Herbalist remanded in custody for rape

The Tema Development Corporation Magistrate's Court at the weekend remanded in Prison custody an Herbalist, who sexually abused a 16 year-old girl instead of treating her of recurring nightmares.

The Herbalist, Francis Nyarko Ampofo, whose plea was not taken, would reappear on May 29.

Police Chief Inspector Matilda Tetteh told the court presided over by Mrs Florence Ninepence that the girl, who is a second year student of a senior secondary school, during the months of February and March was having recurring nightmares while in the boarding house.

The Prosecutor said when the girl went home for the Easter holidays, her parents took her to go and see Ampofo, who had been introduced to them as a traditional healer.

When the parents took the girl to consult Ampofo on May 5, he asked the girl and a younger brother to spend the night in his room, so that he could perform some deliverance on her, and the parents obliged.

The Prosecutor said on May 11,late in the night, the student accompanied her mother to Ampofo, and he asked the mother to go home and leave her behind, adding that after the mother had left and during the early hours of May 12, the Herbalist forcibly abused her sexually.

The girl informed the mother about her ordeal and a report was made to the Police at Ashaiman, who issued her with a medical form for treatment and the accused was later arrested.