Disclaimer: This story contains descriptions of sexual abuse of a minor
Ransford Owusu Ansah, a 16-year-old who played for Siano Soccer Academy in Amasaman, Accra, passed away in March 2025.
The cause of his death was linked to continuous sexual abuse by his coach, Ibrahim Anyass. The teen died at the Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, succumbing to his injuries from his abuse.
According to the teen’s mother, Ransford had been abused for three years while at the academy. She demanded justice and accountability from the authorities, going so far as to place a GHC 5,000 bounty on the coach.
Local journalists have reported that the academy suspended the coach after the incident, but he had resumed training for the past three months.
The story was reignited and amplified by celebrities on social media, including Lydia Forson, renewing pressure on authorities to act.
“When women speak about sexual violence, especially in schools, people often assume it only happens to girls. But the truth is, it happens to boys too, and far more often than we want to admit,” she wrote on X.
The coach will report to the Police Central ID Headquarters on Friday, November 7th.
A Mother’s Grief
In March, Ransford’s mother had told reporters she noticed her son growing weak, withdrawn, and sickly. He ultimately confided that his coach had been abusing him.
His condition deteriorated, and he eventually died while receiving treatment at the hospital. According to reports, he had been in a coma before his death.
Despite the revelations of abuse, no arrest or formal invitation was made to the coach or academy officials for many months following the initial complaint.
“Ghanaian leaders, I brought the coach to you for justice, but nothing has come out of it, and now my son is dead,” the mother said in public statements.
Her son had been playing in the Siano Academy in Asamanan. She had consistently tried to reach the coach to inquire about the condition of her son, but to no avail.
“I tried consistently to reach the coach, but he never answered any of my calls. After successive failures, I used someone’s phone to call the coach, and he picked up this time around,” she narrated in a radio interview.
“I spoke to my son and told him that I had been unwell for some time. I also quizzed him on why he had never called me, and he said their phones were seized,” she added.
She eventually visited her son after recovery and witnessed his deteriorating health condition. The coach downplayed his illness and said he was receiving healthcare.
“I discovered that it wasn’t true. He only took him to the hospital on the eve of my visit.”
After the teen’s death and public revelation of abuses, the coach was suspended by the academy and had been on the run from authorities.
Public Pressure and the Question of Accountability
The hashtag #JusticeForRansford gained steam on the X platform after a post by Ghanaian actress Lydia Forson.
The hashtag went viral, prompting more support for the boy’s mother and pushing authorities to make an arrest.
The coach, who had reportedly continued his work at the academy, reported to the Ghana CID for interrogation. He has not yet been formally charged.
In cases that involve children and sexual abuse, the burden on investigators to gather forensic and medical proof can be especially heavy.
Activists insist, however, that months of inaction foster impunity and call for transparent, time-bound steps from police and prosecutors.
The Ghana Police have not released an official statement about the case or offered any explanation on the delay of arrests, despite reports that the coach was still at the Academy.
A Test for Institutions
One institution that has surprisingly not spoken publicly on the case is the Ministry of Gender and Social Protection.
Despite the renewed publicity, the Ministry, whose roles include safeguarding the security, safety, and rights of vulnerable populations, including children, has yet to issue a statement.
The Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU), a division of the Ghana Police, which protects the rights of persons from physical and sexual abuse, has also not publicly commented.
In 2020, the division reported 1,047 cases of defilement. The division also stated that child sexual abuse cases are generally under-reported in Ghana.
Meanwhile, online activities have signed online petitions and called on the appropriate authorities to seek justice for the deceased teen.
As the #JusticeForRansford campaign gathers signatures and public attention, the central questions remain painfully simple: will prosecutors bring charges, will sports authorities enforce bans and safety protocols, and will Ghana’s institutions move faster to protect children in the places they are supposed to learn and flourish?
Update: The Ministry of Gender and Social Protections today issued a statement saying that they are looking into the case
