A 58-year-old mason, Joshua Bledi, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Kwabenya Circuit Court for committing incest with his biological daughter, who later gave birth to his child.
Bledi pleaded guilty to the offence and appealed for leniency, but the court, after considering his age, the premeditated nature of the crime, and his admission of guilt, handed down the custodial sentence.
The victim, a 17-year-old hairdressing apprentice, gave birth to a baby who is now seven months old.
Prosecutor Chief Inspector Gershon Togbe Achondo described the case as part of a worrying trend of incest, which he called a “cultural abomination.” He urged the court to impose a harsh sentence to deter others.
Case Background
According to the prosecution, the matter came to light when the victim sought medical care at the Ga East Hospital to deliver her baby but was unable to pay her bills. The hospital’s Social Welfare Department intervened and waived the charges.
During enquiries, the victim revealed that her father was responsible for the pregnancy and that he had been sexually abusing her repeatedly since she began living with him.
The case was reported to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) at Kwabenya, where a medical examination confirmed the abuse. Bledi, a resident of Musuku in Kwabenya, was subsequently arrested, charged, and convicted on his own plea.
