In a case that has ignited national outrage and sparked a viral social media campaign, Ghanaians are demanding swift accountability for the alleged sexual abuse and death of 16-year-old aspiring footballer Ransford Owusu Ansah.

The teenager, from Asamankese in the Eastern Region, died in March 2025 after reportedly suffering prolonged sodomy by his coach at the Siano Soccer Academy in Amasaman, Accra, which led to severe health complications including a kidney infection.

On November 7, 2025, the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection announced that the case docket has been transferred to the Homicide Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for deeper probe, signaling renewed momentum in the pursuit of justice.

The Heartbreaking Story of Ransford’s Ordeal

Ransford joined the Siano Soccer Academy three years prior, drawn by dreams of a professional football career. Described by family as a talented and ambitious young athlete, he trained rigorously under Coach Ibrahim Anyass, unaware of the abuse that would follow.

According to reports from his mother, Joyce Boateng, Ransford endured repeated sexual assaults starting shortly after enrollment. He became withdrawn, frequently ill, and physically weak—symptoms she initially attributed to the rigors of training.In early 2025, Ransford confided in his mother about the abuse. She reported it to the Amasaman Police and the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU), but investigations stalled, with no immediate arrest of the coach. Ransford collapsed in March and was rushed to a hospital in the Ashanti Region, where he succumbed after weeks of treatment. Preliminary medical findings linked his death to complications from the assaults, including internal injuries and infection. Devastated, Boateng publicly offered a GHC 5,000 bounty for information leading to Anyass’s arrest, pleading in a viral video: “Ghanaian leaders, I brought the coach to you for justice, but nothing has come out of it, and now my son is dead.” Anyass reportedly fled after the initial complaint and remains at large, though he was summoned to appear before the CID on November 7.

Public Outcry and the #JusticeForRansford Movement

The case resurfaced intensely on November 7, 2025, fueled by media exposés and social media amplification. The hashtag #JusticeForRansford trended across platforms, with users sharing Ransford’s photos in academy kits alongside calls for reform. Prominent voices, including journalists and activists, highlighted systemic failures in youth sports oversight.

• Online Petition: Launched on Change.org by Gifty Saah Osei, it has amassed over 1,400 signatures in hours, urging:

• Immediate arrest and prosecution of Coach Anyass.
• Lifetime ban from coaching and revocation of licenses.
• Suspension of Siano Soccer Academy operations pending inquiry.
• Enhanced child protection policies by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and Ministry of Youth and Sports.
• Psychosocial support for the family and potential other victims.
  • Social Media Echoes: Posts on X (formerly Twitter) feature emotional tributes, such as one user stating, “An innocent 16-year-old Ransford Owusu Ansah from Amasaman had dreams of becoming a great footballer. But those dreams were cut short after he was allegedly abused by his coach, Mr. Ibrahim Anyass. #JusticeForRansford.” Another shared images of the coach with young players, warning, “Allegedly this is the face of the Coach Ibrahim who [abused] Ransford to his death.”

The academy has suspended Anyass and pledged cooperation with authorities, but critics argue this comes too late after months of inaction.Official Response and Broader Implications.

The Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection expressed deep empathy for the family, stating: “Crime has no expiration and therefore remains committed to pursuing justice for the victim and his family.” Since February 2025, Minister Lariba Zuweira Abudu has pushed the GFA for stronger safeguards, including accountability in academies.

The transfer to the CID’s Homicide Unit marks a shift from initial DOVVSU handling, aiming for a thorough criminal probe into abuse and manslaughter charges.This tragedy underscores vulnerabilities in Ghana’s grassroots football ecosystem, where thousands of boys chase dreams amid limited oversight.

Activists call for mandatory background checks, whistleblower protections, and trauma counseling in sports programs. As the investigation unfolds, Ransford’s story has united Ghanaians in grief and resolve—reminding that no child’s aspiration should end in silence or suffering. The family awaits closure, but the nation’s demand is clear: justice, now.

Edward Akwasi Akuoko (Edward Akuoko), the former General Manager of Akonta Mining Company Limited, has publicly stated that Bernard Antwi Boasiako (popularly known as Chairman Wontumi), the owner of the company and Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), directed mining operations in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve without the necessary permits. Akuoko made these claims in media interviews on November 5, 2025, after the Attorney General withdrew all charges against him on November 3, 2025, in exchange for him becoming a state prosecution witness in the ongoing case against Wontumi and Akonta Mining. http://newsghana.com.gh

Key Details from Akuoko’s Statements

• He admitted that Akonta Mining “failed to complete necessary documentation” for operations in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve, and this will form part of his upcoming testimony.
• Akuoko explicitly alleged: “Chairman Wontumi directed us to move in and mine in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve without a mining permit.”
• He decided to testify out of “personal interest,” citing advice that Wontumi might receive a presidential pardon if convicted (due to political connections), while he (Akuoko) could be “abandoned” and jailed.
• He also claimed NPP leaders showed solidarity only toward Wontumi during their arrests, ignoring him.
• Akuoko insisted he would “speak the truth” and not lie against Wontumi, emphasizing his decision was about doing “what is right” rather than betrayal.

Background on the Case

Wontumi, Akonta Mining, and others (including two at large) face allegations of mining without a license, felling trees in a forest reserve without authorization, erecting structures illegally, and causing environmental damage to over 13 hectares of the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve (including polluting the Tano River) in 2022.

Court Updates: Two related cases are ongoing.

1.  (Samreboi concession) is adjourned to November 12, 2025.
2. The Tano Nimiri case to December 4, 2025.

Wontumi has pleaded not guilty and is on bail (GHS 15 million for one case, GHS 10 million for the other).

Historical Context:

• Akonta Mining’s license was revoked in April 2025 over illegal operations.
• Wontumi has denied wrongdoing, claiming the company halted operations years ago and accusing political targeting.
• His lawyer says Akuoko’s testimony won’t significantly impact the case.http://yen.com.gh

This development has sparked widespread discussion on socials and in Ghanaian media, with many viewing it as a major blow to Wontumi amid the country’s anti-galamsey (illegal mining) efforts.

Akuoko has not yet testified in court; his full evidence is expected in upcoming hearings. The case highlights ongoing tensions over political figures’ involvement in mining and environmental destruction in Ghana.