In a shocking and deeply disturbing revelation, Rashid Anaata, a well-known beautician and wedding decorator in the Wa Municipality of the Upper West Region, has been arrested by the police for allegedly defiling over thirty girls in the area.
The girls, mostly aged between 10 and 13, shared harrowing stories about how Anaata lured them into his room and forcibly subjected them to sexual abuse.
The alarming case came to light when three of the victims bravely exposed the alleged paedophile in a viral social media video in May this year.
Fearing capture, Anaata went into hiding, and despite extensive police searches, he managed to evade capture.
However, the police received crucial intelligence that led them to apprehend the suspect in his hideout in the Upper West Region last week.
Following his arrest, Rashid Anaata has been brought before the court and charged with defiling twelve children, who have undergone medical examinations and are ready to give evidence against him.
However, it has been revealed that the remaining 18 girls out of the total 30 have not yet come forward to join the prosecution, according to the State Attorney handling the case.
Shockingly, this is not the first time Anaata has been accused of such heinous crimes.
In 2016, he was reported to the police for defiling a schoolgirl, but the case was later withdrawn due to pressure on the victim's mother.
This raises concerns about the need for a more robust system to protect potential victims and ensure justice is served.
The breakthrough, in this case, came in May 2023 when Mr. Eliasu Baba Yussif, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bahass Foundation, reported the defilement of three girls by Anaata to the police.
Although the police acted swiftly, Anaata had already absconded at that time.
This deeply troubling case has sent shockwaves through the community and has prompted discussions on the urgent need to safeguard children from predators like Anaata.
Authorities are calling for greater awareness, vigilance, and cooperation among parents, schools, and the general public to protect vulnerable children from such predators.
The trial will be closely monitored, and the hope is that justice will prevail for the innocent victims who have suffered at the hands of this alleged serial paedophile.