The proprietor of Great Lamptey Mills Institute, Enoch Nii Lamptey Mills, has been granted bail by the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU).
He has been formally charged with forceful marriage of a minor and failing to take responsibility as a father. The DOVVSU is also investigating the mother and grandmother of the girl for aiding and abetment of crime.
At the time of filing this report, the two women had been invited by DOVVSU for interrogation. The victim’s biological parents are divorced and she was therefore staying with her mother and stepfather.
The Daily Graphic in its September 11, 2009 issue reported the arrest of Lamptey Mills by the police for allegedly impregnating and forcing to marry a 16-year-old former student of his school.
One year after the girl gave birth, Lamptey Mills had failed to keep to his promise of building a house for her, providing for the upkeep of mother and child, as well as restoring the girl to school. The suspect was arrested on Wednesday evening and spent the night in cells at the Ministries Police Station.
He was granted bail late Thursday, September 10, 2009 by the police. The Public Relations Officer of DOVVSU, Chief Inspector Irene Oppong, explained to the Daily Graphic yesterday that the suspect could not be charged for defilement because at 16 years, a female could consent to sex as provided by the law.
Moreover, she said, since the family members consented to the performance of marriage rites, it would be out of place to charge the suspect for defilement.
Chief Inspector Oppong said it was on that basis that the police were holding the parents of the girl for adding and abetment of crime.
