A 19-year-old mason, Alfred Mensah, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison by the Tarkwa Circuit Court after pleading guilty to defiling a seven-year-old kindergarten pupil at Awodua in the Western Region.
The convict, who resides in Awodua, was sentenced by the court presided over by Her Honour Bernice Mensima Ackon following proceedings in which he admitted the offence.
According to the prosecution, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Joseph Lartey, the case was reported by the victim’s mother, who lived in the same family house as Mensah.
The court heard that the incident occurred on Sunday, April 26, 2026, when the victim and her younger sibling were playing at the family residence.
During the incident, Mensah allegedly sent the younger child to a nearby shop to purchase biscuits. He subsequently gave the seven-year-old his mobile phone to play with before luring her into a room, where the offence occurred.
The incident was reportedly discovered by a woman identified as Mary Yeboah, who was also in the house at the time.
According to the prosecution, Yeboah entered the room and found Mensah abusing the child. She immediately informed the victim’s mother about what she had witnessed.
The mother subsequently took her daughter to the Awodua Police Station to report the incident and seek assistance from the authorities.
Following the complaint, the police issued a medical report form to enable the child to undergo an examination and receive the necessary medical attention.
The victim was taken to Apinto Government Hospital, where she was examined and treated. The prosecution told the court that the medical report subsequently received by the police confirmed that the child had been defiled.
Mensah was later arrested by the police in Awodua and transferred to the Western Central Regional Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit for further investigations.
After investigations were conducted, the case was brought before the Tarkwa Circuit Court for prosecution.
During the court proceedings, Mensah pleaded guilty to the charge. The court subsequently convicted him on his own plea and sentenced him to 15 years’ imprisonment.
The sentence brings the case to a judicial conclusion following the police investigation, medical examination and prosecution.
The incident has also drawn attention to the importance of safeguarding children from abuse, particularly in residential environments where they may interact with adults known to their families.
Child protection advocates consistently encourage parents, guardians and caregivers to take reports of suspected abuse seriously and promptly alert the police or relevant child protection authorities.
The Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit of the Ghana Police Service handles cases involving abuse and supports victims through the reporting and investigative process.
The case was prosecuted by ASP Joseph Lartey before Her Honour Bernice Mensima Ackon at the Tarkwa Circuit Court.
Source: Thepressradio.com
