Upper West Courts Sentence Two Men for Sexual Abuse: Lawra Father Jailed 20 Years for Incest

The Lawra Circuit Court has sentenced 47-year-old Kwame Ti-Zaarkuu to 20 years in prison with hard labour for incest and threatening the life of his 17-year-old daughter. Presiding over the case on July 24, 2026, His Honour Stanley Adjei handed down the sentence after a full trial established that the convict had sexually abused his daughter, a Junior High School student, over a prolonged period. The court further convicted Ti-Zaarkuu for threatening to kill his daughter if she disclosed the abuse, resulting in a 10-year sentence to be served concurrently with the primary 20-year term.

The prosecution's case highlighted a disturbing pattern of systematic abuse and intimidation. Investigations by the Upper West Regional Police Command revealed that Ti-Zaarkuu exploited his parental role to silence his daughter, causing her significant psychological trauma. In his ruling, Justice Adjei emphasized the severity of the betrayal of trust and mandated the Department of Social Welfare in Lawra to provide immediate counselling and comprehensive support for the survivor. The police have since been commended for their professional handling of the investigation, which was initiated after a formal complaint was lodged against the convict.

In a related development demonstrating the judiciary's firm stance on child protection in the region, the Wa High Court also sentenced a 42-year-old man to a decade in prison. Elyasu Kunateh was found guilty on July 23, 2026, of defiling a seven-year-old boy in Wa. Presided over by Justice Osei-Wusu Antwi, the conviction followed a report from the victim's mother and a subsequent investigation by the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Upper West Regional Police Command. This ruling reinforces the ongoing judicial efforts to curb sexual violence against minors across the regional capital and surrounding districts.

These convictions have drawn praise from the Upper West Regional Police Command, which has reiterated its commitment to pursuing justice for victims of sexual and domestic abuse. Law enforcement officials stressed the importance of public vigilance, urging citizens to report suspected cases of abuse promptly to the authorities. By ensuring that offenders like Ti-Zaarkuu and Kunateh face the full rigors of the law, the regional courts and police aim to create a safer environment for children and vulnerable individuals, signaling that such heinous crimes will not be tolerated in Ghanaian society.