Members of the Church of Pentecost Tarkwa branch, have involved in an accident at Gomoa Otsew on the Kasoa-Cape Coast Highway in the Central Region.
The incident has resulted in the death of one individual, while another person has sustained injuries.
Speaking to the media, the Apam District Fire Commander, ACFO Adolf Ankomah Nuamah, indicated that the injured individual is currently undergoing treatment at the Winneba Trauma and Specialist Hospital.
Reportedly, the accident involved a collision between a Man Diesel truck and vehicles carrying Church of Pentecost Tarkwa branch members.
The driver of the Man Diesel truck, who had returned from Ivory Coast, shared that upon reaching Gomoa Otsew, another vehicle engaged in an unlawful overtaking maneuver and abruptly merged in front of his truck.
In order to avoid a collision with the recklessly overtaking vehicle, the truck driver veered off the road and entered a nearby bush.
Tragically, the Toyota Coastal bus carrying over 22 Church members was unable to avoid the collision, impacting the rear of the truck.
“Around 5:30 pm, we received a distress call about an accident involving a Man Diesel truck from Ivory Coast, a Toyota Coastal bus carrying members of the Church of Pentecost, and a Nissan Navara bus from Accra.”
“According to the driver of the Man Diesel truck, another vehicle made an illegal overtake, forcing him to collide head-on with the Nissan Navara and the Toyota Coastal bus. One person from the bus was run over. There were twenty-two people on the Coastal bus, but one died and one was seriously injured. They were taken to the Winneba Trauma and Specialist Hospital for treatment.”
A developer associated with the Millenium City Construction Company in the Central region, Kofi Asthma, has revealed plans to demolish more than 5,000 houses in the vicinity due to encroachment activities.
Under the leadership of the Central East Police Command, a group of more than 100 police officers conducted a marking operation to pinpoint residences that have unlawfully encroached upon the properties of others.
Kofi Asthma indicated that the marking of the houses is the first stage of the process as a result, those who were affected are to visit their office for negotiation or face demolition of their apartments which is the second stage.
The developer at Millennium City called on the affected individuals to comply with the directive otherwise their houses would be demolished.
“If you have seen Police men going around in Millennium City, it is by the order of the court. People are trying to destroy our estate. Most of them are foreigners and because of small money, they are giving us trouble. Our clients are unable to develop their land when they buy from us.
“They keep saying I don’t have any land in Millennium City, but I am daring them to come forward with documents. We went to Ofaakor Circuit Court to take a court order to move the encroachers from our land. Those whose houses have been earmarked must know that this is the first phase of the exercise, the second phase will be the demolition stage. They must either come forward for renegotiation or face demolition,” Citinewsroom.com quoted Kofi Asthma as having said.
The developer of the construction company lamented the activities of land guards that have created an unconducive atmosphere in the area.
“The issue of the land guard is disturbing the peace of the people of Millennium City. They demand digging fees, threatening the lives of developers, and making life unbearable for developers,” Kofi Asthma said according to citinewsroom.com
More than 5,000 residences in the Millennium City district of the Central region face imminent demolition due to encroachment activities.
The area’s developer has commenced the initial phase of the demolition process, marking the affected housing units for future removal.
A team of over 100 police officers from the Central East Police Command is supervising the process of labeling the housing units for demolition. Each marked unit now bears inscriptions indicating impending removal.
21st-century Construction Limited, the developer, revealed that they obtained a court order from the Ofaakor District Court to address the encroachment activities within their property.
They expressed concern over how encroachment is adversely affecting their operations.
The developer further emphasized that those whose houses have been marked should be aware that this is the initial phase, with the demolition phase to follow.
They urged affected residents to engage in renegotiations or face demolition.
“If you have seen Police men going round in Millennium City, it is by the order of the court. People are trying to destroy our estate. Most of them are foreigners and because of small money, they are giving us trouble.
“Our clients are unable to develop their land when they buy from us. They keep saying I don’t have any land in Millennium City, but I am daring them to come forward with documents. We went to Ofaakor Circuit Court to take a court order to move the encroachers from our land.
“Those whose houses have been earmarked must know that this is the first phase of the exercise, the second phase will be the demolition stage. They must either come forward for renegotiation or face demolition,” Kofi Asthma the developer at Millennium said.
“The issue of landguard is disturbing the peace of the people of Millennium City. They demand digging fees, threatening the lives of developers, and making life unbearable for developers,” Kofi Asthma added.
The contestants of Miss Teen Tourism World 2023 embarked on an exhilarating journey as they explored the renowned Kakum National Park in the Central Region. Donning their bespoke pink t-shirts and paired jeans, along with their sashes, the teen beauty ambassadors ventured into the park and its iconic canopy walkway, their emotions a mix of both anticipation and excitement.
Kakum National Park stands as a testament to Ghana’s breathtaking beauty and diverse biodiversity. Spanning across lush landscapes, this natural gem provides a sanctuary for local wildlife and plant life alike.
The park’s highlight is undoubtedly its famed canopy walkway, a tribute to human ingenuity. Amidst the treetops, visitors can stroll and witness the vibrant forest life beneath them. Elevated to impressive heights, the walkway offers a unique perspective, granting glimpses of the world below. With each step, visitors harmonize with the natural surroundings.
