The Gender Ministry has declared to relentlessly pursue justice for 16-year-old footballer Ransford Owusu Ansah, who was sexually abused and subsequently died.
According to reports, the promising footballer at Siano Soccer Academy in Amasaman near Accra died on March 10, 2025.
His death has been linked to severe injuries alleged to be sexual abuse by coach Ibrahim Anyass.
Reports suggest the coach, Anyass, fled after the abuse was revealed and continues coaching children despite public demands for his arrest.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection read, “The Ministry of Gender. Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) has taken a keen interest in the reported case of alleged sexual abuse of a 16-year-old footballer, Ransford Owusu Ansah, by his coach, Ibrahim Anyass, at the Siano Soccer Academy in Amasaman, as reported by media outlets.
Upon learning of the incident, the Ashanti Regional Directorate of Gender immediately initiated follow-up investigations to ascertain the facts and engage relevant stakeholders, including the victim’s family”.
The Gender Ministry also shared findings so far in the case, “Preliminary reports indicate that the victim, Ransford Owusu Ansah, 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.
Per the records, the victim had been receiving medical care since December 2024 and was later admitted to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) for medical treatment, but unfortunately passed on. The management of Siano Soccer Academy has suspended the coach and pledged full cooperation with law enforcement agencies to ensure that justice is served.
We empathise deeply with the bereaved family. The Ministry emphasises that crime has no expiration and therefore remains committed to pursuing justice for the victim and their family”.
According to the Gender Ministry, they have engaged the Ghana Football Association (GFA) on the matter to ensure accountability and stronger child protection mechanisms within the football sector.
The statement added, “The Ministry, through its Orange Support Centre (OSC) of the Domestic Violence Secretariat, conducted investigations with the Amasaman DOVVSU and later referred the matter to the Greater Accra Regional DOVVSU.
The docket has subsequently been transferred to the Homicide Unit of the CID Headquarters by the Amasaman DOVVSU for further investigations”.
The Gender Ministry statement comes at a time when Ghanaians on social media are demanding Justice for a Sixteen-year-old identified as Ransford Owusu Ansah.
On November 5, 2025, actress Lydia Forson’s X post reignited outrage, leading to calls for systemic reforms in Ghana’s youth sports protection.
Lydia Forson, in her post, read, “I just learned about 16-year-old Ransford Owusu Ansah, a young Ghanaian footballer who, according to multiple reports, was sexually abused by his coach for years and later died after months in hospital from complications allegedly linked to that abuse.
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”.
See the statement below:
