Liberia, Sept. 15 -- Monrovia-The conviction of a 46-year-old man for statutory rape involving a 12-year-old girl has brought renewed attention to the responsibility of adults who have access to children and the duty of the justice system to protect minors from sexual exploitation.

By Willie N. Tokpah

Defendant Grawfar Tokpah, also known as Augustine Tokpa Yah, was found guilty on September 14 by a 12-member jury sitting before Judge Wesseh A. Wesseh of Criminal Court "E" at the Temple of Justice.

The verdict followed a trial in which the prosecution presented evidence alleging that Tokpah used his proximity to the child and her family to gain access to her.

The case is particularly important because, according to the prosecution's pr...