As the team explored various parts of the Central Region, a visit to Kakum National Park was an essential addition to their itinerary.
Additionally, the contestants had the opportunity to visit The Ghana National College, an institution founded on July 20, 1948, by Ghana’s first president, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. The establishment of the college was funded by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah himself and emerged from the movement for Ghana’s liberation from colonial rule.
Miss Teen Tourism World 2023 is taking place in Ghana from August 1 to 20.
A small town in the Mfantseman Municipality of the Central Region, Saltpond, a 21-year-old fetish priest, who also worked as a taxi driver, has been lynched.
The young man, known as Okomfo Michael, allegedly engaged in a robbery on Monday evening, July 31, which ultimately led to his demise.
According to reports the suspect was caught in the act during the robbery and was subjected to a lynching by enraged individuals in the community.
His lifeless body was found with gruesome injuries, including the chopping off of his upper lip and multiple cuts on his head.
Residents of the area shared their knowledge of Okomfo Michael, stating that he had a notorious reputation as a thief and had been on the police wanted list for numerous thefts of mobile phones and farm produce in the community and beyond.
Shockingly, it was believed that he used the proceeds from his criminal activities to construct a large house in the community.
Following the incident, the deceased’s body was taken to the Saltpond Government Hospital morgue.
The authorities have been alerted, and the Saltpond Police are conducting an investigation into the matter.
In collaboration with Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDCEs), the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has initiated the evacuation of large dumping sites in the Central Region to address sanitation issues.
The waste management company responsible for the evacuation, Zoomlion Ghana Limited, stated that the nationwide exercise targets unauthorized dumping sites where refuse has been illegally disposed.
The company’s actions align with the current government’s clean Ghana agenda, aiming to resolve sanitation challenges across the country.
The evacuation included a 25-year-old refuse site at Essikafo Amba Nntem in Mankessim, resulting in a cleaner environment.
Zoomlion Ghana Ltd demonstrated preparedness, deploying trucks, excavators, and technical expertise to transport the rubbish to the final dumping site in Awoyaa municipality.
The Mfantseman Municipal Environmental Health Officer, Eric Pizzass Mensah, revealed that the illegality was mainly perpetrated by natives of the community who chose to create their dumping sites instead of using authorized ones.
He assured the public that the assembly had acquired a dumping site to manage and control waste in the municipality.
The residents expressed satisfaction as the major cause of discomfort in the community was addressed.
Police authorities are currently searching for a woman who allegedly caused knife injuries to her friend’s neighbor.
In the Awutu Senya District of the Central Region, a concerning incident unfolded involving a suspect identified as Philo, who allegedly inflicted knife wounds on her friend’s neighbor.
As reported by UTV, the altercation between Philo’s friend and the victim, Mariama, led to the unfortunate incident. Both women reside as neighbors in a compound house.
Per the report, the said ladies got into a fight two months earlier and in the process, Mariama cut the finger of her neighbour who is Philo’s friend.
The incident which was reported to the police was resolved but on Thursday, July 28, 2023, Mariama was attacked by Philo around 7 am while she was brushing her teeth on the compound.
According to Philo, her actions were vengeful.
“A lady called Mariama, she is 20 years. For about 2 months now, she got into a quarrel with her neighbour.
She used a knife from her kitchen that she was using to clear remnants of banku from a pot to cut the finger of her neighbour with whom she had a fight. It was reported to the Awutu Senya Police who resolved the issue amicably and told them to go home and live in peace.
“Just yesterday, about 7 am in the morning when Mariama was brushing her teeth before she realized, a lady called Philo, whose friend is the one who had an earlier fight with Mariama started inflicting knife wounds on her.
“She asked what she had done and Philo said she had told her earlier that she was avenging the incident where her friend was cut. After this, she left to her room,” UTV’s reporter said while narrating the events.
The report further noted that the victim; Mariama was rushed to the hospital by her father after he chanced on his daughter on the compound with blood and wounds. The incident was reported to the police who have launched a manhunt for Philo and her friend.
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has appealed to Christendom to organize prayer conferences across all 16 regions of the country.
Stressing the significance of prayer in human affairs and its impact on the nation’s growth, especially in the current times, Bagbin believes this initiative will rejuvenate the minds and hearts of Ghanaians, leading to a better country.
During the Moral Vision and National Development Conference 2023, hosted by the Church of the Pentecost at its Convention Center in Gomoa Fetteh, Central Region, Bagbin praised the Church for accepting and spearheading his proposal.
“Last year, I had a conversation with a number of men of God and I did propose that there was urgent need for us to have prayer conferences from region to region in all the 16 regions.
The two-day conference, starting on July 26, 2023, and ending on July 27, 2023, brought together various stakeholders, including Former Presidents John Agyekum Kufour and John Dramani Mahama, Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo, representatives from the National House of Chiefs, the Muslim community, and many others.
The infant was placed inside a black polythene bag and left near a private residence in the area.
The baby’s cries alerted the homeowner, who promptly intervened and made the startling find.
The Ofaakor District Police were immediately informed and took swift action.
