Teenager Weeps …As Court Sentences Her Boyfriend

A 15-year old girl, Rita Ghartey, wept uncontrollably when an Accra Circuit Court sentenced her boyfriend, Kwame Addo, to a seven year jail term for abduction. Rita Ghartey could not be controlled after the court announced that Kwame Addo should go to prison for seven years for illegally keeping her in his room without the knowledge of her parents. Rita blamed herself for Addo's predicament. She was however whisked away by her parents.

Addo had pleaded guilty to the charge but defended Rita's action by telling the court that the “victim is my girlfriend and we love each other.” The facts of the case as narrated by Inspector Comfort Dark were that the victim lives with her parents at Teshie while the accused is resident in Nungua. On March 6, Addo lured Rita into his room and had an affair with her and this continued for six months.

The victim's mother, Elizabeth Wilson, became suspicious and started monitoring them until August 6 when Rita disappeared from home. Elizabeth combed the nooks and crannies of Accra searching of her daughter who left the house unceremoniously. Rita however resurfaced on August 25, and after being confronted she told her mum that she was living with a friend by name Yaa Yaa, but stated that she visited Kwame Addo periodically from where she was living.

Her mother on hearing that reported the matter to the Nungua Police and Addo was arrested.During interrogation, Addo admitted committing the offence and was therefore charged with abduction.