Renowned Broadcaster, Kwasi Kyei Darkwah, aka KKD who is standing trial for allegedly raping a 19-year-old lady, has apologised for what he calls the public ridicule and disgrace brought by his action. KKD said he sinned and is asking God for forgiveness. In a statement signed and issued in Accra Tuesday, January 13, KKD, asked the media “to spare Ewureffe and our respective families any further agonies.”
The Airport Police arrested KKD on December 27, 2014 after the 19-year-old lady, Ewuraffe Orleans Thompson, accused him of raping her in a hotel washroom. Mr. Darkwah admitted having sex with the lady but denied he forced her. She consented, he insisted. He was brought before the Kaneshie District Magistrates’ Court after he had been detained for three days in police cells. The court refused him bail and remanded him into police cells where he has remained since. Things took a dramatic turn Tuesday when the lady sent a letter to police prosecutors saying she was no longer interested in pursuing the case.
The two-page letter, dated 12 of January, 2015, is addressed to the Director of Public Prosecutions at the Attorney-General’s Department, and copied to the Chief Justice, the Registrar of the High Court and the top hierarchy of the Ghana Police service. The 19-year-old cited the “media frenzy” that followed the arrest of KKD and the unceasing buzz and social media posts which she described as insensitive, for her decision. She says she is unable to continue cooperating with the police who are prosecuting the case.
Miss Thompson said since the story of her rape allegations against the renowned broadcaster broke, her life has taken a dramatic turn; she has not been able to appear in public without attracting hushed gossip and finger-pointing. Barely five hours after her became public, Mr. Darkwah signed his own statement saying that “I truly and sincerely apologise for the public ridicule and disgrace that have ensued by reason of the fleeting pleasure of the flesh involving Ewureffe Orleans Thompson and myself.”
“I acknowledge I have sinned,” he said, “and have prayed to my God for forgiveness for all that trauma that I have caused this young woman.”
It remains to be seen whether prosecutors will drop the charges against KKD or they will press on with the case. Meanwhile, The bail application hearing of KKD has been adjourned to Thursday January 15, 2014. At the request of KKD’s counsel, the case was heard in camera but it is unclear why that request was made.
It is also unclear why the case was adjourned to Thursday. The fashion icon has been accused of raping 19-year-old Ewuraffe Orleans Thompson and has since been in the custody of the Police since December 28. His lawyers have resorted to the Human Rights court in Accra for bail because according to them, the District court does not have the locus to grant him bail. His first attempt at seeking bail was denied by the Kaneshi District court.
He has since denied the rape charge leveled against him, insisting that the sex with the victim was ‘consensual sex.’