They rescued the baby boy and rushed him to a nearby hospital for urgent medical attention.
Subsequently, he was transferred to the Village of Hope hospital in Gomoa Fetteh.
Doctors at the hospital praised the individuals involved in the rescue, stating that if they had waited any longer, the baby might not have survived.
As authorities delve into the matter, the Police have launched a thorough investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the baby’s abandonment.
Following the emergence of a distressing viral video showing a student violently attacking another in a dormitory, the Adisadel College student involved has been apprehended by the Police in Cape Coast.
The arrested student has been charged with causing harm and assault and is scheduled to appear in court on Friday.
Meanwhile, the victim, who was initially suspended, has been called back to the school and is currently receiving medical treatment and psychological support to aid his recovery from the traumatic incident.
The incident has sparked widespread concern, leading the school to take prompt action by suspending all students involved pending further investigations.
Adisadel College’s administration is unwavering in its commitment to maintaining a safe learning environment and addressing any form of violence or misconduct.
A man believed to be in his 30s is in the grips of police in the Central Region over the gruesome murder of his girlfriend.
According to reports, the incident occurred after the young lady, whose identity has not been disclosed, requested a breakup.
The details of the incident are still emerging as investigations continue, however, footage making rounds on social media indicates that the man has been arrested.
A man believed to be in his 30s has been arrested for allegedly killing his girlfriend in Dunkwa On-Offin in the Upper Denkyira East municipality of the central region.
This incident contributes to the growing number of cases involving men who have killed their girlfriends recently.
In April this year, there were reports of a police man killing his girlfriend.
26-year-old Victoria Dapaah also known as Maa Adwoa was allegedly shot by her boyfriend, Inspector Ahmed Twumasi on April 20, 2023, at Adum, a few meters away from her house.
The suspect during his first court appearance, confessed to committing the act but insisted that it was not intentional. But on his second appearance in court, Inspector Ahmed Twumasi has been formally charged with murder as the prosecution has received advice from the office of the Attorney General.
Additionally, an 18-year-old student of the New Nsutam Senior High Technical School in the Abuakwa-North District of the Eastern Region was also reported dead after visiting her boyfriend.
She was allegedly stabbed to death by her boyfriend. Abigail Asare, a form two student of the school and resident of Accra on the morning of Friday, June 2, 2023, around 9am, visited her boyfriend, Emeka, said to be a Togolese soon after leaving school for the mid-term holidays which began on Friday.
Not long after, Emeka is said to have left the shop without his girlfriend.
Minutes later, a customer who came to the shop for a haircut, saw the lifeless body of the victim on the floor soaked in blood from knife wounds. It was unclear what may have triggered the circumstances leading to the murder.
To mark the ‘International Day of the African Child,’ UBA Ghana celebrated with a book donation to Ngleshie Amanfro Senior High School and Odupong Senior High School in Kasoa, both located in the Central Region.
The donated books included ‘The Girl Who Can’ by the late Ama Atta Aidoo, a renowned Ghanaian author known for her captivating literary works, and ‘Segu’ by Maryse Conde from Guadeloupe.
Linda Segbefia, Corporate Communications Officer at UBA Ghana, led a team of staff to present the books on behalf of the UBA Foundation in a brief ceremony. She emphasized the significance of instilling a culture of reading and love for books among students, recognizing the importance of stimulating their minds and creativity through access to quality literature.
The UBA Foundation’s Read Africa initiative aims to revitalize the declining reading culture among African youth. The International Day of the African Child provided an opportune moment for UBA Ghana to share these African literary works with students and enrich their school libraries.
Mr. Clement Appiatu, the School Head of Ngleshie Amanfro SHS, expressed gratitude to UBA Ghana for their thoughtful gesture and praised the Read Africa initiative. Similarly, Bernard Korwonu, Assistant Headmaster in charge of Academics, and Ebenezer Prah, Assistant Headmaster in charge of Administration at Odupong Senior High, also conveyed their appreciation to the bank and assured that the donated books would be put to good use.
The students were visibly thrilled to receive the books and extended their gratitude to the bank for the commendable initiative. They enthusiastically pledged to read the books to enhance their knowledge and reading skills.
During the event, the UBA team interacted with the students, offering advice on the importance of developing a habit of reading.
UBA Ghana’s continuous efforts to promote literacy among students reflect their unwavering commitment to education and empowering young minds with access to enriching literature.
1,341 recruits from Intake-29 of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) have successfully passed out at the GIS Training School in Assin Fosu, Central Region.
After completing a six-month mandatory training, they are now formally recruited and integrated into the Service.
Deputy Minister for The Interior, Naana Eyiah, praised the GIS for its contributions to national security during the passing-out parade held in Assin Fosu.
She emphasized the government’s commitment to strengthening the nation’s borders, and the significant number of recruits attested to that dedication.
“The increasing security threat that we face in Africa and the West African sub-region calls for recruiting additional personnel to man the country’s borders,” she said.
Naana Eyiah, the Deputy Minister for The Interior, emphasized that the government is committed to ensuring the GIS has sufficient personnel to fulfill its mandate.
She highlighted that the GIS is tasked with managing the entry, residence, work, and ethics of individuals in the country, as well as ensuring the security of the nation’s borders.
