Catechist Rapes Teenager

Goaso -- An amorous headteacher/catechist of the Bitre-Kwadwo Addaikrom Local Authority Primary/Junior Secondary School near Goaso in the Asunafo District of the Brong Ahafo Region, who allegedly raped a school dropout in the bush, is now in double agony.

After being fined a live sheep, two bottles of schnapps and thousands of cedis by the traditional authorities for defiling the land, the Goaso Police are also investigating the suspect, S.O. Sarpoing, for prosecution on the criminal aspect of the case.

A police source told The Mirror at Goaso at the weekend that Sarpong doubles as the headteacher of the Bitre-Kwadwo Addaikrom Local Authority Primary/JSS and catechist of the local Presbyterian Church. He said some time last month, the suspect who resides in the same vicinity with the victim at Goaso, begged her to accompany him to his farm to bring foodstuffs home since his wife had travelled, and she obliged.

The source stated that on reaching the farm, Sarpong told the girl to remove her dress and underwear and bend down and she agreed. He said the suspect forcibly had sexual intercourse with her, after which he gave her ?5,000 and warned her in strong terms not to reveal her ordeal to anybody.

According to the source, when the girl reached home, she was bleeding so she reported her ordeal to her parents who rushed her to the Goaso Government Hospital for medical treatment. He said the parents later lodged a complaint to the Goaso Police who arrested Sarpong for interrogation.

The source stated that when Sarpong was granted police inquiry bail pending further investigation into the matter, the Queen of Goaso, Nana Yaa Akyaa, and her elders summoned him to her palace to find out the truth about the allegation.

He said when Sarpong confessed to the traditional authorities that he raped the girl in the bush, they fined him a live sheep, two bottles of schnapps and an undisclosed amount to pacify the gods and also purify the defiled land, and an additional ?400,000 as compensation for the victim.

The source indicated that the suspect would be prosecuted as soon as the police complete their investigations.