An 87-year-old man, identified as Yaw Gahornu, has been sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment with hard labour for defiling a nine-year-old girl at Ofankor, a suburb of Accra, Ghana.
The Ghana Police Service announced the sentence in a press release issued on Monday, 12 October 2026, following the man’s conviction by the Gender-Based Violence Court at the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVSU) Headquarters.
According to the police, the Tesano Divisional Police Command secured the conviction after investigations into allegations of repeated sexual abuse of the child between July and August 2026.
How the case was reported
Preliminary investigations indicated that the child’s mother discovered bloodstains on her nine-year-old daughter’s clothing after returning from work on 29 August 2026.
When questioned, the girl disclosed that Gahornu had allegedly subjected her to repeated sexual abuse during the period.
Police investigations further revealed that the accused had allegedly lured the child to his sleeping quarters and threatened to kill her if she disclosed the abuse to her mother.
The police said the alleged abuse was also witnessed by the accused’s granddaughter on 31 August 2026. She subsequently informed family members, including the child’s mother, after which the matter was reported to the police.
Police urge public to report child abuse
The Accra Regional Police Command welcomed the outcome of the case and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting children and other vulnerable persons.
The Command urged members of the public to report suspected cases of child abuse promptly to the police for investigation and appropriate action.
The conviction highlights the importance of reporting suspected child abuse and ensuring that allegations are investigated through the appropriate legal processes.
