He threatened to stab me with scissors – 18-year-old allegedly raped by Soldier narrates

A teenager has accused a military officer of rape in Soe, a surburb of the Bolgatanga Municipality of the Upper East Region.

According to the 18-year-old, the military officer sexually assaulted her at the Siim Lina Guest House on Monday, 2 September 2, 2024.

The incident has raised serious concerns about the behavior of security personnel in the community.

The victim, whose identity is being protected, recounted that the soldier arrived at the guest house around 9 a.m. and checked in.

Shortly thereafter, he began making romantic advances, which she firmly rejected. However, the soldier continued to harass her, even following her outside when she tried to avoid him.

“He said he loves me and wants to marry me. So, I said I was not interested. He was following me, asking me questions like, if somebody wants to wound me, what would I do [because] no one is here? So, I told him that I would leave the fellow to God,” she recounted.

The victim also mentioned that a woman, suspected to be the soldier’s girlfriend, arrived briefly on a tricycle but left shortly after.

Following the woman’s departure, the situation escalated.

The victim revealed that the soldier threatened her with a pair of scissors, warning that he would stab her if she did not submit to his demands.

“Immediately I picked a bucket to water trees, he held my hair, pulled me, and pulled out scissors, saying if I joke, he will wound me here. So, I was sitting down quietly, but he held my hair, dragged me to another room, and raped me. When he finished, he took pictures of me. I was quiet and afraid because nobody was around,” she narrated, still visibly shaken by the ordeal.

The owner of the guest house, Paulina Adongo, confirmed the incident, stating that concerned neighbours apprehended the soldier after the victim raised an alarm.

"The military officer was taken into custody by officers from the Abilba Barracks after being caught by locals," Ms. Adongo said.

The Military has yet to comment on the incident.