A 23-year-old unemployed man, Bernard Ampomah, has been sentenced to 21 years in prison by the Gender-Based Violence Court for defilement, sexual assault, and assault.
The court, presided over by Dora Eshun, found Ampomah guilty on all charges after a trial.
Ampomah had engaged in anal sex with a 15-year-old boy at Tabora, Accra, and subjected the minor to severe beatings when the boy declined to have sex with him, even while the victim was unwell.
For defilement, the court sentenced him to 21 years, 10 years for sexual assault, and five years for threatening death.
Additionally, he was ordered to pay a fine of GHC3,600 for the threat of death charge, which, if unpaid, would result in one year imprisonment.
He also received a two-year sentence for assault and a fine of GHC1,200, which would result in six months imprisonment if unpaid.
The sentences are to be served concurrently.
The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Opoku Aniagyie, told the court that the complainant is a 48-year-old trader and father of the victim.
Chief Inspector Aniagyie stated that Ampomah, who is unemployed and a friend of the victim residing at Lapaz in Accra, invited the boy to his house on March 23, 2023.
Without suspecting any foul play, the victim was lured to bed and had anal sex with Ampomah.
After the act, Ampomah threatened to kill the victim if he informed anyone about their activities.
The prosecution revealed that Ampomah continued to have anal sex with the victim and sometimes picked him up from school during class hours under the pretext of sending him to the hospital, only to have anal sex with the minor at home.
On October 2, 2023, Ampomah severely assaulted the victim, smashing his right eye with a bottle and causing several bruises.
Ampomah also hit the victim’s chest multiple times, resulting in the boy coughing up blood due to the beatings after declining to have anal sex with him.
The prosecutor explained that the victim was unable to report the issue to the complainant due to fear of Ampomah.
On October 19, 2023, after the victim informed Ampomah that he would not have sex with him again because he was sick, the accused managed to lure the victim back to his house by offering him a video game.
When the victim arrived at Ampomah’s house, the accused pulled a knife at him and locked him up.
Chief Inspector Aniagyie stated that Ampomah went out to buy baby oil and, upon returning, had anal sex with the victim.
Eventually, the victim, unable to endure the ordeal any longer, informed the complainant.
The prosecution stated that the complainant confronted Ampomah in his house regarding the issue.
Later, Ampomah traced the complainant to his house and threatened to kill the victim, even after serving his jail term, if the complainant dared to report the matter to the police.
On October 31, 2023, the matter was reported to the Domestic Violence and Victim’s Support Unit (DOVVSU) at Tesano in Accra, and a medical form was issued to the complainant for the examination and treatment of the victim.
When Ampomah was arrested, he admitted the offense in his caution statement.
