A 42-year-old man has been handed a 10-year prison sentence 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 prosecuted following investigations by the Upper West Regional Police Command through its Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU).
Police said the abuse took place on Saturday, January 17, 2026, in Wa. The case came to light after the child’s mother reported the incident, leading to Kunateh’s arrest on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
“Upon receiving the complaint, the Police immediately commenced investigations and referred the victim to a medical facility for examination, in addition to offering him psychosocial support,” the Command stated.
Following his arrest, Kunateh was arraigned before the court and remanded into police custody while the case proceeded to trial.
After hearing the evidence, the Wa High Court, presided over by Justice Osei-Wusu Antwi, found him guilty on Thursday, July 23, 2026, and sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment with hard labour.
Reacting to the judgment, the Upper West Regional Police Command reiterated its resolve to protect vulnerable people, particularly children, and to ensure that offenders involved in child abuse, sexual offences and gender-based violence are brought to justice.
The Command also appealed to parents, guardians, caregivers and the general public to stay alert and report suspected cases of abuse to the nearest police station without delay so that swift action can be taken.
Read the statement below.
