By Ishmeal 
The Wa High Court has sentenced a 29-year-old tricycle rider, Mashood Naah, to 14 years’ imprisonment with hard labour after finding him guilty of defiling a three-year-old girl he regularly transported to and from school.
Naah was convicted after a full trial. He had denied the charge of defilement of a child under 16 years.
The case was prosecuted by State Attorney Miriam Amoako before the court, presided over by Justice Wusu Osei Antwi.
How the Case Came to Light
Presenting the facts of the case, the prosecution told the court that the incident came to light on February 21, 2026, when the child’s mother noticed injuries on her daughter while bathing her.
When the child was questioned, she identified the tricycle rider, whom she knew as “Uncle Mashood”, as the person who had sexually assaulted her.
The mother subsequently reported the matter to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) in Wa.
A medical examination conducted at the Upper West Regional Hospital confirmed that the child had been sexually assaulted.
Court Finds Accused Guilty
After considering the evidence presented during the trial, Justice Wusu Osei Antwi ruled that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and found Naah guilty.
In passing sentence, the court described his conduct as grave and noted that he had breached the trust placed in him as the person regularly responsible for transporting the child to and from school.
The court sentenced him to 14 years’ imprisonment with hard labour, stating that the punishment would serve as a deterrent to others.
Family Welcomes Court’s Decision
Speaking after the judgment, a family member, Abdul Moomin Yakubu, expressed gratitude to the court for delivering justice for the child.
He said the family was initially surprised by the allegations but that the evidence presented during the case pointed to the man they had trusted to transport the child.
The conviction highlights the importance of protecting children and ensuring that people entrusted with their care and safety do not abuse that responsibility.
It also serves as a reminder to parents and guardians to remain attentive to children’s safety and take reports of suspected abuse seriously.
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