Gender Ministry Transfers Sexual Abuse Case of Deceased Teen Footballer to CID Homicide Unit
The Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection (MoGCSP) has escalated the investigation into the alleged sexual abuse and death of 16-year-old footballer Ransford Owusu Ansah by transferring the case docket to the Homicide Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).
In a statement released on Friday, the Ministry expressed deep empathy for the victim’s family and reaffirmed its commitment to child protection amid growing public outrage. Ransford, a promising talent at the Siano Soccer Academy in Amasaman, reportedly endured years of abuse at the hands of his coach, Ibrahim Anyass, unbeknownst to his mother.
“Preliminary reports indicate the victim had been under the care of the coach for the past three years. Unknown to his mother, he had allegedly been subjected to sexual abuse during that period,” the statement read. Ransford had been receiving medical treatment since December 2024 and was later admitted to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, where he tragically passed away in March 2025.
The Ministry’s Ashanti Regional Directorate swiftly launched follow-up probes upon learning of the case through media reports, engaging stakeholders including the victim’s family. The investigation was initially handled by the Amasaman Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) before referral to the Greater Accra Regional DOVVSU and, now, the CID’s Homicide Unit for deeper scrutiny.
In response to the allegations, Siano Soccer Academy has suspended Coach Anyass and temporarily shuttered its facility pending the outcome of the probe. The academy has pledged full cooperation with authorities.
The case has ignited a fierce nationwide backlash, with the #JusticeForRansford campaign surging across social media platforms. Over 1,400 Ghanaians have signed an online petition on Change.org, demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of Anyass, psychosocial support for the family, and systemic reforms in youth sports.
Activists and child rights advocates are calling for stricter background checks, enhanced monitoring, and lifetime bans for offenders within the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
Anyass was detained and questioned by police on November 7 but was released on bail later that day, fueling further public frustration.beaaae Ransford’s mother has publicly pleaded for justice, even offering a GHC5,000 bounty for information leading to accountability in earlier appeals.
The Ministry highlighted its proactive stance since Minister Larry Kwabla Agyeman’s appointment in February 2025, including collaborations with the GFA to bolster child safeguarding protocols in football academies.
“Crime has no expiration,” the statement emphasized. “The Ministry remains committed to pursuing justice for the victim and his family.”
Through its decentralized structures—like the Departments of Gender and Social Welfare, and the Orange Support Centre—the MoGCSP continues partnering with law enforcement to shield vulnerable children. It urged citizens to report suspicions of abuse via the Domestic Violence hotline at 0800-111-222 or local DOVVSU offices.
As the investigation unfolds, the tragedy has amplified calls for urgent reforms to prevent similar horrors in Ghana’s sports sector, where dreams of glory often mask deep vulnerabilities.9eded6 The nation watches closely, demanding that Ransford’s death sparks lasting change.
