Tricycle Driver Jailed 14 Years for Defiling Three-Year-Old Schoolgirl

A 29-year-old tricycle rider, Naah Mashood, has been sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment with hard labour for defiling a three-year-old girl he was hired to transport to and from school in Tiegber, in Ghana’s Upper West Region. The Wa High Court convicted him after a full trial on October 30, 2026.

Court finds driver guilty

Mashood, popularly known in the community as “Uncle Mashood,” was engaged by the child’s parent to pick her up from school. Police said that on February 23, 2026, instead of taking her home, he lured her to an isolated location and sexually assaulted her inside his tricycle, locally called a cambuu.

The victim’s mother noticed injuries on the child while bathing her on February 21, 2026, and the girl later disclosed that the man who normally conveyed her to and from school had assaulted her. A medical examination at the Upper West Regional Hospital confirmed sexual assault.

Police investigation and trial

The Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Upper West Regional Police Command arrested Mashood on February 24, 2026, following a complaint by the victim’s mother. He was initially arraigned before the Wa District Magistrate Court before facing trial at the Wa High Court.

State Attorney Miriam Amoako prosecuted the case before Justice Wusu Osei Antwi. The court held that the prosecution proved the offence of defilement beyond reasonable doubt, despite the convict’s denial.

Breach of trust

In sentencing him, the court described Mashood’s conduct as grave, stressing that he breached the trust placed in him as the person responsible for conveying the child daily. Justice Osei-Wusu imposed 14 years’ imprisonment with hard labour, saying the punishment should serve as a deterrent.

A family member, Abdul Moomin Yakubu, welcomed the judgment, saying the family was grateful that justice had been served and expressing hope that the sentence would deter others from abusing children.

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Call for vigilance

The Upper West Regional Police Command commended investigators, prosecutors, and members of the public who assisted in securing the conviction. It urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant about children’s safety and to report suspected abuse promptly to the police or DOVVSU.

The Command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting children and ensuring that perpetrators of sexual offences are held accountable.