Mason handed 35-year sentence for seven years of child sexual abuse in Accra

A 35-year-old mason in Accra has been sentenced to 35 years imprisonment after being convicted of repeatedly sexually abusing his two daughters over a seven-year period. Charles Seddoh was found guilty on five counts of defilement and incest by the Circuit Court at the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Police Headquarters, with the court ordering immediate psychological intervention and shelter placement for the survivors.

The abuse and its escalation

According to the prosecution, Seddoh began abusing his eldest daughter in 2018 when she was just 14 years old, continuing the abuse for approximately seven years. In 2021, he extended the abuse to his second daughter when she was 11 years old. When either victim refused his sexual advances, the court heard that Seddoh employed a pattern of coercion involving physical beatings, food deprivation, and threats to withdraw financial and educational support.

The abuse came to light after incidents in January 2025. On 3 January, Seddoh forced sexual contact with the 15-year-old victim, followed by another incident with the 18-year-old victim on 24 January. The daughters reported the abuse to their mother, who discovered contraceptives in Seddoh's possession and contacted police. On 31 January, both victims attended the Adenta DOVVSU to formally lodge their complaint and underwent medical examination. Seddoh was arrested four days later and subsequently led police to the crime scene at Oyibi, where he admitted the offences in his statement to investigators.

Court orders and victim support

Circuit Court Judge Annette Sophia Essel issued directives extending beyond the custodial sentence. The court ordered both victims be referred for clinical psychological therapy to address the severe trauma resulting from years of sexual abuse. Additionally, police were instructed to arrange shelter placement for the survivors as they begin their recovery process. These measures recognise the long-term psychological impact of childhood sexual abuse and the need for structured support during the healing journey.

Why it matters for Ghana

This case highlights persistent challenges within Ghana's child protection framework. Despite Ghana's Criminal Code criminalising defilement and incest, child sexual abuse—particularly within family settings—remains widespread and often goes unreported due to stigma, economic dependence, and fear of family breakdown. The seven-year duration of abuse before intervention underscores gaps in detection mechanisms and the vulnerability of children living in homes where perpetrators exploit their guardianship status.

The sentencing reflects Ghana's courts taking such offences seriously, yet the systemic barriers preventing earlier intervention remain concerning. Many cases involve similar patterns of coercion through economic control and threats regarding education—vulnerabilities that require stronger community awareness and reporting channels. The court's emphasis on psychological support sets a precedent, though resource constraints often limit access to mental health services for survivors, particularly in less urbanised areas.

For advocacy groups and policymakers, this conviction underscores the need for strengthened child protection mechanisms, including improved reporting protocols in schools and communities, better training of frontline workers to identify signs of abuse, and sustainable funding for survivor support services.