Accra: The Adenta Circuit Court has handed a five-year prison sentence to a 25-year-old mason for abducting a four-year-old child from Kpedze in the Volta Region and taking him to Accra. David Kpandoyo, a Togolese national, admitted guilt to the charge of child stealing and was convicted based on his own plea.
According to Ghana News Agency, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Patience Mario, assisted by Chief Inspector Jacob Nyarko, informed the court that Kpandoyo took the child from Kpedze to Accra without the knowledge or consent of the child's parents. The court, led by Mrs Angela Attachie, convicted Kpandoyo on July 13, 2026, and deferred the sentencing to the following day.
The prosecution explained that Kpandoyo had traveled to Kpedze in June 2026 for masonry work and, after completing the task on July 1, started his journey back to Accra. He encountered the child in Kpedze Township, bought him sweets, and misled a commercial motorbike rider into believing the child was his son, thus taking him to his residence in New Legon, Accra, without informing the child's parents.
The child's disappearance prompted a search by relatives and community members, with announcements disseminated through social media, radio stations, and police stations. The child eventually left Kpandoyo's residence unnoticed after three days and wandered around New Legon.
A resident, Mr. Bismark Gbadogo, found the lost child, who could not identify his home or parents, and took him to the Adenta Housing Down Police Station Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU). Kpandoyo later appeared at the police station claiming the child was his son and sought his release.
Police requested proof of parentage from Kpandoyo, including the child's mother's presence, a birth certificate, and other documents. Subsequently, police received a missing-child flyer with details of individuals searching for the child. On July 6, 2026, the child's mother, Ms. Patience Ablordefey Afeafa, presented the birth certificate to the police, confirming her as the child's mother.
Kpandoyo was arrested following a police invitation. During investigations, he confessed he was not the child's biological father and had taken the child without parental consent. Though he offered no explanation to investigators, he claimed in court that he acted under the influence of alcohol. The prosecution noted that Kpandoyo failed to provide a lawful reason for his actions.