Aaron Aban, who is currently imprisoned in Kumasi Central Prison serving a 12-year sentence, has given an account of the incident that resulted in his imprisonment.

Aaron, a student teacher, admitted that the act with a youngster—who he believes to be between the ages of 10 and 12—was his first sexual encounter.

Aaron admitted in an interview with the Crime Check Foundation, “I had never had sex before.”

He described the incident’s circumstances, adding, “It happened in a school where I was working as a student teacher. I regret what occurred a great deal. I was a JHS 1 and 3 teacher. I stayed after school until six in the evening to teach the seniors as they got ready to take their final examinations.

“I was engrossed in my activities in the ICT lab when she came by. I asked her to go home, but she insisted that her house was nearby and she could leave at any time. She found what I was doing on the laptop interesting and started watching too. I believe she had no malicious intent. I would describe her as innocent. However, being alone together in the ICT lab triggered an idea in my mind, and I engaged in that act with her. However, I did not force her,” he added.

Aaron is currently completing his studies while in prison and expressed abject regret for his deed. He also recognized the detrimental effects it had on his life.

“I feel immense sadness when I think about it because it has shattered my dreams of pursuing an education. I miss my home and family during festive seasons. In here, people subject you to all sort of things and you don’t even get the simple things you yearn for,” he said while crying.