An 87-year-old man, Yaw Gahornu, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison with hard labour for defiling a 9-year-old girl at Ofankor in Accra.

The Tesano Divisional Police Command said the conviction followed investigations into allegations that Gahornu repeatedly sexually abused the child between July and August 2026.

According to the police, the matter came to light on August 29 when the child’s mother returned from work and noticed bloodstains on her daughter’s clothing.

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

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

On August 31, the alleged abuse was witnessed by the accused’s granddaughter, who informed members of the family. The matter was subsequently reported to the Police.

Gahornu was arrested and charged with defilement.

He was 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.

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

The Command also urged the public to promptly report cases of abuse against children to the Police to enable appropriate action to be taken.