End Modern Slavery (EMS) together with Engage Now Africa (ENA), the Ghana Police Service, Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) and the Department of Social Welfare have secured justice for a 14-year-old girl who was sexually exploited by a 55-year-old man called Joseph Obeng.
According to the Child Assessment Officer ENA and EMS, Madam Lydia Ohenewa, the victim was trafficked from Nankese Abesen Yeboah a deprived community in Ali, a suburb of Suhum in the Eastern Region.
In a media interview, Madam Ohenewa added that an officer of End Modern Slavery received information from some officers at the Ghana Education Service and Providence Medical Centre concerning a basic three pupil who was pregnant.
She indicated that EMS reported the case to DOVVSU for further investigation.
“During the investigation with the police, a medical form was issued to the victim and her family to go to the hospital for medical proof”.
The medical examination and lab tests confirmed that the victim was pregnant for 5 months one week, and the medical results also proved that Mr. Obeng had sex with the girl.
Obeng was arrested by the Ghana Police Service for interrogation, and he later confessed that he had sexual intercourse with the victim and pleaded guilty, saying it was the work of the devil.
After several investigations, Joseph Obeng was put before the Suhum Circuit Court and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment.
The victim is said to be enduring stigmatization following the issue.
End Modern Slavery and the victim’s family had a dialogue and came to a conclusion that the victim should be relocated from Nankese Abesem Yeboah to Afosu New Abrim because EMS has realised that the victim is not safe staying with her stepmother and the only option was to relocate her for security reasons.
Director of Operations for Engage Now Africa who doubled as the Co-founder of End Modern Slavery, Mr. Afasi Komla said modern slavery is a bad practise and each and every one must kick against it.
“The practice is putting the future of a number of young people in jeopardy. My outfit has made a lot of rescues over the years and have also provided all the victims with their Sustainable Livelihood Support. We’ve also organized a lot of sensitization programs to preach the news to people to desist from modern slavery, and its related issues but some are still in the dark. So my team will continue to fight against it to reach zero percent modern slavery issues, but before that can happen, it must be a collective fight”.