GODFRED OCANSEY vs. THE REPUBLIC

APALOO JA In this appeal, the appellant Godfred Ocansey is seeking the reversal of his conviction by the High Court Accra dated 30/4/2009. The High Court upon conviction sentenced the appellant to a term of 7 years IHL in respect of Count 1 and for Count 2 he was to serve 3 years IHL. Both sentences were to run concurrently. The appellant had been charged with the offences of defilement contrary to section 101 of the Criminal Offences Act 1960, Act 29 and incest contrary to section 105 of the same Act. Briefly stated the case of the Prosecution was that the appellant is and was at all material time the father of Edna Ocansey who was aged 17 at the commencement of the trial. According to the Prosecution between the years 2000-2003, appellant had sexual intercourse with his daughter Edna several times when she was below the age of 16 years. Appellant was able to convince Edna that as a father he had the right to have sex with her and so she should not tell anybody. Appellant then c...