Tricycle rider jailed for 14 years for defiling a 3-year-old girl in Wa

A 29-year-old tricycle rider, Naah Mashood, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison with hard labor for sexually assaulting a three-year-old girl in Wa, according to prosecutors. The Upper West Regional Police Command reported that Mashood was apprehended on February 24, 2026, by officers from the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVSU) after receiving a complaint from the victim's mother.

The police explained that Mashood had been hired by the child's parent to take her to and from school, but on February 23, 2026, he allegedly took the girl to an isolated area and sexually assaulted her inside his tricycle. Following the investigation, Mashood was arraigned before the Wa District Magistrate Court and later tried at the Wa High Court.

On October 30, 2026, Justice Osei-Wusu found him guilty of defilement and sentenced him to 14 years of hard labor. The police command praised the officers who worked on the case and urged parents to be vigilant in protecting their children, encouraging them to report any suspected cases of child abuse or defilement to the nearest police station or DOVSU office.

The command emphasized their commitment to ensuring the safety of children and bringing perpetrators of sexual offenses to justice.