The chairman of a Primary School Management Committee in the Dangme West District has had a child with a 16-year-old primary six pupil of the school and has since been living with her as man and wife without performing the marriage rites. Mary Kudjordzi, mother of the pupil, told the Times that she had allowed the Committee Chairman, John Gbli Adiamah, to live with her daughter because she could not cater for her and the grandchild. Adiamah on his part, told the Times that he saw nothing wrong with impregnating the pupil which has led to the termination of her education, saying he was not aware that defilement or rape was a criminal offence. He has since left the village and further attempts to get him have proven futile. A source close to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Police Service said that under the Children's Act, minors below 18 years cannot be forced into marriage. The source said DOVVSU will take up the matter. The Times learnt that Mr. Adiamah's case is one of the numerous attempted rape, defilement, and other sexual harassment cases that pupils of the school aged between eight and 16 go through. Instead of reporting such cases to the police, their parents attempt to settle them at home. The paper was informed about the plight of the pupil by the director of a US-based NGO, Family Outreach Foundation, who has adopted the school and feeds the pupils once a day. The Director, Naa Korklu, has expressed disgust about the situation and particularly the attitude of the parents. Naa Korklu said a 12-year-old girl was raped and impregnated two years ago and she (Korklu) had to care for her until she delivered. She has since been looking after her and the child and she has now been sent to another school. She said as a victim of sexual abuse herself, she will do everything possible to bring the plight of the girls to the public domain. "We cannot allow this irresponsible behaviour to continue if we really want to unearth the potential in these girls," she added. She said she adopted the school on her own free will and struggling to provide all their educational needs as such cannot comprehend why the community wants to destroy the girls. Four other pupils, aged between 12 and 16 also narrated the various sexual harassments they suffered in the hands of young men in the village. One of them in primary six told the Times that while she was asleep one day she felt someone removing her panties. She held the hand and shouted for help but the person whom she identified as Kanor Doku, 27, a farmer, managed to escape and has since fled the town. Another victim aged 12 in primary four, the younger sister of the girl Mr. Adiamah defiled also said she saw a man holding a torchlight and with a towel around his waist enter her room. He started putting on a condom apparently to sleep with her. When she shouted for her parents to come to her aid, the person jumped through the window and fled the town. All the girls said even though their parents are aware of what is happening, they have not done anything about it. Source: The Ghanaian Times