Suspected Notorious Wa pedophile Rashid Anaata who is accused of defiling over 30 schools girls aged 10- 13 years has been arrested and arraign before the Wa Circuit on Monday 7th August 2023.
The suspect was arrested last week by the Wa police after he absconded in May, 2023 when he was accused by multiple school girls of defilement.
Amidst huge crowds that engulfed the Wa circuit when the accused was hauled before the Wa circuit court on Monday morning, the Upper West Regional State Attorney Lawyer Saeed Abdul Shakur read out the various multiple charges of defilement against the accused.
Reliable information gathered by Info Radio reveals that, the defiled victims who were medically examined by a medical doctor at the Wa Municipal Hospital at all showed positive signs of penetration by the suspect.
A cross section of residents in Wa speaking to Info Radio expressed appreciation to the Upper West Regional Police for the arrest of the suspect and called on the police and the Regional state attorney prosecuting the case to follow due process to ensure that the victims receive justice for their ordeal.
Background
In May, 2023, the suspected pedophile in Wa identified as Rashid Anaata absconded after being accused by three school girls of defilement.
In a viral social media video posted in May 2023, three school girls aged between 10-13 years accused Rashid Anaata, a popular Wa Islamic wedding decorator and designer of defilement after the later invited the three to his house in Wa.
The CEO of Bahass Foundation Mr Eliasu Baba Yussif in May,2023 lodged a formal complaint with the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana police service on behalf of the three defiled school girls.
Info Radio sources at the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit of the Ghana police service in revealed that the three girls upon medical examination at the Wa municipal hospital showed positive signs of virginal penetration.
More Girls Defiled by the Accused
As the Wa police investigation progresses on the alleged defilement of the three school girls by Rashid Anaata, more girls in the Wa municipality are coming out in their numbers, accusing the same alleged serial paedophile of defilement.
Deeps throat sources from those familiar with the case speaking to Info Radio revealed that over 30 girls have come out so far to accuse Rashid Anaata of defilement.
According to Info Radio sources from the Upper West police, 10 school girls are currently being processed for medical examination at the Wa municipal hospital to confirm their claim.
Earlier Prosecution of the Suspect
According to reports from the office of the regional state Attorney, the accused paedophile Rashid Anaata was accused of a similar crime in 2016 and was remanded into police custody for 3 weeks before being granted bail when the the victim's mother was pressured by local opinion leaders to opt for an out of court settlement.
Suspect Absconds
Information gathered by Info Radio as of Monday indicates that the alleged serial paedophile Rashid Anaata has fled Wa to neighbouring Burkina Faso upon learning that his deeds have been reported to the police for investigations.
The accused person has so far sent out voice audio from his hideout where he is heard in Waali sharing his view on the issues.
Police Promises Justice for the Victims
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Mr Adongo Apiiya who is the Upper West Regional DOVVSU Officer in his initial interaction with Info Radio on the case promised to pursue the case to its logical conclusion. According to him, the police will do all they can to seek justice for the victims.
Meanwhile, pressure is mounting on the police from some family members of the accused and some local opinion leaders for an out-of-court settlement of such an atrocious crime.
The enormousness of the defilement case has also attracted the attention of Civil Society Organizations Coalition Against Sexual and Gender Based Violence , Info Radio and some media networks in the Upper West Region on how to seek justice for the victims and the perpetrator punished by the law for his crimes.
Public Views about the Accused
As the news of the mass defilement of the school girls by the accused broke in Wa, a cross-section of residents in Wa expressed no surprise at the incident, as the suspect is well noted to be sexually involved with underage girls in the Wa municipality.
According to some residents, the accused person Rashid Anaata is attracted to young schoolgirls. The accused is said to have impregnated his current wife when she was still an under-aged school girl in Wa. The suspect is noted to always be in the company of innocent school girls in cohorts.