The Kwabenya Circuit Court has sentenced a 58-year-old mason to 10 years imprisonment for having sex with his daughter.

Joshua Bledi got his 17-year-old daughter pregnant, who has now given birth. The baby is seven months old.

Charged with incest, Bledi pleaded guilty.

He appealed to the court to have mercy on him, saying the narration by the prosecution was true.

The court convicted Bledi on his own plea and sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment, after considering his age, premeditation of the act and the fact that he did not waste the court’s time by pleading guilty to the offence.

Prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Gershon Togbe Achondo, told the court that the practice was becoming too common in recent times.

Chief Inspector Achondo, therefore, prayed the court to hand down a harsh sentence to serve as a deterrent to other like-minded persons, as the offence was a cultural abomination.

Chief Inspector Achondo said the complainant was a social welfare worker at the Ga East Hospital.

The victim is a 17-year-old hairdresser apprentice who has a seven-month-old baby.

Prosecution said Bledi was the father of the victim and a resident of Musuku, Kwabenya in Accra.

Investigation revealed that the victim went to the Ga East Hospital to deliver and had challenges with the payment of her medical bills, the court heard.

The prosecution said the Social Welfare Department at the hospital intervened, and her bills were waived.

However, enquiries were made as to who impregnated her, and the victim disclosed to the complainant that Bledi was responsible.

The prosecution said the victim further stated that the accused had been having countless sexual intercourse with her since her mother asked her to live with him.

A report was, however, made to the Kwabenya Domestic Violence and Victims’ Support Unit and a Police medical report was issued for the victim to be examined at the hospital, based on which the accused was arrested.

Meanwhile, the GNA has learned that the Abuse Relief Corps, a non-profit organisation, has gone to the aid of the victim and the baby.