A 26-year-old miner has received 20 years’ imprisonment with hard labour from the Tarkwa Circuit Court for defiling an eight-year-old girl through her anus.

Charles Amankwah pleaded not guilty to the charge of defilement, but after the case had gone through a full trial, he was found guilty of the offence.

Hathia Ama Manu, the presiding judge, said considering the extent of psychological trauma that the victim had endured for a period exceeding six months, she would give Amankwah a deterrent sentence to serve as a caution to like-minded people.

Prosecuting, Chief Superintendent of Police Alex Odonkor, told the court that the complainant is the mother of the victim, and they live in Brahabebome in the Western Region.

He said Amankwah had a good relationship with the complainant and the victim because they resided in the same house.

Chief Superintendent Odonkor said the convict took advantage of the friendship and since 2023, he started having anal sex with the victim when she was seven years old and in primary one 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 questioned the victim, she confirmed it.

The prosecutor said the complainant reported the case to the Western Central Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit in Tarkwa.

A medical report form was issued to the complainant on behalf of the victim for examination and report.

Prosecution said the medical report form was returned duly endorsed by a medical officer to the police.

He said Amankwah was later picked up for interrogation, but he denied the offence in his investigation caution statement in the presence of an independent witness.