim multiple times in his room, especially when the complainant was away from home.

Chief Superintendent Odonkor explained that on June 16, 2024, a concerned citizen informed the complainant about the incident, and when she interrogated the victim, she confirmed it.

The victim said she used to go to Amankwah’s room because he assisted her with her homework.

She said that after completing the homework, the convict assaulted her sexually, gave her coke, and warned her not to disclose the act to anyone.

According to the victim, when she resisted the first day, Amankwah threatened not to help her anymore with her homework, and therefore, she gave in, and he promised to always offer her assistance.

The prosecutor said the complainant reported the matter to the Western Central Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit in Tarkwa, and Amankwah was picked up for interrogation.

He said a medical report form was issued to her on behalf of the victim for examination and report.

The court heard that due to complications, a surgery was performed on the victim’s anus, and after that the form was endorsed by a medical officer and it was returned to the police.