An 87-year-old man has been sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment with hard labour after being found guilty of defiling a nine-year-old girl at Ofankor, a suburb of Accra.
The Tesano Divisional Police Command announced the sentence in a press release dated October 12, 2026, identifying the convict as Yaw Gahornu.
According to the police, preliminary investigations established that the victim’s mother returned from work on August 29, 2026, and noticed bloodstains on her daughter’s clothing.
Upon questioning the child, she reportedly disclosed that Gahornu had subjected her to repeated sexual abuse between July and August 2026.
The police said further investigations indicated that the convict allegedly lured the girl to his sleeping quarters and threatened to kill her if she disclosed the abuse to her mother.
The alleged abuse was reportedly witnessed by the convict’s granddaughter on August 31, 2026. She subsequently informed family members, including the victim’s mother, leading to a police report.
Gahornu was charged and arraigned before the Gender-Based Violence Court at the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) Headquarters, where he was found guilty and sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment with hard labour for defilement.
The Accra Regional Police Command welcomed the outcome of the case and reiterated its commitment to protecting children and other vulnerable persons.It also urged the public to promptly report suspected cases of child abuse to the police for investigation and appropriate action.