KWAME OFORI ALIAS KOOLEGE vs. THE REPUBLIC

The accused person, hereinafter called the appellant, is a forty – four year old taxi driver, and a resident of Aboabo Kese New Town. He was convicted on a charge of defiling a fourteen year old female contrary to section 101(2) of the Criminal and Other offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) and sentenced to a prison term of thirteen years by a Kumasi circuit court presided over by His Honour R.M. Kogyapwah. The appellant is aggrieved by the conviction and sentence and has, thus, appealed to this court for redress. His counsel has urged the court to set the conviction aside because in his opinion section 199 (2) of the Criminal and Other Offences (procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30) was not complied with by the trial judge, or in the alternative, the thirteen year prison term slapped on the appellant be reduced to the minimum allowed by the law, that is, seven years. At the trial court, the appellant, who was unrepresented, pleaded guilty with explanation. The court then adjourned the case for.....