HRRG and JRF tackle Sosu Francis-Xavier’s parliamentary statement on alleged gang-defilement of 13-year-old girl in Madina

The Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG) and the Justice Revived Foundation (JRF) have issued a formal response to the recent parliamentary statement by Hon. Sosu Francis-Xavier regarding the disturbing case of a young girl in Madina.

In his address to the Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Sosu clarified and corrected misleading media reports that claimed a 13-year-old girl was gang-raped by over 20 men.

Instead, he detailed that the victim is a 14-year-old girl who lives in Madina and was discovered pregnant by her parents. According to the MP:

• The girl reported having sexual intercourse with 18 men on different occasions.
• These men are not known to each other and did not act together.
• The Madina Divisional Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service has confirmed these details.
• The police have obtained statements from the victim and her parents.
• A police medical report was issued, and some suspects have already been apprehended, cautioned, and detained to assist investigations.
• Efforts are ongoing to arrest the remaining suspects.
• Hon. Sosu has personally committed to leading a legal team to provide support for the victim, and the medical team at Pantang Hospital is involved to offer urgent medical aid and psychological support.

Hon. Sosu emphasized his dedication to advocating for children’s welfare, pledging to pursue swift justice for the victim, and calling for stricter enforcement of child-protection laws and harsher penalties for sexual violence against minors.

He reaffirmed his support for the girl and her family during these difficult times, promising continued advocacy, legal assistance, and medical care.

The response from HRRG and JRF underscores the importance of accurate and responsible communication, especially concerning sensitive cases involving minors.

While recognizing Hon. Sosu’s commendable efforts to clarify the facts and support the victim, the organizations expressed concern over certain aspects of the statement, notably its reliance on police information without broader corroboration.

They highlighted that:

• The organizations have been actively involved in investigating the case and have uncovered that the girl’s ordeal involved more than 20 perpetrators, led by Clement Kwame, based on their own evidence and testimony from the victim.
• The recent police statement, which attributes the incident to 18 isolated defendants, does not seem to reflect the findings of civil society investigations.
• This discrepancy underscores the need for all stakeholders to collaborate and present verified information to ensure justice and prevent misinformation.

HRRG and JRF reiterated their calls for the following:

• Recognition of their contributions in advocating for Ama’s rights and justice.
• Caution in presenting unverified information publicly, especially in cases involving vulnerable children.
• Continued support for the victim by ensuring the arrest of all suspects and providing comprehensive legal and psychological aid.

Both organizations remain committed to working with all stakeholders, including Parliament, to pursue justice for Ama and to strengthen child protection efforts across Ghana.