Naana Eyiah also pointed out that Ghana faces security threats, including cyber security threats, terrorism, and cross-border crimes, within the West African sub-region.
“The urgent need of the time requires that rapid measures are taken to enhance the territorial integrity of the country,” she indicated.
A violent confrontation between tipper drivers and an assembly taskforce in Gomoa Ojobi, Central Region, resulted in two individuals sustaining injuries. The clash was sparked by disagreements over the payment of a quarry development fund.
The quarry development fund was introduced in 2021 with the objective of using the money to develop communities where these quarries operate. Tipper drivers were mandated to pay between GH¢80 and GH¢100 per trip to the task force for onward payment to the assembly coffers.
However, the Protoa tipper truck drivers from Kasoa rejected the move and failed to pay the said amount to the assembly during their collection yesterday. The taskforce came this morning to collect the monies, resulting in a bloody clash that left two people injured.
According to Benjamin Ankomah, leader of the Protoa Tipper Drivers Association, the drivers were not aware of the new amounts.
“The taskforce came in this morning and engaged our members in a fight over payments of the quarry development fund. They forced our members to pay an amount of GH¢8 to GH¢100 per trip. But the agreement we had with them was to pay GH¢15. Our members have been brutalised by the taskforce. We have taken some to the Awutu Bereku health centre,” Ankomah said.
District Chief Executive for Gomoa East Solomon Darko Quarm told Citi News that the levy has been sanctioned by the assembly but denied the allegations that the taskforce from the assembly physically assaulted the drivers.
“It is not true that our revenue task force assaulted the Tipper Drivers. It was the drivers who attacked our men instead. What money the task force is collecting has been sanctioned by the Assembly. A driver of the task force was severely injured and has been rushed to the hospital. The collectors are operating within the mandate given to them,” the DCE said.
The family of the woman accused of transforming from a bird to a human being in Gomoa Mampong, Central Region, has contradicted media reports claiming that she is a witch capable of shifting between human and animal forms.
In an interview on UTV conducted on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, the sister of the accused witch disclosed that her sister is suffering from a mental illness and had been unaccounted for three days.
She added that the accused witch is now 39 years old and has been mentally ill since childbirth.
“My sister stays with me. After she went missing someone called me from Senya that she was found there. I went there on Friday but I could not find her. I went back on Saturday, but I could not find her. On Sunday too, I tried but could not find her.
“It was yesterday that one of my sons told me, my sister was on TV and that she was with a woman who captures witches,” she said in Twi.
She said that she managed to find the palace in Gomoa Mampong where her sister was accosted and accused of being a witch.
The report indicated that the sister of the victim spoke to the chief and elders as well as the people who accosted her and explained matters to them.
They took her to the police station where her sister had been detained by the police. The police released her after interrogating them.
She stated that her sister told her that she was brought to Gomoa in a vehicle by a person she did not know.
An unidentified woman, who asserts that she was the first to witness a bird transforming into a woman at Gomoa Mampong in the Central Region, has shared her account of the incident and how she and other prayer warriors confronted the intruder.
During an interview with Metro TV on July 17, the woman disclosed that she belonged to a prayer group dedicated to interceding for individuals under spiritual assault. On the particular day in question, while engrossed in prayer, she received a divine prompt from an angel regarding an unusual event.
“As we were praying, I saw something black and an angel prompted me to look at it, I looked up and approached it with some of my prayer colleagues. I posed questions but got no response, apparently her mouth had been sealed.
“I tried severally but got no response so I poured water on her and she started talking. She confessed that she was sent by the big idol in Winneba and I asked her mission.
“She said she had been contracted to the tune of 50 cedis to come and claim the life of the victim who lived in the house; and I told her that today the end has come and I will not release her till daybreak and the masses come and see her,” she stressed.
She asserted that there were two birds perched on the house, but the second bird took off on its own.
According to reports, Nana Antwi, a sub-chief of the region, asked the community members not to touch the girl while he summoned the police to the scene to handle the matter.
Since then, the case of the allegedly 30-year-old bird-turned-woman has been forwarded to the Gomoa Okyereko branch of the Ghana Police Service.
Over the weekend, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) Foundation presented six fully furnished facilities to schools and a community in the Central Region.
Among the structures donated were a 31-seater sanitary facility for girls at the Ghana National College in Cape Coast and a 12-unit sanitary facility equipped with a borehole and facilities for people with disabilities in Abor, Ekumfi District.
The GNPC Foundation has also delivered additional infrastructure to various schools in the Central Region. This includes a 160-bed capacity girls’ dormitory with a 12-seater sanitary unit for Mando Senior High School and Technical School, as well as a five-chamber Science Laboratory with an ICT centre that can accommodate over 500 students for Bisease SHS in the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam (AEE) District.
Furthermore, since 2018, the Foundation has successfully constructed six-unit classroom blocks in 14 other schools, namely Mosano SHS, Effutu SHS, Assin North SHS, Komenda SHS, Dunkwa SHS, and Abakrampa SHS, among others.
