Priest Freed of Rape Charges

Ghana Web
December 13, 2013

http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/crime/artikel.php?ID=295037

Cape Coast Circuit Court on Wednesday struck out the case of rape against a priest of the Anglican Church in Cape Coast, Reverend Father Emmanuel Quartey, following an advice from the office of the Attorney-General's Department.

The priest has been remanded twice into prison custody by the same court, for allegedly raping a 20-year old lady, until he was released, following the striking out of the case against him.

The AG's Department contended that the victim actually consented to having an affair with the priest, explaining that the lady did not make any noise to draw people's attention to the incident.

It further wondered why the victim was not able to shout in the hotel room to draw the attention of the workers there for the necessary action to be taken.

The court, presided over by Mrs Eva Bannerman, therefore, granted the request of the AG's Department and released the priest from prison custody.

During the second appearance on Monday November 25, the prosecutor of the case, Chief Inspector Francis Ockom told the court that the victim, a resident of Siwdu, in Cape Coast, approached Rev Father Quartey to help her break a blood covenant she had with her boyfriend.

He said the priest agreed to help the victim and asked her to meet him in a hotel at Elmina on October 18, which she (the victims) complied.

Chief Inspector Ockom said that Rev Father Quartey forcibly had sex with the victim in one of the rooms and warned her not to tell anyone or she would die.

According to the prosecution, the victim, out of fear, concealed the incident to herself until November 6 when she broke her silence and informed her elder sister about it.