A shocking case of defilement has resulted in a 30-year-old mason, Dennis Darf, being sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to the crime. The Gender-Based Violence Court, led by Judge Dora Eshun, presided over the case following Darf’s admission of guilt.
The prosecution, headed by Chief Inspector Opoku Aniagyei, presented compelling evidence that the victim, a girl between the ages of 12 and 14, was the daughter of the complainant. The incident took place in Danchira, a community in the Greater Accra Region, where the accused, the victim, and her father all reside.
This conviction serves as a powerful message that perpetrators of gender-based violence will be held accountable for their actions. According to Chief Inspector Aniagyei, the victim would occasionally help supervise her mother’s provision store in front of their home while her mother was away.
Darf, who was a customer of the victim’s mother, befriended the victim and would often visit the shop to chat with her when her mother was not around. In June 2024, Darf took advantage of a moment when the victim was bathing in an unfinished building and sexually assaulted her, threatening to harm her if she spoke out.
The victim’s mother discovered the abuse when they went to their hometown for rituals, and the priest preparing to conduct the rites revealed that the victim had been defiled. This prompted the victim to confide in her mother, leading to Darf’s arrest and subsequent prosecution.
The complainant provided medical documentation to the police, and with the help of friends, Darf was apprehended and taken to the Weija Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit. This case highlights the importance of speaking out against gender-based violence and ensuring that perpetrators are brought to justice.