Other schools that have benefited from the GNPC Foundation’s infrastructure projects include Mankesim SHS, Swedru SHS, Gomoa German SHS, Assin Jakai Junior High School (JHS), Ankafo JHS, St. Peter’s Catholic JHS, Assin Nyankmasi JHS, and Kuntenase Presby JHS.
These structures were constructed in response to requests made to the GNPC Foundation, which is the corporate social responsibility arm of the Corporation dedicated to enhancing the well-being of all people in the country.
Concluding the commissioning tour at a ceremony in Mando, Dr. Dominic Eduah, the Executive Director of the GNPC Foundation, emphasized that the Foundation operates based on three main areas of focus: environment and social amenities, education and training, and economic empowerment.
By focusing on these areas, the GNPC Foundation aims to make a positive impact on the quality of life for Ghanaians. They believe that providing quality education and promoting environmental cleanliness are crucial in ensuring that every Ghanaian, regardless of their location, can benefit from the country’s oil resources.
Dr. Dominic Eduah emphasized the significance of education as a catalyst for national development. The Foundation is investing in the education sector to make it accessible to every Ghanaian child. In line with this, they have provided 7,300 scholarships to Ghanaian students, including 320 studying specialized courses in fields like medicine, which are not commonly pursued by Ghanaian universities. These students are committed to returning to their communities to contribute their skills and knowledge.
Furthermore, the Foundation has undertaken an environmental cleanliness initiative, constructing 800 water systems across the country, with a majority (70%) located in the northern part of Ghana.
In addition to the aforementioned initiatives, the region has also received the completion of six water system projects in Ajumako Adu-Yaw, Assasan in the AEE district, Mangoase, Suro Dofo in the Gomoa East District, and Kafodzidzi in the Cape Coast Metropolis. These water systems will contribute to improving access to clean water in these communities.
Looking ahead, Dr. Eduah announced the GNPC Foundation’s Skilled Artisan Project (SAP) as part of their livelihood empowerment program.
The SAP aims to graduate approximately 2,000 artisans who have undergone training at the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) and acquired certification and craftsmanship.
These artisans have received apprenticeship training in various vocational skills such as plumbing, fashion design, carpentry, auto-mechanics, general electrical work, hairdressing, interior designing and decoration, and aluminum fabrication. Upon graduation in August, the beneficiaries will be supported to establish their own businesses.
Dr. Eduah expressed the GNPC’s unwavering commitment to supporting communities and institutions in need of infrastructure.
He urged facility managers and authorities to ensure that the newly constructed structures are put to good use and encouraged parents to enroll their children in the schools.
Rev. Ransford Nyarko, the Chief Executive for AEE, expressed gratitude to the GNPC for their generous contribution, highlighting that it will greatly enhance education in the area.
Four Members of Parliament representing both Caucuses have made a courtesy visit to the chiefs of Gomoa Ajumako, Gomoa Akyempim, and Effutu in the Central Region.
This move is part of broader efforts to find a resolution to the ongoing conflicts surrounding land ownership and boundaries in the region.
Mr Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Member of Parliament (MP) for Effutu, led Mr Desmond D. Paitoo, a National Democratic Congress (NDC), MP for Gomoa East; Mr Richard Gyan-Mensah, an NDC MP for Gomoah West and Naana Eyiah, an NPP MP for Gomoa Central and Deputy Minister for the Interior, to engage with the traditional leaders.
The rest of the delegation were Alhaji Kassim Zubairu, the Municipal Chief Executive for Effutu; Mr Solomon Quarm, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Gomoa East; Mr Bismark Baisie Nkum, the DCE for Gomoah West and Mr Benjamian Kojo Otto, the DCE for Gomoa Central.
A statement signed by Mr Afenyo-Markin, who is also the Deputy Majority Leader of Parliament and issued to the Ghana News Agency said the delegation’s commitment to an impartial strategy for resolving the land disputes and ensuring peace in the areas were paramount.
It said for the Region’s development, there would be the creation of a Development Authority for each of the areas visited as a strategic instrument to propel the developmental agenda of the enclave.
It also emphasised the creation of a bi-partisan joint committee to address the land concerns of the chiefs.
According to the Statement, Obrempong Nyanful Krampah XI, the Paramount Chief of Gomoa Ajumako, expressed his profound gratitude to the team for the visit.
“Gomoa Ajumako and Effutu do not currently have any open land disputes,” it said.
The statement said, the Paramount Chief, therefore, underlined the critical value of peaceful co-existence and applauded the group’s dedication to arriving at a solution that was advantageous to all sides.
On his part, Obirfo Ahunako Ahor Ankobea II, the Paramount Chief of Gomoa Akyempim, announced his consent for the plans made by the team that would enable them to achieve enduring peace and development.
“He sincerely reiterated his commitment to a peaceful resolution of the disagreements and openly admitted the frustrations that had motivated his earlier public utterances regarding the land issues, prompting the team’s visits,” it said.
The Statement quoted Nenyi Ghartey VII, the Paramount Chief of Effutu, as expressing gratitude for the team’s timely effort and reaffirming the Effutu Traditional Council’s support for their innovative ideas.
It added that Nenyi Ghartey VII lauded the delegation for their determined efforts that were leading to resolving tensions in the area.
He, therefore, called for continuous development in the area.
