An 87-year-old man, Yaw Gahornu, has been sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment with hard labour after being found guilty of defiling a nine-year-old girl at Ofankor, near Accra.

The sentence was secured by the Tesano Divisional Police Command following the prosecution of the case before the Gender-Based Violence Court at the DOVVSU Headquarters.

In a statement, the police said the case came to light on August 29, 2026, when the complainant returned from work and discovered bloodstains on her daughter’s clothing.

The child subsequently disclosed that Gahornu had subjected her to repeated sexual abuse between July and August 2026, including vaginal and anal penetration.

Investigations further indicated that the convict had allegedly lured the child to his sleeping quarters and threatened to kill her if she reported the abuse to her mother.

The matter was reported to the police after the convict’s granddaughter reportedly witnessed the abuse on August 31, 2026, and alerted family members.

Following his arraignment, Gahornu was convicted of defilement and handed a 20-year prison term with hard labour.

The Accra Regional Police Command welcomed the sentence and reiterated its commitment to safeguarding children and other vulnerable persons. It also urged the public to report suspected child abuse cases promptly for investigation and the necessary legal action.