KNUST sets up special counseling for alleged gang rape victim

The first year student of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) who was allegedly raped by two men including a police officer is reported to be traumatized and has been contemplating suicide.

The development was revealed by the University Relations Officer, Dr Daniel Norris Bekoe, while speaking on Akoma FM’s current affairs and political show GhanAkoma.

Dr Bekoe revealed to host of the show Aduanaba Kofi Asante Ennin that “the victim (name withheld) after the sad incident has been contemplating suicide due to victimization and stigmatization, so we have really protected her identity and we have also commissioned a counselling session for her to ensure she is reintegrated into social and academic lives on campus and off campus”.

A police officer and a final year student of KNUST, named as Lance Corporal Frank Adu Poku and Joel Osei Owusu respectively, allegedly gang-raped a female student after they 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 19th July 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 an advert of item sales 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 University Relations Officer for KNUST, Dr Norris Bekoe, reiterated the need for commissioning a counseling session for the victim, saying it is very crucial to ensure the victim does no harm to herself.

“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, we have carefully managed the issue. We pray the court will serve justice for the poor girl.”Even before the two victims were transferred from Apiadu Police Station and KNUST Police Station to the Ashanti Regional Police Command, Akoma FM’s current affairs and political show GhanAkoma had already aired the news, kind courtesy reliable informants.

There was indication the KNUST District Police was handling the case with kids’ gloves, wanting to cover up the bad deeds because one of their own was a suspect.

People are begging questions how an incident which happened on 19th July will have suspects held in custody for almost a week before they were arraigned in court? Sensing the media attention from Akoma FM, the police had no choice but to report the issue to their superiors, hence the case transferred from KNUST District Command to the regional command for further probe.On Thursday, July 28, the Asokore Mampong District Court remanded police officer Lance Corporal Frank Adu Poku and his accomplice, Joel Osei Owusu, the final year student of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), on accusation of gang-raping a first-year student of the university.

KNUST alleged gang rape: Interdicted police officer, L400 student remanded
The two suspects are expected to appear before the court on Tuesday, August 9.

Source: Nana Asenso Mensah|Akoma FM|3news.com|Ghana