The Gomoa Assin Traditional Council, which has jurisdiction over all the Gomoa towns, in a news report allegedly expressed dissatisfaction with the alleged encroachment activities of the Effutu people on their lands.
Obirfo Ahunakor Ahor Ankobea, Omanhene of the Gomoa Akyempim Traditional Council is alleged to have said the trend if not stopped, could lead to a confrontation between the two traditional authorities.
The two ethnic groups had a history of land disputes, and in recent weeks, traditional leaders from both sides had traded affronts.
The dispute was reignited by an alleged recent claim by some traditional leaders from Atekyedo, which is part of the Effutu traditional area, that the lands of Okyereko fall within the Effutu enclave.
At a Press Conference in Parliament on Monday, Mr Afenyo-Markin told the Parliamentary Press Corps that a bi-partisan Committee dedicated to thoroughly investigating the land dispute between the Chiefs and people of Gomoa was set to be established.
He explained that the issues transcended partisan affiliations and required a united approach from all political parties.
“… The committee will thoroughly investigate the underlying administrative and traditional boundary issues to resolve the dispute between the chiefs and people of the two areas.
“As political leaders, we hold the responsibility of preserving the cultural heritage and security of our communities to attract investment to the enclave,” Mr Afenyo-Markin said.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare is conducting visits to police stations in Accra today, Thursday, July 6.
This initiative aims to evaluate the quality of service provided to the public when they seek assistance at police stations.
Accompanying the IGP are members of the Police Management Board. Additionally, he will visit ailing officers during his visits to different stations.
The Police administration has been evaluating the overall security situation in various parts of the country.
As an example, last week, the Central North Regional Commander, DCOP Mr. Emmanuel Teye-Cudjoe, ASP Stella Adjei-Kodom, and ASP Margaret Avornyo conducted a security tour at the Assin Bereku Presby Basic School in the Central Region of Ghana to assess the prevailing security conditions in the area.
Defeated candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Assin North by-election, Charles Opoku, has recently come under scrutiny for his alleged attempts to buy votes during the election.
Per reports, Mr Opoku allegedly distributed money and various items including; different types of fabrics, cement, roofing sheets, and farm tools to constituents in a bid to secure their support.
Despite his efforts, James Gyakye Quayson of the National Democratic Candidate (NDC) emerged victorious, securing 57.56% of the total votes cast, with a significant total of 17,245 votes.
The by-election in the Assin North constituency of the Central Region took place on June 27, 2023, following a high court ruling that nullified the 2020 parliamentary election in the area.
The court ruled that Mr. Quayson’s possession of both Canadian and Ghanaian citizenship rendered him ineligible to contest the seat.
Despite the nullification, Mr. Quayson continued to hold himself as the MP for Assin North, leading the petitioner, Michael Ankomah Nimfah, to take the case to the Supreme Court for an interpretation of Article 94 (2) (a).
On May 17, 2023, the Supreme Court emphasized that allowing Mr. Quayson to remain in office would undermine the administration of justice. As a result, the court directed Parliament to expunge his name from its records as the Assin North MP.
Ghanaian actor, Clement Bonney, popularly known as Mr. Beautiful, has revealed that he has resorted to selling sugarcane and coconut as a means to cope with the current hardships in the country.
According to him, the decline of the movie industry has significantly impacted his livelihood.
He stated “The collapse of the movie industry has brought extreme hardships on some of us who are actively engaged in such a venture.
“In other to survive the hardships in Ghana due to the collapse of the movie industry, I now sell sugarcane and coconut,” he stated.
“Exactly as you are saying the coconut that I sell is the one that is grown in my hometown in Central Region which is Abura Dunkwa”.
Mr. Beautiful, hails from Abura Dunkwa, a town located in the Abura Asebu Kwamankese (AAK) District of the Central Region.
The police have apprehended the Safohen of Amosima, located in the Abura Asebu Kwamankese District of the Central Region, following an incident where he shot his 40-year-old niece during the coronation of Ebusuapanin in Amosima.
As per customary practice during such ceremonies, the chief fired a gun, but unfortunately, he accidentally shot his niece, who was present at the event on Saturday, July 1, 2023, in the afternoon.
According to reports from Kasapa News Yaw Boagyan, the victim, known as Maame, sustained a deep gunshot wound to her leg. The shocking incident led to the suspension of the ceremony, leaving attendees frightened and startled.
The injured woman, who is a mother of two, was swiftly taken to the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital for medical treatment. Meanwhile, the chief was arrested by the police.
In his statement to the authorities, the chief expressed his shock at mistakenly shooting his own niece. He explained that he had pointed the gun upwards when firing and emphasized that the act was purely accidental, not intentional.
The suspect is presently in police custody, assisting with the ongoing investigation.
A six-year-old KG2 pupil, has allegedly been defiled by a well-known fetish priest, John Afedzi in the Twifo Hemang Lower Denkyira District of the Central Region.
The mother of the victim, Madam Sarah Antwi, noticed changes in her daughter’s walking and crying during urination, prompting her to inquire about the issue. Shockingly, she discovered that her child had been defiled.
