An 87-year-old man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted of repeatedly defiling a nine-year-old girl at Ofankor in Accra.
Yaw Gahornu was sentenced by the Gender-Based Violence Court at the Police Headquarters after pleading guilty to two counts of defilement. The court imposed 10 years for each count, with the sentences to run consecutively. He was also discharged on a separate charge of unnatural carnal knowledge.
The case came to light on August 29, 2026, when the girl’s mother returned from work and noticed signs that raised concerns about her daughter. The child subsequently identified Gahornu, who lived close to the family, as the person responsible for the abuse.
According to the prosecution, the abuse occurred between July and August and continued until August 31, when Gahornu was allegedly found with the child by his granddaughter. The incident was reported to the girl’s family and subsequently to the police.
Prosecutors also told the court that Gahornu had threatened the child to prevent her from revealing the abuse.
The court noted that Gahornu was a first-time offender, had pleaded guilty and had spent about a month in custody. Despite these factors, it imposed the 20-year sentence, citing the need for punishment to deter similar offences.
Police said the child received medical attention following the abuse.
The case has renewed concerns about protecting children from sexual abuse and ensuring that perpetrators face appropriate legal consequences.
