Seven teachers in Ghana have been convicted and sentenced to between seven and 17 years in prison for defiling pupils, according to court records reviewed by AudityNews, with the cases highlighting both the urgent need to protect children in schools and the importance of ensuring every conviction is based on credible evidence.
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The convictions reveal how some educators abused positions of trust through classroom interactions, private lessons and community relationships. But separate cases involving teachers who were later acquitted also raise difficult questions about wrongful convictions and the need for careful judicial scrutiny.
The cases come amid wider concerns about child safety in Ghana’s education system. Read our report on Bole SHS Teacher Interdiction and 3 Other Cases Raise Safety Concerns in Ghanaian Schools.
Teacher defilement cases in Ghana: What happened
A review of several court cases across different regions shows a recurring pattern. In many instances, victims were pupils taught by the offenders or children placed under their supervision for extra classes, remedial lessons or private tutoring.
| Teacher | Region | Victim’s age | Sentence |
| Nana Yaw Adu Larbi | Greater Accra | 5 | 17 years imprisonment |
| Seth Kwabena Anim | Greater Accra | 12 | 15 years imprisonment |
| Enoch Amponsah | Eastern | 8 | 12 years imprisonment |
| Jephthah Agyarko | Western | 14 | 12 years imprisonment |
| Hondana Mensah | Eastern | 12 | 12 years imprisonment |
| Mensah Believe | Volta | 13 | 7 years imprisonment |
| Kingsley Acquah | Western | 15 | 7 years imprisonment |
One of the cases involved Enoch Amponsah, a 28-year-old teacher at a private basic school in Kpong, who was convicted of defiling an eight-year-old pupil.
According to prosecutors, the incident happened after the pupil attended a weekend class organised by the school. The court heard that Amponsah followed the child to an office and later repeated the abuse at his nearby residence.
The child’s mother became suspicious after noticing changes in her daughter’s behaviour and walking pattern. Amponsah pleaded guilty and was sentenced by the Odumase-Krobo Circuit Court to 12 years in prison.
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In Tarkwa-Nsuaem, teacher Jephthah Agyarko was sentenced to 12 years after pleading guilty to defiling a 14-year-old student.
The prosecution said Agyarko, who had previously taught the victim and worshipped with her family, invited the student to attend a church watch-night service before committing the offence.
Private French tutor Hondana Mensah was also sentenced to 12 years imprisonment after being convicted of abusing a 12-year-old child during home lessons.
The child’s mother had engaged Mensah for tutoring over four years. Police medical findings, prosecutors told the court, supported the allegation despite Mensah denying the offence.
Other cases involved more severe penalties.
Nana Yaw Adu Larbi, 24, was sentenced to 17 years with hard labour after being convicted of defiling a five-year-old kindergarten pupil at a school in Gbawe.
In another Greater Accra case, class three teacher Seth Kwabena Anim was sentenced to 15 years at Ankaful Maximum Security Prison after inappropriate WhatsApp exchanges with a 12-year-old pupil were discovered during pandemic-era home lessons.
Two teachers also received seven-year sentences.
Mensah Believe, an ICT and English teacher, was convicted of defiling a 13-year-old male student and committing sodomy after community members reported his conduct.
Kingsley Acquah, a private school teacher in Tarkwa, was convicted of defiling and impregnating a 15-year-old student who had stayed for extra examination preparation.
Why child protection in schools remains a concern
The convictions highlight the devastating consequences when educators abuse the trust placed in them by children, families and communities.
Teachers occupy positions of authority, and many children spend a significant part of their lives under their supervision. This makes strong safeguarding systems essential in schools and learning environments.
Child protection advocates have repeatedly stressed the importance of early reporting. Parents and guardians are encouraged to take sudden behavioural changes, fear of school, unexplained injuries or unusual relationships with adults seriously.
Schools are also being urged to strengthen reporting channels and ensure pupils know where to seek help when they feel unsafe.
The cases come as Ghana continues to face broader concerns about protecting children from abuse and ensuring institutions respond quickly when allegations emerge.
Wrongful convictions raise questions about justice
While protecting children remains a priority, separate cases involving teachers who were later acquitted have highlighted the need for criminal trials to be based on reliable evidence.
In 2022, teacher Maxwell Bernieh was acquitted by an Accra High Court after spending six years in prison following a defilement conviction involving an 11-year-old student.
Bernieh had originally received a 20-year sentence but maintained his innocence throughout the case. After his acquittal, his lawyers began seeking compensation for the years he spent imprisoned.
Another major case involved agricultural science teacher Eric Asante, who was arrested in 2003 over allegations that he defiled and impregnated a 14-year-old student at Nyohini Presbyterian Junior Secondary School in Tamale.
Asante was sentenced to 15 years with hard labour by the Tamale High Court in 2005 but continued to challenge the conviction.
In 2017, the Supreme Court acquitted and discharged him after DNA evidence showed he was not the biological father of the child.
The court later ordered the government to pay him GH¢45,000 in compensation and restore his lost salaries and allowances from the years he spent in prison.
The case became a landmark reminder that while child protection laws must be enforced, convictions must also meet the highest standards of evidence.
What needs to change
Education and child protection experts argue that preventing abuse requires more than criminal prosecutions after offences occur.
Schools are expected to strengthen safeguarding measures, including:
- mandatory child protection training for teachers and staff
- confidential reporting systems for pupils
- stronger supervision of private lessons and extra classes
- improved cooperation between schools, police and social welfare authorities
- regular background checks for people working with children
Legal reform advocates have also called for faster compensation processes for people who are wrongfully imprisoned so they can rebuild their lives after being cleared.
The challenge for Ghana’s education system is clear: schools must remain safe spaces for children while justice is delivered fairly and based on evidence.
Related reads
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- Bole SHS Teacher Interdiction and 3 Other Cases Raise Safety Concerns in Ghanaian Schools
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