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

An 87-year-old man, identified as Yaw Gahornu, has been sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment with hard labour for defiling a nine-year-old girl at Ofankor, a suburb of Accra.

The sentence was secured by the Tesano Divisional Police Command following investigations into the case, according to a press release issued by the Accra Regional Police Command on Monday, October 12, 2026.

The police said the case came to light on August 29, 2026, when the victim’s mother returned from work and noticed bloodstains on her daughter’s clothing.

Upon questioning the child, she disclosed that Gahornu had subjected her to repeated sexual abuse between July and August 2026.

Further investigations revealed that the accused allegedly lured the girl to his sleeping quarters and threatened to kill her if she disclosed the abuse to her mother.

The police said the alleged abuse was witnessed by the accused’s granddaughter on August 31, 2026. She subsequently informed family members, including the victim’s mother, leading to a formal report 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 and sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment with hard labour for defilement.

The Accra Regional Police Command has welcomed the outcome of the case, reiterating its commitment to protecting children and other vulnerable persons.

The command has also urged the public to promptly report suspected cases of child abuse to the police for investigation and appropriate action.