87-Year-Old Man Jailed 20 Years for Defilement

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87-Year-Old Man Jailed 20 Years for Defiling 9-Year-Old Girl at Ofankor

An 87-year-old man, identified as Yaw Gahornu, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison with hard labour after being found guilty of defiling a nine-year-old girl at Ofankor in Accra.

The conviction followed investigations by the Tesano Divisional Police Command into allegations of repeated sexual abuse involving the child between July and August 2026.

According to information released by the Ghana Police Service, the case came to light on August 29, 2026, when the girl’s mother returned from work and noticed bloodstains on her daughter’s clothing.

When she questioned the child, the girl reportedly disclosed that she had been sexually abused on several occasions.

Police investigations indicated that Gahornu allegedly took the child to his sleeping quarters during the period in question. He was also accused of threatening to kill her if she told her mother about the abuse.

The matter was brought to the attention of the family after the accused’s granddaughter reportedly witnessed an incident on August 31, 2026. She subsequently informed relatives, including the child’s mother, leading to a formal report to the police.

Following the investigation, Gahornu was charged and brought before the Gender-Based Violence Court at the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) Headquarters.

The court found him guilty of defilement and imposed a 20-year custodial sentence with hard labour.

The Accra Regional Police Command welcomed the court’s decision and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting children and other vulnerable members of society.

The Command also urged the public to report suspected cases of child abuse to the police without delay. Timely reporting, it said, allows officers to investigate allegations and take appropriate action.

The case highlights the importance of protecting children from sexual abuse and ensuring that allegations are brought to the attention of the relevant authorities.