Accra: A 54-year-old woman, Afua Kesse-Amponsah, has detailed what she describes as decades of abuse by her father, ending what she says has been 50 years of silence. Speaking in an interview with JoyNews, Kesse-Amponsah, born in 1971 to an Irish mother and a Ghanaian father, said her life took a downward turn at the age of two when her father assumed custody of her.
According to Ghana Web, her father began abusing her in early childhood, initially because she was left-handed. She claimed he tried to force her to switch to using her right hand, citing cultural beliefs as justification. Kesse-Amponsah alleged that the abuse escalated over time, resulting in multiple serious injuries. She said she suffered repeated assaults that led to memory loss after sustaining a fractured skull.
Kesse-Amponsah further alleged that following beatings, her father administered powdered aspirin mixed with water to reduce visible swelling, often without food. She said this practice caused internal injuries and long-term health complications. Kesse-Amponsah, now living with severe disabilities, said she later received treatment at St Thomas' Hospital for Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD), which she described as a lifelong condition linked to prolonged trauma.
She said she reported the matter to UK police as a historical child abuse case but was informed that no prosecution could proceed because her father is deceased. She noted that the complaint remains on record. Kesse-Amponsah said she is now pursuing accountability from schools and public institutions she believes failed to safeguard her during her childhood.
She also used the interview to criticise corporal punishment practices, particularly within some Ghanaian communities, urging a shift toward non-violent forms of discipline. Kesse-Amponsah emphasised the need for treating children with more respect and restraint, advocating for non-violent methods of discipline and highlighting the rights of children as human beings.