Gender Ministry pledges justice for 16-year-old footballer allegedly abused by his coach

The Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection (MoGCSP) has launched investigations into the alleged sexual abuse of a 16-year-old footballer, Ransford Owusu Ansah, by his coach, Ibrahim Anyass, at the Siano Soccer Academy in Amasaman. The Ministry’s Ashanti Regional Directorate immediately stepped in to verify media reports and engage the victim’s family and stakeholders.

According to preliminary findings, Ransford had been under the coach’s care for about three years, during which he was allegedly abused without his mother’s knowledge. He had been receiving medical treatment since December 2024 and was later admitted to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), where he sadly passed away. The Siano Soccer Academy has since suspended the accused coach and pledged full cooperation with law enforcement agencies to ensure justice.

The Ministry expressed its condolences to the bereaved family, stressing that “crime has no expiration.” It also reaffirmed its commitment to protecting children in sports through partnerships with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU). The Ministry’s Orange Support Center continues to assist in the ongoing investigations.