An 87-year-old man, Yaw Gahornu, has been sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment with hard labour for sexually abusing a nine-year-old girl in Ofankor, a suburb of Accra, Ghana.
Gatekeepers News reports that Gahornu was convicted by the Gender-Based Violence Court following investigations by the Tesano Divisional Police Command, the Accra Regional Police Command said in a statement issued on October 12.
According to the police, the case came to light on August 29, 2026, when the girl’s mother returned from work and discovered bloodstains on her daughter’s clothing.
The child subsequently disclosed that Gahornu had repeatedly sexually abused her between July and August.
Investigators said the convict allegedly lured the girl to his sleeping quarters and threatened to kill her if she reported the abuse to her mother.
The police further disclosed that Gahornu’s granddaughter witnessed the alleged abuse on August 31 and informed family members, including the victim’s mother, prompting a report to the authorities.
Following the complaint, Gahornu was arrested, charged and arraigned before the Gender-Based Violence Court at the headquarters of Ghana’s Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU).
The court found him guilty and sentenced him to 20 years’ imprisonment with hard labour.
The Accra Regional Police Command welcomed the conviction, describing it as part of its efforts to protect children and other vulnerable members of society.
The command urged members of the public to promptly report suspected cases of child abuse to enable the authorities to investigate and take appropriate legal action.
The police also emphasised the importance of public cooperation in ensuring the safety of children and securing justice for victims of abuse.
