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The Tamale High Court has sentenced 48-year-old Abdallah Mohammed to 15 years of imprisonment with hard labor for the defilement of a 14-year-old schoolgirl. In a ruling delivered following a police investigation initiated in February 2026, the court found Mohammed guilty of repeated sexual abuse. In addition to the primary sentence for defilement, the court handed down a six-month sentence for perjury after it was determined that the accused lied under oath during cross-examination. Both sentences are to run concurrently.
The case came to light after the victim's father filed a complaint with the police on February 16, 2026, reporting that his daughter had been missing for two days. Subsequent investigations uncovered a harrowing pattern of exploitation spanning six months, during which Mohammed engaged in repeated unprotected sexual intercourse with the minor. It was revealed that the accused paid the victim GH¢30 for each encounter. The situation escalated when the minor became pregnant, prompting Mohammed to facilitate a pregnancy termination without the knowledge or consent of her parents, an act that eventually led to his arrest and prosecution.
While the prosecution successfully secured a conviction for defilement, Mohammed was acquitted on a second charge related to the illegal termination of the pregnancy. The court cited insufficient evidence to convict on the abortion charge, despite the established link between the accused and the procedure. However, the judge emphasized the gravity of the defilement and the breach of trust involved, particularly noting the vulnerability of the schoolgirl and the calculated nature of the abuse over several months.
This sentencing serves as a significant marker for justice in the Northern Region, highlighting the judiciary's commitment to tackling crimes against minors. Child rights advocates have often pointed to such cases as critical for deterring potential offenders and encouraging victims' families to seek legal redress. As Abdallah Mohammed begins his 15-year term, the case underscores the ongoing need for vigilance and the protection of children within the community from predatory behavior.