20 Years for Father Who Abused Daughter

​A 47-year-old resident of the Upper West Region has been condemned to 20 years behind bars with hard labour following a harrowing trial for incest and criminal intimidation against his teenage biological daughter.

​Kwame Ti-Zaaeku was found guilty by the Lawra Circuit Court, presided over by His Honour Stanley Adjei, after investigators uncovered a disturbing pattern of exploitation. According to police findings led by the Lawra District Police command, Ti-Zaaeku repeatedly violated the 17-year-old Junior High School student over an extended period. The prosecution established that the accused systematically weaponized fear, explicitly threatening to take the young girl’s life if she ever exposed his actions to anyone.

​During the final verdict delivered on Friday, July 24, the court formally convicted Ti-Zaaeku on separate counts of incest and threat of death. He received a 20-year sentence for the incest charge and a concurrent 10-year term for the threats, ensuring the sentences run together.

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​Moving beyond punitive measures, His Honour Stanley Adjei mandated immediate intervention for the survivor. The court directed the Lawra Directorate of the Department of Social Welfare to step in with comprehensive professional counseling and structured psychosocial support to assist the teenager through her rehabilitation and recovery journey.

​In the wake of the judgment, the Upper West Regional Police Command formally commended the investigative and prosecutorial teams for their meticulous handling of the sensitive matter. Law enforcement authorities have leveraged the outcome to reiterate a broader national appeal, urging citizens across the country to break the culture of silence and instantly report any suspected incidents of gender-based violence, domestic abuse, or child endangerment to local police stations.