A 38-year-old Ghanaian pastor based in Barrie, Canada, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after being convicted of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl from his congregation.
Emmanuel Yeboah was convicted of sexual assault, sexual interference, and assault following a trial that centred on an incident which occurred three years ago. Justice Robert Gattrell delivered the sentence in a case that has sparked discussions within Ghanaian and immigrant communities in Canada about trust, accountability, and the conduct of religious leaders.
Court proceedings revealed that Yeboah was regarded as a trusted pastor and family friend by the victim’s relatives. He had offered to take the teenager to a piano lesson, an outing that prosecutors said turned into a breach of trust. Testimony indicated that inappropriate conduct occurred while the two were alone. The victim returned home distressed and later became frightened upon unexpectedly seeing Yeboah at her family home, leading her to seek refuge at a neighbour’s residence. This encounter resulted in an additional assault conviction.
During sentencing, the judge noted elements of grooming behaviour, including attempts to build trust through gifts and friendly gestures. Crown prosecutors had pushed for a four-year sentence, citing the serious breach of trust and emotional harm to the young victim. The defence, however, pleaded for a lighter one-year term, highlighting Yeboah’s clean criminal record, his role as the sole provider for his family, and support from some congregants.
Justice Gattrell imposed an 18-month custodial sentence after considering mitigating factors, including the potential impact on Yeboah’s wife and children, as well as possible immigration consequences. As a permanent resident, Yeboah could face deportation proceedings after serving his sentence under Canadian immigration rules for sentences exceeding six months.
Upon release, he will be subject to conditions prohibiting unsupervised contact with persons under 18. Yeboah, who maintained his innocence throughout the trial, worked as an Uber driver and in the gig economy to support his family.