Dr Freda Prempeh, a former Member of Parliament (MP) is seeking the intervention of the First Lady Lordina Mahama, for the swift arrest and subsequent prosecution of a 47-year-old man, for defiling two siblings at Bawku in the Upper East Region.
Identified as Sulley Fongo, the suspect, reportedly defiled the two sisters, aged five and seven years, a situation which had reportedly traumatised the victims and their families.
The incident has since received huge public outcry and condemnation, as the family sought justice for the victims.
Describing it as pathetic, Dr Prempeh told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview at Duayaw-Nkwanta in the Ahafo Region that: “I was dump folded when I heard the reported incident.”
Dr Prempeh, a former minister of State and the founder of the Ultimate Women Foundation, a women and girls-centered Non-Governmental Organisation said: “As a mother, the first lady must ensure that the suspect is punished, and the victims and their families get justice.”
The former legislator explained that her foundation protected the rights, dignity and as well as enhance the empowerment of vulnerable women and girls to realise their worth, to be able to contribute meaningfully to society.
She expressed worry that: “It is so pathetic and now security agencies seem to be doing nothing about it. So, I want to appeal to Lordina herself to seek justice for the innocent victims.”
Dr Prempeh also called for the intervention of women coalitions, NGOs, child rights groups and activities, the Department of Social Welfare and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and the Gender Ministry to follow up on the incident for the prosecution of the suspect.
She regretted that incidents of defilement and girls’ rights abuses remained the worst forms of human rights violations inimical to the growth and development of girls and called on the government to rise and help bring the situation under control. Dr Prempeh argued that the nation could not afford to sit down for people to leverage on the Bawku chieftaincy impasse and abuse the rights and dignity of innocent girls and children and go scout free.