Court jails man 10 years for defiling seven-year-old boy

A 42-year-old man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison with hard labour by the Wa High Court after he was found guilty of defiling a seven-year-old boy in Wa in the Upper West Region.

The conviction was secured by the Upper West Regional Police Command through the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) following investigations into the case.

A statement issued by the Public Affairs Unit of the Upper West Regional Police Command said the convict, Elyasu Kunateh, was arrested after the victim's mother reported the incident to the police.

According to the statement, the offence occurred on Saturday, January 17, 2026, while the suspect was arrested on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.

It said the victim was immediately taken to a medical facility for examination after the complaint was received. The police also arranged psychosocial support for the child as investigations commenced.

The statement said Kunateh was subsequently arraigned before the Wa High Court, where he was remanded into police custody pending trial.

On July, 23, 2026, the court, presided over by His Lordship Justice Osei-Wusu Antwi, found Kunateh guilty after a full trial and sentenced him to 10 years' imprisonment with hard labour.

The police described the conviction as part of efforts to protect children and other vulnerable persons from abuse.

The Upper West Regional Police Command said it would continue to investigate and prosecute reported cases of child abuse and sexual and gender-based violence.

It also urged parents, guardians, caregivers and members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspected cases of abuse promptly to the nearest police station.