The Upper West Regional Police Command of the Ghana Police Service has secured the conviction of two men in separate sexual offence cases, with the courts imposing prison sentences of 10 years and 20 years respectively.
The convictions were announced in separate statements issued by the Police Public Affairs Unit in Wa on July 23 and July 26, 2026. The cases involved the defilement of a seven-year-old boy in Wa and an incest case in Lawra, both in Ghana’s Upper West Region.
In the first case, 42-year-old Elyasu Kunateh was convicted for defiling a seven-year-old boy.
According to the police, officers from the Regional Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) arrested Kunateh on January 20, 2026, after the victim’s mother reported that the incident had occurred on January 17.
Following the report, investigators launched an inquiry, referred the child for medical examination and arranged psychosocial support. The suspect was later arraigned before the Wa High Court and remanded pending trial.
After a full hearing, the Wa High Court, presided over by Justice Osei-Wusu Antwi, found Kunateh guilty on July 23, 2026, and sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment with hard labour.
In a separate case, the Lawra Circuit Court convicted 47-year-old Kwame Ti-Zaaekuu for incest and making threats to kill.
Police investigations established that the convict had repeatedly sexually abused his 17-year-old biological daughter, a Junior High School student, over an extended period while allegedly threatening to kill her if she disclosed the abuse.
The case was investigated and prosecuted by the Lawra District Police following a formal complaint.
At the conclusion of the trial on July 24, 2026, the Lawra Circuit Court, presided over by His Honour Stanley Adjei, found Ti-Zaaekuu guilty of both offences.
The court sentenced him to 20 years’ imprisonment with hard labour for incest and an additional 10 years’ imprisonment for threat of death, with both sentences to run concurrently.
The court also directed the Department of Social Welfare in Lawra to provide the survivor with counselling and psychosocial support.
The Upper West Regional Police Command commended the investigators and prosecutors for their professionalism, saying their efforts led to the successful convictions.
The Command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting vulnerable persons and ensuring that perpetrators of child abuse, sexual offences and gender-based violence are brought to justice.
Both statements were signed by the Upper West Regional Police Commander, DCOP Francis Yiribaare.