Madam Sarah Antwi promptly reported the incident to the Twifo Ampekro Shed unit committee, and subsequent investigations by the committee pointed towards the alleged involvement of John Afedzi.
The victim’s parents took her to the Twifo Praso District Hospital, where it was confirmed that the child had experienced forceful friction in her genitals. The child is currently suffering from severe pain while urinating and has difficulty walking.
The Hemang Police in the Twifo Hemang Lower Denkyira District are currently investigating the matter.
Fifteen observers have been deployed by the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) for the by-election in the Assin North constituency of the Central Region slated for Tuesday June 27.
The deployment, according toCODEO, is in part fulfilment of its mandate to mobilise citizens of Ghana to actively participate in the electoral process and to complement the efforts of the Electoral Commission in ensuring transparent, free, fair and peaceful elections
A statement issued Friday by the coalition said 13 of the observers will be deployed to 13 polling stations within 12 purposefully selected electoral areas, while the two others will be roaming observers on election day, with one of them observing proceedings at the collation centre.
“They will observe the polling station set-up, voting and counting procedures, and also file reports on any incidents they observe throughout the day,” the statement said.
Three candidates are contesting the seat, declared vacant by the Electoral Commission aft the Supreme Court annulled the election of Mr.James Gyakye Quayson of the National Democratic Congress in the 2020 elections.
The candidates for Tuesday’s by-election are; Charles Opoku of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernice Enyonam Sefenu of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), and James Gyakye Quayson of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Thirteen individuals inGomoa Dominase, Central Region, are currently undergoing treatment for suspected rabies following bites from a stray dog.
Residents say the stray dog began biting its victims on Monday, June 19, 2023.
As of Tuesday, June 20, thirteen people have been bitten by the dog.
Some victims who spoke to the media said the dog is not familiar to the community and expressed shock at the way it has been biting residents of Dominase.
“I was heading to my uncle’s shop when the dog bit me from behind. I sustained minor injuries and it’s painful. I hear the dog has bitten over thirteen people in the Gomoa Dominase community. When it bit me, I was rushed to the clinic and given some injection by the doctors,” Paulina Annor a victim told the media.
According to the Assemblyman for the area, the dog is being hunted by local residents.
All thirteen victims who were attacked have been treated and discharged from the Potsin Polyclinic.
The Gomoa East Health Directorate said that if the dog is found, samples will be taken to the lab to prevent an outbreak.
“Within the community, we have identified more cases, over thirteen dog bites within this community. Cases that have been reported within Gomoa Potsin, Gomoa Buduatta and Gomoa Dominase have been given the needed anti-rabies vaccines and discharged. But residents and traditional authorities have begun a search for the particular dog that has been doing this and ensure that samples will be taken for sampling. The DCE and Police have been informed accordingly,” Felix Agyamang Adipare the District Health Director said.
President Akufo-Addo has stated that the late Prof. Ama Ata Aidoo was an outstanding writer, an advocate for African women as well as the world at large.
The President said he and Prof. Aidoo were contemporaries at the University of Ghana and “she brought a lot of glory to our country, by her works, her personality and by the cause she stood for”.
President Akufo-Addo was speaking when the family of the late Prof. Aidoo paid a courtesy call on him at the Jubilee House in Accra yesterday to officially announce the death of the professor and burial arrangements.
The delegation was led by the Head of the Ogyadze Asona Family of Abora Nkwanta, Ebusuapanyin Kwamena Essandoh Aidoo.
Other members of the delegations were the deceased’s daughter, Kinna Likimani; Emmanuel Eduful Esaah, Dr Agnes Akosua Aidoo, Ambassador Ekua Prah, Kwesi Baffoe Intsiful, Josephine Gyimah, Lucy Aikins, Abena Duma Aidoo and Ojo Arko Erskine. Burial
Professor Aidoo will lie in state on July 13, 2023, and be buried in her hometown, Abiadze Kyarkor in the Mfantsemen Municipality in the Central Region the following day.
She would be given a state-assisted burial.
Thanksgiving Service would be held on Sunday, July 16, 2023, at the Good Shepherd Methodist Church, Abiadze Kyarkor.
Prof. Aiddo who passed on May 31, 2023, was a Ghanaian author, poet, playwright, politician and academic.
She was the Secretary of Education from 1982 to 1983 under President Jerry John Rawlings’s PNDC administration.
Some of the books she authored are Anowa, The Dilemma of a Ghost, The Girl who Can, Our Sister Killjoy, No Sweetness Here and Changes: A Love Story.
Great loss
President Akufo-Addo said the death of Prof. Aiddo was a great loss to the nation and that the two of them had maintained a good relationship since their student days.
He further described her as one of the most distinguished citizens of this generation and expressed appreciation to the family for formally informing him of her demise and pledged to attend the funeral.
“It is my decision that the late Prof. should be given a state-assisted burial because she deserves it.
It will also offer the opportunity for the people to pay their due respect, express their appreciation and gratitude for a life that was strongly dedicated to the country,” the President added.
He said the Office of the Chief of Staff would collaborate with the family to plan towards a fitting burial for the late Prof. Aidoo. Deceased’s wish
Ebusuapanyin Kwamena Essandoh Aidoo disclosed that while alive, Prof. Aidoo requested that the family should not preserve her remains for more than six weeks, a wish the family said would be fulfilled.
