Teacher acquitted and discharged

Accra, July 20, GNA - A circuit court in Accra, on Wednesday acquitted and discharged, Richlove Kobby Ofori, a 24-year-old teacher, who was charged for defiling a 12-year-old class six pupil, for lack of evidence.

The teacher denied the allegation and pleaded not guilty to the charge= .. Chief Inspector A.A.Ahor told the court presided over by Mrs. Georgina Datsa Mensah that the complainant, George Siaw, headmaster of Melabet Academy School at Gbawe a suburb of Accra, lodged a complaint to the police that Ofori had defiled the girl.

Chief Insp. Ahor said on June 9, this year, Siaw reported to the polic= e that the teacher had defiled the girl. The prosecution said the headmaster told the police that the girl informed him (headmaster) that Ofori had sex with her in his (Ofori) room situated within the school compound a couple of months ago. The court heard that the headmaster made a report to the police and th= e victim was given a form for medical examination.

He said Ofori told the police that he and his colleagues demanded pay increase and also protested against the headmaster for non-payment of their Social Security and National Insurance Trust contributions. Chief Insp. said consequently, the headmaster terminated the appointment of the teachers on May 3, this year, and they reported the matter to the legal Aid and Labour Commission. The prosecution said the complainant's action was a frame-up against Ofori because he (Ofori) led the protest.