Wa High Court jails tricycle rider 14 years for defilement

In a recent ruling, the Wa High Court in Ghana has handed down a 14-year prison sentence with hard labor to a 29-year-old tricycle driver for sexually assaulting a young girl in 2026. Despite the accused, Naah Mashood, denying the allegations during the trial, an investigation conducted by the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) led to his conviction.

The crime was committed on February 23, 2026, when Mashood, who had been contracted by the victim's parents to transport her, lured her to an isolated spot in Tiegber, Wa Municipality, and sexually assaulted her inside his Cambuu tricycle. The Upper West Regional Police Commander, DCOP Francis Yiriboare, disclosed these details in a press release to the Ghana News Agency.

Following the trial, Justice Osei-Wusu sentenced Mashood to the lengthy prison term on October 30, 2026. The police command has commended the officers involved in the investigation and prosecution, urging parents and guardians to ensure their children's safety and encouraging the public to report any suspected cases of child abuse to the relevant authorities.