A 35-year-old mason, Charles Seddoh, has been sentenced to 35 years in prison after being found guilty of repeatedly sexually abusing his two daughters at Oyibi in Accra.
Seddoh was convicted on five counts of defilement and incest following proceedings at the Circuit Court located at the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Headquarters.
The court, presided over by Annette Sophia Essel, also ordered that the two victims receive psychological support to help them deal with the effects of the abuse. The Police were further directed to arrange shelter for the victims as part of measures to protect their welfare.
According to the prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Opoku Aniagyei, the victims were Seddoh’s daughters, aged 18 and 15 at the time of the court proceedings.
The prosecution told the court that the abuse of the elder daughter began in 2018 when she was 14 years old and continued for several years. The younger daughter, who was 11 at the time, was allegedly subjected to similar abuse from 2021.
The court heard that the girls faced threats and mistreatment whenever they resisted their father’s advances. The prosecution said Seddoh allegedly beat them, withheld food and threatened to withdraw financial assistance, including support for their education.
The victims reportedly confronted their father about his conduct and asked him to stop. According to the prosecution, Seddoh promised to end the behaviour when the girls entered secondary school, but the abuse continued.
The matter eventually came to the attention of the authorities after the two girls reported their father to the Adenta DOVVSU on January 31, 2025.
Following their complaint, the victims were issued police medical forms as part of the investigation.
A few days later, on February 4, 2025, the mother of the elder victim reportedly handed a packet of condoms to the Police, stating that Seddoh had attempted to use them in connection with the abuse of her daughter.
Seddoh was arrested the same day.
The prosecution further told the court that the accused later accompanied Police officers and the victims to the location of the alleged offences at Oyibi during investigations.
According to the prosecution, Seddoh also admitted the offences in a caution statement provided to the Police.
The case was subsequently prosecuted, leading to his conviction on the five charges.
In sentencing Seddoh to 35 years’ imprisonment, the court also placed emphasis on the welfare and protection of the victims. The order for psychological therapy is intended to provide professional support to the girls as they deal with the consequences of the abuse.
The direction for shelter accommodation is similarly aimed at ensuring their safety and providing a secure environment following the proceedings.
The case highlights the importance of protecting children from abuse and ensuring that allegations involving vulnerable victims are properly investigated and prosecuted.
The conviction and sentence bring a significant legal conclusion to the case, while the additional court orders provide for continued protection and psychological support for the two victims.
Source: Thepressradio.com
