Berekum defilement case stalled: Parents cry foul over delayed trial of 12-year-old victim

The parents of a 12-year-old girl who was allegedly defiled and impregnated by a 40-year-old man in Jinijini, Berekum District, have made a public appeal to Ghana's Chief Justice, seeking direct intervention in what they describe as a deliberately stalled case. The family claims the trial has made no progress since the accused reversed his guilty plea to not guilty in February, raising serious concerns about access to justice and potential abuse of the judicial system.

According to the victim's father, Abina Christopher, the case has been called five consecutive times without proceeding, placing severe financial strain on his household as a retired professional. He alleges the delays are intentional, suggesting that the accused, Yaw Owusu, 40, is leveraging his status as a politically connected figure in the Jinijini community to frustrate the trial process.

The child, a Junior High School One student, was discovered to be pregnant and named Owusu as the father. The case is currently pending at the Berekum Circuit Court.

Court warns of case dismissal

During a hearing on 13 July 2026, Circuit Court Judge Cynthia Emefa Ohene expressed visible frustration over the prosecutor's repeated failure to appear. She warned that if the prosecution team does not show up for the next scheduled sitting on 24 August 2026, she will have no choice but to strike out the case entirely—a development that would effectively end the prosecution and leave the victim without legal recourse.

The judge's warning underscores a critical bottleneck in Ghana's criminal justice system: the absence of prosecutors, whether due to resource constraints, poor coordination, or negligence, can derail cases entirely. This is particularly damaging in child sexual abuse cases, where delays compound trauma for victims and their families whilst allowing accused persons to evade accountability.

Why it matters for Ghana

This case highlights systemic vulnerabilities in Ghana's pursuit of justice for child sexual abuse victims. Defiled minors are among the most vulnerable populations in the country, yet their cases frequently languish in courts due to administrative failures, witness intimidation, or the influence of well-connected accused persons.

The parents' appeal directly to the Chief Justice reflects desperation but also raises questions about equal access to justice. Whilst a retired professional must deplete his savings attending repeated court hearings, the accused—described as politically exposed—appears to benefit from unexplained delays. Such disparities erode public confidence in the judiciary and enable perpetrators to escape justice through procedural attrition rather than legal merit.

Ghana's commitment to protecting children, enshrined in its 1992 Constitution and various statutes, remains undermined when cases drag on indefinitely. The prosecutor's repeated absences, now threatening case dismissal, exemplify the logistical and resource challenges plaguing the judicial system. Until these gaps are addressed—through improved prosecutor support, stricter court management, and judicial accountability—vulnerable children will continue to be failed by the very institutions designed to protect them.

The victim's mother, Maabia Francisca, 44, has similarly appealed to authorities, seeking assurance that her daughter will receive justice. Her plea underscores the human cost of judicial delays.