Sodomy At Akosombo International School

Sodomy has reared its ugly head at the famous Akosombo International School (AIS) in the Eastern Region, involving two minors.

A few days ago, an alleged similar practice led to the death of one student at the St Paul's Senior High School, Denu in the Volta Region.

This time round, it has led to the withdrawal of two students from the school after the authorities reportedly failed to deal with the issue satisfactorily.

A son of a prominent head of a respected public university in Accra was allegedly sodomised by a senior student of AIS. The culprit was in JHS 3 while his victim was in JHS 2.

Even though authorities of the school had kept the issue under wraps for fear of denting the image and credibility of the school, some parents have expressed disgust at the development and decided to let the cat out of the bag for fear that their own children could fall victim.

Ordeal
The incident was said to have occurred sometime in November 2014 when the victim went to see the culprit for his pressing iron to iron his (victim's) clothes.

At the time, the dormitory was said to be quiet since other students were busily studying at the academic block.

The culprit allegedly forcibly dragged the victim to a nearby bathroom, pulled down his shorts and had anal sex with him.

In spite of the fact that he (the victim) was said to have subsequently reported the ordeal to the authorities, they failed to take action until his sister, who is also a student of the school, informed their mother about the purported ordeal.

The mother was said to have subsequently stormed the school to raise hell over the matter and threatened to spill the beans at the next Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) meeting if no action was taken.

However, DAILY GUIDE gathered that she was advised against her intended action by the husband (a vice chancellor) due to the possible embarrassment that would hit the family and the likely psychological trauma or emotional stress it could cause their child.

Shielding The Culprit
Culprit was said to have subsequently been placed under the direct care of a senior tutor from whose house he (culprit) shuttled to school every day as a boarder-turned day student.

It appeared the senior tutor was protecting the culprit.

DAILY GUIDE learnt that it was widely known that during the preceding term the same suspected rapist was set upon and beaten mercilessly one evening by three of his seniors for reasons which have not been made public.

The three seniors were reportedly detained at the Akosombo Police Station overnight and later released.

The authorities had no option but to suspend the culprit when the issue started spreading like wild fire, upon resumption in January from the Christmas break.

But perceiving the embarrassment, the parents of the victim had to withdraw their child from the school.

One parent told DAILY GUIDE that usually issues of sexual immorality are met with the stiffest of punishments at Akosombo International, sometimes resulting in outright dismissal.

He was therefore surprised why such a serious matter like sodomy would be kept under wraps.

Most parents had become apprehensive of the fate of their children after speculations became rife on campus regarding the indecent act. They fear their wards could also fall victim to such dastardly act.

Confirmation
Even though the headmaster of the school declined to speak to the issue when DAILY GUIDE contacted him on telephone yesterday, PTA Chairman Ato Essiam confirmed the incident to Accra-based Starr FM .

'I had the information from a parent and I called the headmaster to find out and he said there was an element of truth in the matter, but the school had put up a disciplinary committee to come up with some recommendations,' he said.

According to Mr Ato Essiam, he then asked for the recommendation and 'I was told that [the vice chancellor's] son was now living with a teacher because he was traumatised and was going through counselling; and I said the boy who did the thing shouldn't be in the school again.'

He said the vice chancellor whose son fell victim to the act, also confirmed the story to the radio station but appealed to them to respect the privacy of his family, in the best interest of his son, whom he had sent to a new school.