A 29-year-old tricycle rider, Naah Mashood, has been sentenced to 14 years imprisonment with hard labour for defiling a three-year-old girl at Tiegber in the Wa Municipality of Ghana. The incident occurred on February 23, 2026, when Mashood, who had been contracted by the parents to pick the victim to and from school, lured her to an isolated location and sexually assaulted her inside his tricycle.
The Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Upper West Regional Police Command arrested Mashood on February 24, 2026, following a complaint lodged by the victim’s mother. After thorough investigations, he was arraigned before the Wa District Magistrate Court and subsequently stood trial at the Wa High Court. The court found him guilty of defilement and sentenced him to 14 years imprisonment with hard labour on October 30, 2026.
The Upper West Regional Police Command has commended the officers involved in the investigation and prosecution, as well as all persons who contributed to ensuring justice was served. The Command urged parents and guardians to keep a close eye on their children and ensure their safety at all times. They also encouraged the public to report suspected cases of child abuse and defilement to the nearest police station or DOVVSU office for prompt action.
In a related development, the Ashanti Regional Police Command has announced the arrest of three suspected members of a criminal syndicate believed to be behind a series of robberies targeting bank customers in Kumasi and its environs. The suspects, two Nigerian nationals, Aboy Promise, 30, and Favour Uwalaka, 45, were arrested at a hotel at Moshie Zongo on October 31, 2026.
A search of their rooms resulted in the recovery of GH¢1,600.00, assorted mobile phones, a Royal motorbike, and a master key used to gain unauthorized access to victims’ vehicles to steal cash. During interrogation, the suspects admitted their involvement in the robberies and mentioned two accomplices, Chinedu, alias Alhaji, and Kingsley, alias KC.
The suspects subsequently led the police team to another hotel at Dechemso, a suburb of Kumasi, where Kingsley, alias KC, 35, also a Nigerian national, was arrested. The remaining accomplice, Chinedu, alias Alhaji, is currently on the run. The Command is appealing to the public to volunteer credible information that could lead to his arrest.
The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has called for stronger regional cooperation to ensure fair remuneration for creatives and the return of African cultural properties to their countries of origin. Speaking at a technical meeting in Accra, Madam Gomashie stressed the need to protect the intellectual property rights of creative professionals and preserve Africa’s rich cultural heritage.
Key points
- A 29-year-old tricycle rider sentenced to 14 years imprisonment with hard labour for defiling a 3-year-old girl in Wa.
- The Upper West Regional Police Command commends officers for ensuring justice in the case.
- The Ashanti Regional Police Command arrests three suspects for robbing bank customers in Kumasi.
