The first year student of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) who was allegedly gang-raped by two men including a police officer is traumatised and has been contemplating suicide.
The development was revealed by the University Relations Officer, Dr. Daniel Norris Bekoe, whiles speaking on Akoma FM’s current affairs and political show, GhanAkoma Monday, August 1, 2022.
Dr Bekoe revealed to host host of the show Aduanaba Kofi Asante Ennin that “the victim (name withheld) after the said incident has been contemplating suicide due to victimisation and stigmatisation so we have really protected her identity and we have also commissioned a counsel session for her to undergo to ensure she is reintegrated into social and academic lives on campus and off campus.”
A police officer and a final year student of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) namely Lance Corporal Frank Adu Poku, and his accomplice, Joel Osei Owusu respectively, allegedly gang-raped a female student after the two suspects lured the victim into an off-campus hostel at Bomso and allegedly pounced on her, raped her in turns and video-recorded the whole process.
Prosecutor ACP Kofi Blagozi disclosed to journalists after the court proceedings that Lance Corporal Frank Adu Poku had been interdicted by the police administration, although the law enforcement agency itself has not made any official statement on the matter.
According to ACP Blagozi the incident happened on July 19, 2022 when the victim, who deals in ladies’ clothing, displayed some of the items on the internet for sale.
One of the suspects, Joel Osei Owusu, saw the advert and contacted the victim, claiming to have similar items and wanted to supply them to her. She agreed to meet him on Tuesday, July 19, after he had convinced her that she could make more profit from the items he wanted to supply her.
“The suspect led the victim into his room under the pretext of showing her the clothes, but suddenly locked the door and put the key into his pocket, pounced on her as they took turns to satisfy their sexual desires,” the prosecutor had narrated.
KNUST commissions counseling dession for rape victim
The university relations officer for KNUST Dr Norris Bekoe reiterated the need for commissioning a counseling session for the victim is very crucial to ensure the victim does no harm to herself as he added that “the victim disclosed that she has been contemplating suicide to end it all because she feels dejected and feels very terrible to face the world with such trauma and the stigma it comes with so Kofi, we have carefully managed the issue, we pray the court will serve justice for the poor girl.
How Akoma FM (GhanAkoma) blew the story
Even before the two victims were transferred from Apiadu Police station and KNUST police station to the regional command, Akoma FM’s current affairs and political show GhanAkoma had already aired the news, kind courtesy reliable informants.
There was an indication the KNUST district police was handling the case with soft hands wanting to cover up the bad deeds because one of their own was a suspect. People wondered why a July 19 incident waited for over a week before the suspects were arraigned before court.
Sensing the media attention from Akoma FM, the police had no choice but to report the issue to their superiors, hence the transfer from KNUST district to the regional command for further probe.
The Asokore Mampong District Court Thursday, July 28 remanded the two suspects and are expected to appear before the court on Tuesday, August 9.
By Nana Asenso-Mensah|AkomaFM|Onuaonline.com
