Yaw Gahornu jailed 20 years for defiling nine-year-old girl

An 87-year-old man, Yaw Gahornu, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison by an Accra court for the repeated sexual abuse of a nine-year-old girl in Ofankor. Gahornu pleaded guilty to two counts of defilement during his appearance in court. The presiding judge ordered the sentences to run consecutively, ensuring the convict serves the full two decades behind bars for his actions against the minor who lived in his neighborhood.

The abuse was initially discovered by the victim's mother, who noticed blood stains on the child's underwear. Upon questioning, the young girl identified Gahornu as the person responsible for the assault. The legal case against the octogenarian was further solidified when his own granddaughter caught him in the act on August 31, 2026. She immediately reported the incident, leading to his arrest and subsequent prosecution.

In delivering the sentence, the court acknowledged that Gahornu was a first-time offender but emphasized the necessity of a harsh penalty to serve as a deterrent. The judge noted with concern the increasing incidence of sexual offenses against minors and stated that the advanced age of the convict did not mitigate the severity of the crime. The ruling reinforces the judicial stance on child protection and the lack of leniency for sexual predators regardless of their social standing or age.