An 87-year-old man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison with hard labour after being convicted in an Ofankor defilement case involving a nine-year-old girl.
The Accra Regional Police Command said Yaw Gahornu was convicted by the Gender-Based Violence Court at the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit headquarters following investigations by the Tesano Divisional Police Command.
Police said the case came to light after the child’s mother returned from work on August 29, 2026, and noticed bloodstains on her daughter’s clothing.
When questioned, the girl disclosed that Gahornu had repeatedly sexually abused her between July and August.
Child Allegedly Threatened Into Silence
Investigations found that Gahornu had allegedly lured the child into his sleeping quarters on different occasions.
According to police, he also threatened the girl with death if she disclosed the abuse to her mother.
The case took another turn on August 31 when the accused’s granddaughter reportedly witnessed an incident and informed other family members.
The matter was subsequently reported to police, leading to Gahornu’s arrest and prosecution.
He was charged with defilement and arraigned before the Gender-Based Violence Court, where he was found guilty.
Police Welcome 20-Year Sentence
The court sentenced Gahornu to 20 years’ imprisonment with hard labour.
The Accra Regional Police Command welcomed the judgment, describing the outcome as part of its efforts towards “protecting children and other vulnerable persons.”
Police also urged parents, guardians and members of the public to report suspected cases of child abuse promptly to enable investigations and appropriate legal action.
The statement was signed by Chief Superintendent Juliana Obeng, Head of Public Affairs for the Accra Region.
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