An 87-year-old man, Yaw Gahornu, has been sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment with hard labour for defiling a nine-year-old girl at Ofankor in Accra.
The Accra Regional Police Command, in a press release dated October 12, 2026, said 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 the police, 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.
The police said the child disclosed that Gahornu had allegedly subjected her to repeated sexual abuse, involving both vaginal and anal penetration, during the period.
Further investigations indicated that the accused had allegedly lured the child to his sleeping quarters and threatened to kill her if she reported the abuse to her mother.
The police added that on August 31, 2026, the alleged abuse was reportedly witnessed by the accused’s granddaughter, who subsequently informed family members, including the girl’s mother. The matter was then reported to the police.
Gahornu was subsequently charged and arraigned before the Gender-Based Violence Court at the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) Headquarters, where he was found guilty of defilement and sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment with hard labour.
Welcoming the outcome, the Accra Regional Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting children and other vulnerable persons.
“The Command urges the public to promptly report suspected cases of child abuse to the Police for investigation and appropriate action,” the statement said.
The police urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspected cases of child abuse to enable investigations and appropriate legal action.
