Source: Issah Abdul Latif/Radio Mak
The High Court in Wa has affirmed one of the convictions against Rashid Ahmed, popularly known as Anaata, who was earlier sentenced by the Wa Circuit Court for defiling some girls in the Wa Municipality.
The Circuit Court, Wa, in 2023, convicted Rashid ‘Anaata’ Ahmed on three separate dockets, containing various counts of defilement, attempted defilement, and indecent assault. This was after the prosecution and the defendant presented witnesses and evidence before the trial court. After the full trial, Anaata was found guilty of defilement, attempted defilement, and indecent assault involving seven survivors. He was then sentenced to serve a total of 22 years prison term in hard labour. The first docket had a high of 8 years prison term while the other two were handed 7 years each.
Following his conviction and sentencing, the convict filed appeals against all three cases at the High Court in Wa, challenging the ruling of the Circuit Court.
According to court documents, the appellant argued that the prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence to prove the offences beyond reasonable doubt. He therefore prayed the High Court to overturn the convictions and set aside the sentences imposed on him by the Circuit Court.
During proceedings at the Wa High Court today, April 29, 2026, counsel for the appellant maintained that the trial court erred in its judgment and insisted that the evidence presented during the trial was not enough to sustain the convictions.
However, after listening to submissions from both the defence and the prosecution, the presiding High Court judge dismissed one of the appeal cases, upholding the conviction and sentence earlier handed down by the Wa Circuit Court on that particular case. The judge ruled that the prosecution had sufficiently established the offence in that case and that the Circuit Court acted within the law in convicting the appellant.
Meanwhile, the court adjourned to 19th June, 2026 for final determination on the remaining two appeal cases filed by Anaata.
The case continues to attract public interest within the Wa Municipality and the Upper West Region, especially among residents and child rights advocates who have been monitoring the proceedings closely.
Legal analysts say the outcome of the remaining two appeals could further determine the final legal standing of the appellant in the matter.
