Tamale High Court Sentences Abdallah Mohammed to 15 Years for Defiling 14-Year-Old Girl

The Tamale High Court has handed down a 15-year prison sentence with hard labor to 48-year-old Abdallah Mohammed for the defilement of a 14-year-old girl. Presiding judge Justice Charles Kwesi Acheampong delivered the ruling following a trial that centered heavily on the victim's age and the defendant's credibility. In a significant move to uphold the integrity of the judicial process, the court also imposed an additional six-month sentence on Mohammed for perjury, after concluding that he provided false testimony under oath during cross-examination.

A central point of contention throughout the proceedings was the legal age of the victim. The prosecution asserted that the girl was 14 years old, while Mohammed argued she was 18, claiming his assessment was based on her physical appearance and their previous conversations. The defense further attempted to undermine the state's case by challenging the authenticity of the birth certificate presented as evidence. However, Justice Acheampong ultimately accepted the testimonies of the victim and her guardian, ruling that the prosecution had proven the victim's status as a minor beyond a reasonable doubt.

Despite the convictions for defilement and perjury, Mohammed was acquitted of a separate charge involving an illegal abortion. The court found that the prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence to demonstrate his involvement in the termination of the pregnancy. Consequently, while he faces a lengthy stay in prison for the sexual offense and for lying to the court, he was cleared of the abortion-related allegations due to the lack of corroborating facts.

This ruling underscores the judiciary's commitment to child protection and the rigorous standards applied in cases involving the defilement of minors. By rejecting the defendant's arguments regarding the victim's appearance, the court reaffirmed that legal protections for children remain absolute regardless of physical maturity. The sentencing serves as a stern warning against both sexual crimes and the subversion of justice through false testimony in Ghanaian courts.