An 87-year-old man, 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, a suburb of Accra.
The conviction followed investigations by the Tesano Divisional Police Command, according to a statement released by the Accra Regional Police Command on October 12, 2026.
Police investigations revealed that on August 29, 2026, the girl’s mother returned home from work and noticed bloodstains on her daughter’s clothes.
When she questioned the child, the girl disclosed that Mr Gahornu had sexually abused her on multiple occasions between July and August 2026.
Further inquiries suggested that the accused had allegedly lured the child into his sleeping quarters and threatened to kill her if she told her mother about the abuse.
According to the Police, the alleged abuse was witnessed by the accused’s granddaughter on August 31, 2026. She later alerted family members, including the victim’s mother, prompting a formal report to the Police.
Mr Gahornu was subsequently charged and brought before the Gender-Based Violence Court at the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) Headquarters. He was found guilty of defilement and sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment with hard labour.
The Accra Regional Police Command welcomed the court’s decision, reiterating its commitment to safeguarding children and other vulnerable members of society.
The Command also encouraged the public to report suspected cases of child abuse to the Police without delay to ensure that allegations are investigated and the appropriate action is taken.
