A 42-year-old man has been sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment with hard labour after the Wa High Court found him guilty of defiling a seven-year-old boy in the Upper West Region.
The convict, identified as Elyasu Kunateh, was arrested on January 20, 2026, after the child’s mother reported the alleged abuse to the Police. Investigators launched inquiries immediately, while the victim was taken for medical examination and provided with psychosocial support. Kunateh was subsequently remanded into police custody pending trial.
Delivering judgment on Thursday, July 23, 2026, His Lordship Justice Osei-Wusu Antwi convicted Kunateh after a full trial and imposed a 10-year prison sentence with hard labour.
Reacting to the outcome, the Upper West Regional Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting children and other vulnerable persons from abuse.
“The Upper West Regional Police Command assures the public that, it remains committed to protecting vulnerable persons, and will continue to pursue all reported cases of child abuse, sexual and gender base violence,” the Police said.
The Command also urged parents, guardians, caregivers and the public to stay alert and report suspected cases of child abuse and other forms of violence to the nearest police station for prompt intervention.
Read the statement below:
