Bantamahene in Kumasi, Baffuor Owusu Amankwatia the sixth, is calling for severe punishment for seven teenagers who allegedly gang-raped a young lady in the area.

Baffuor Amankwatia believes the punitive measure will serve as a deterrent for others who may intend to perpetrate such crime.

In an exclusive interview with Nhyira FM, he says there will be no attempt to intervene or intercede on behalf of the suspects.

There has been widespread public condemnation following a widely-circulated video in which seven boys were seen sexually abusing a young girl.

At least four of them have since been picked up and arraigned before the Asokwa District Court while police is pursuing the remaining three who are still on the run.

Baffuor Owusu Amakwatia the sixth says he discounted the story when it first broke, only to find out it was true.

"It's very, very sad for such a thing to happen and moreso for it to be taking place in  my traditional area. Seriously when I heard about it, I really didn't believe it but then I did some investigations  and I found out that the story  was true," he said.

He has condemned the conduct of the teenagers, saying  "it is bad for Ghana."

"Let's let everybody in Ghana know that what the children did is bad for Ghana; it's bad for the moral fabrics of  our society and it's bad for everything".

"We must be able to do something that will prevent this thing from happening again. I believe that when you go to other areas, these things have been happening; but it's just that  they have not been caught.

Now  for deterrence purposes, I believe that, the law must be made to apply. So  let's give it a punishment  that somebody will look at and say  ah this thing you know if I do something like this, I would be in trouble. I mean that is the only way," he said.

 "If you say they are children or because of that we are going to relax in the punishment, I think it is not going to help. For this one, let's  do something that will deter our children from practising this vice again"

Some residents of Bantama, including Assembly member for the area, have blamed growing indecency among the youth in Bantama on entertainment.

They question the community's organization of programs such as street concerts.

Baffour Amankwatia, however, says there is break-down in the moral fabric and values of society, largely because of lack of proper parental care.

"I think parental care  during these times is going down and that is what's responsible for whatever is happening. The value system of the country has gone down. Now what we give value to, is changed.

Parents must take responsibility for whatever their children do," he explained.