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

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

According to a statement from the Ghana Police Service, Gahornu was convicted by the Gender-Based Violence Court at the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) headquarters following his prosecution on charges of defilement.

The case reportedly 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 reportedly disclosed that Gahornu had subjected her to repeated sexual abuse between July and August 2026, involving vaginal and anal penetration.

Police investigations further revealed that the accused allegedly lured the child to his sleeping quarters and threatened to kill her if she reported the abuse to her mother.

The police said the alleged abuse was also 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 arrested, charged and brought before the Gender-Based Violence Court, where he was found guilty and sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment with hard labour.

The Accra Regional Police Command welcomed the court’s decision, reaffirming its commitment to protecting children and other vulnerable persons from abuse.

The command also urged members of the public to promptly report suspected cases of child abuse to the police to facilitate investigations and ensure that appropriate legal action is taken.

The conviction underscores the importance of reporting child abuse and pursuing justice for victims, particularly children who may be unable to protect themselves or speak out against their abusers.