It has emerged from the corridors of the Ledzokuku-Krowor Municipal Directorate of Education (LEKMED) that defilement of six-year-old pupils is on the rise.
Interestingly, parents, elders and the community have been condoning and conniving with the culprits to sweep some of these cases under the carpet.
The Girls Education Coordinator of LEKMED, Rev. Mrs. Hannah Odjenma Botchway made this known to the Daily Heritage in an interview during the 2nd PTA Graduation of Mount Olive School at Teshie.
Responding to whether the phenomenon is on the rise at LEKMED, she said “It is sad to say it is really on the increase, because initially those who were raped or defiled were grown-ups, but those I’m referring to now are six years and five years.”
She confirmed to the paper that, currently there are six defilement cases on her table four of them being six years with two rape cases.
According to her, though the worrisome phenomenon was initially recorded in the public schools, it has suddenly found its way into, “the private schools. So, as I’m talking to you now, we have pushed the private schools to come out with girl clubs.”
“…There are a lot of guys in this community who are not supporting us at all. They use so many means after defiling the girls and then threaten them that they will die.
“A girl’s case we are pursuing now at the Juvenile Court is getting worrying. Parents and society are supporting to reduce this guy’s age. He looks like a 21-year-old guy, but they have been able to manage to reduce his age to 16years, so it would not look like a big man raping a small girl.”
The victim in question she said has been bedridden with serious infection.
Mrs. Grace Amon, the proprietress of the school encouraged parents to continue playing their role as expected to ensure that the children grow to become useful to society.
She told the gathering that, the school scored 100% in its last two basic education certificate examinations and the students all got their first choice schools.
Mount Olive School she said also has enviable records in sports and urged parents and all stakeholders in education to support fight the cause.
A total of 70 pupils and Basic Education Certificate Examination candidates graduated. Present at the occasion were Daniel Afutu Kotei, PTA chairman, George Yeboah Dadzie, coordinator of private basic schools LEKMED and David Amon director of Mount Olive, among others.
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