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Girl 10, loses memory after horrific torture
A 10-year-old girl at Kpenoe, near Ho, is suffering from memory loss after she was tied up by her paternal grandmother and subjected to severe beatings and left under the scorching sun for more than four hours, a police inquest has revealed.
The perpetrator of this barbaric act by name, Aku Gbafa, a Togolese, who is believed to be in her 50s was said to have carried out the medieval torture on the helpless and starving child as punishment for using GH¢1 from the vegetables she was sent to sell, to buy food.
of the child
The poor and traumatised child who was rescued by officials of the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development has been on admission at the Ho Teaching Hospital (HTU) with sores on her fingers and wrist, since November 19, struggling to regain her full memory.
The Probation Officer of the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development in the Ho Municipality, Mr Wisdom Kodjo Krakani disclosed these to The Spectator on Tuesday.
He said that some horrified neighbours alerted his outfit on November 15, leading to the rescue of the girl (name withheld) and the subsequent handing over of the woman to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) at the Regional Police Headquarters, Ho.
According to Mr Krakani, preliminary investigations revealed that the girl, whose father lived in Togo, was staying with her grandmother at Kpenoe.
As a daily routine, her grandmother sent her to go into town to sell vegetables every morning before going to school.
The probation officer said on that fateful morning, the victim carried out the duty diligently and returned home to realise that her grandmother had left no food for her before going to the farm.
The starving child then used GH¢1 from the morning’s sales to buy rice and quickly told her grandmother about it, when she (Gbafa) returned home.
That, Mr Krakani said, angered the suspect who is said to have vowed that she would not go to the farm the next day but rather stay home to teach the child a bitter lesson.
True to her words, the woman tied both hands and both legs of the girl in the open the next morning and beat her with a cane for hours until the victim started bleeding from the injuries.
As if that was not enough, the grandmother ground pepper and smeared it into the cuts, before leaving the girl under the scorching sun for several hours.
Mr Krakani said that the suspect then told the child to tell her teachers or anyone who sought to know what happened to her that she accidentally fell in boiling water.
He said that though the incident took place a few days before the girl was rescued, the girl as of now could not remember the exact day due to the trauma she was suffering from.
The story was corroborated by DOVVSU on Monday when contacted.
Aku Gbafa is currently on bail assisting in police investigations.
From Alberto Mario Noretti, Kpenoe
Ghana’s parliament has marked the 2nd edition of May Day 2026 under the theme “ Welcome Home”.
It was special day meant to celebrate the invaluable support of the workforce, recognizing the commitment, resilience, and contributions of workers to institutional growth and national development.
Delivering the message on behalf of the Speaker, the 1st Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor, described the theme as very apt, appropriate, and timely, noting that Parliament is more than a workplace, it is a shared home.
He emphasized that we cannot speak about work without speaking about people, reminding everyone that the true measure of our work is the well-being of our people.
He urged that our traditional clothing become an integral part of our everyday clothing, and that our local languages must become integral to our daily lives, interwoven into education and practiced at home.
Referencing Standing Order 63, which captures the use of local language as optional in deliberations, he encouraged a renewed commitment to identity, saying it is significant that we “come home” and present who we are so future generations can inherit a story they can fully tell.
The Clerk, Mr. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, in his remarks commended officers for their dedication and devotion to duty, calling on them to go the extra mile and leave legacies.
Echoing the reminder that an unexamined life is not worth living, he described the event as an invitation to reconnect with our roots through cultural revival.
The Deputy Clerk, C&FMS, Dr. Gloria Sarku Kumawu, urged all not to forget their roots, the people behind the stories of ministries, industries, and the strides made both in-house and beyond.
What began last year has now become a meaningful tradition, showcasing Ghanaian heritage, fostering unity, and encouraging innovation under the principle of diversity for unity and diversity for progress, she added.
The gathering brought together leadership, public officials, and staff across all levels, along with the media, standing as a unifying platform that honored service, celebrated culture, and reaffirmed a shared commitment to national development.
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Manhyia would serve as Ghana’s unifying force …Otumfuo assures on commemoration of 27 years on the Golden Stool
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, last Friday celebrated his 27th enstoolment with a colourful and culture-rich ceremony at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, drawing a distinguished gathering of dignitaries from across Ghana and beyond.
Clad in splendid kente and adorned in rich traditional regalia, the dignitaries added colour and elegance to the occasion, as the palace grounds came alive with a vibrant display of Ghanaian culture.
Traditional drumming, dancing and symbolic rites underscored the deep-rooted heritage of the Ashanti Kingdom, captivating guests and reaffirming the value of tradition in modern society.
Speaking at a high-level Executive Gala organised by the Diaspora Affairs Office of the Office of the President in strategic partnership with the E ON 3 Group, the ‘World-Meets-in-Ghana’ gala, the Asantehene urged Ghanaians to guard against the divisive tendencies of partisan politics.
The event was to honour the Asantehene’s nearly three-decade reign under the theme ‘Advancing Peace and Sustainable Economic Development through Royal Vision’.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II noted that such attitudes threatened the country’s long-standing values of unity, civility and brotherliness.
He assured that Manhyia would continue to serve as a unifying force for the nation.
The celebration also featured the presentation of commemorative gold coins to notable national leaders, including the President, John Dramani Mahama, former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as well as Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, a former Vice President in recognition of their contributions to peace and national development.
By Spectator Reporter