This year’sFood Safety Month has been launched with a plea for people to adhere to food safety guidelines like often washing their hands, separating raw food from uncooked food, and thoroughly boiling their meals.
Other measures include keeping food at safe temperatures and the use of safe water and raw materials for cooking.
The Registrar of the Veterinary Council of Ghana, Dr Kingsley Mickey Aryee, who launched the programme on behalf of the intersectoral Food Safety Coordinating Committee, made the call at the event in Accra yesterday.
He said the month-long celebration on the theme: “Food standards save lives”, was important because standards were required in determining the safety of food to save lives.
Dr Aryee explained that food safety hazards seeped through and stretched across grass-roots, regional, national and international levels, while food safety involved protection of food from microbial, chemical and physical hazards that might occur during various stages of food production to consumption.
He, therefore, stressed the need for the strict consideration of standards to, among others, minimise food borne illnesses, anti-microbial resistance, food insecurity and poverty.
About event
The event, which is observed in the month of June with activities, would be commemorated on June 7, 2023.
In line with that, the intersectoral food safety coordinating committee, which comprises representatives of various government agencies and other stakeholders in the food value chain, has earmarked some activities to celebrate the month.
The activities include a quiz for second cycle schools in the Central Region, sensitisation programmes on food safety for schools, a webinar, food hygiene competition, trade fair and stakeholder engagements.
The national food safety laboratory of the Veterinary Services and the Food and Drugs Authority are the leading agencies organising the celebration with support from development partners and other stakeholders of food safety.
Importance of food
Dr Aryee said food was essential for the sustenance and continuity of life, be it humans, animals, plants or microorganisms, for which reason every living organism needed food to survive.
He, therefore, said that food safety must be the concern of all since unhealthy foods could be a global public health threat.
Quoting from the World Health Organisation to buttress his point, Dr Aryee said: “Food borne diseases caused 420, 000 deaths globally and 137, 000 deaths in Africa with children accounting for one-third of deaths.”
He, therefore, appealed to the media to continuously sensitise the public to food safety because “it is everyone’s business”.
Dr Aryee expressed appreciation to all partners for their support for the launch and preparations towards the commemoration of the day.
TheNational Road Safety Authority(NRSA) has revealed that tiredness on the part of the Yutong driver caused the gory accident that claimed about 16 lives at Gomoa Okyereko in the Central Region.
The accident involved a fully packed Yutong bus heading towards Accra and a fuel tanker believed to be owned by Goodness Energy.
According to information gathered by Starr News, the driver of the Yutong bus was sleeping along the journey and upon reaching Gomoa Okyereko he veered from his lane into the opposite lane resulting in the collision with the Fuel tanker.
The body of all Sixteen deceased persons have been deposited at the Winneba Specialist and Trauma Hospital Mortuary while the injured are receiving treatment at the same facility.
Commenting on the crash in an interview with Starr News, the Central Regional Head of the National Road Safety Authority, Winneba urged government to dualize the major roads in the country to address road carnage.
“One thing we are advocating for is the dualization of the road. We tend to have lots of head-on -collisions, so that will be an engineering issue there(Gomoa Okyereko). For head-on-collisions we need to dualize the roads so that we’ll be able to minimize collisions at where we’re having the head-on-collisions.”
The National Road Safety Authority and the Ghana Police Service have identified Gomoa Okyereko as one of the most accident prone areas on the Accra to Cape Coast Highwayand have advised drivers to be extra careful on that stretch of the road.
Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin has told Chief Justice Nominee Gertrude Torkornoo that her outstanding legal career throughout the years is an encouragement to women.
During the vetting by the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Friday, May 26, Mr Afenyo-Markin who is also a lawmaker for Effutu said “You are an inspiration to women.”
When asked what she had to say to women or young girls who are in self-doubt about their prospects in life? she answered: “I will ask them to be confident in themselves, to work on the areas that derate the self-doubts, to choose not to look down on themselves, every girl is entitled to sit with her brother.”
President Akufo-Addo nominated her in April.
According to the President, her nomination was to avoid any vacuum that would occur following the retirement of the Chief Justice, Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, who retired on Wednesday, May 24.
Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, who hails from Winneba in the Central Region, if approved, will become the third female Chief Justice in the history of Ghana, after Justices Georgina Theodora Wood and Sophia Akuffo.
President Akufo-Addo had earlier urged the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, to quickly facilitate the approval of Justice Gertrude Torkornoo for the position of Chief Justice.
The nomination for Chief Justice, Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo, will be vetted by Parliament’s Appointments Committee today, May 26.
She was nominated by President Akufo-Addo in April 2023.
According to the President, her nomination was to avoid any vacuum that would occur following the retirement of the current Chief Justice, Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, on May 24.
Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, who hails from Winneba in the Central Region, if approved, will become the third female Chief Justice in the history of Ghana, after Justices Georgina Theodora Wood and Sophia Akuffo.
Fast-track Torkornoo’s approval as CJ – Akufo-Addo to Bagbin
President Akufo-Addo had earlier urged the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, to quickly facilitate the approval of Justice Gertrude Torkornoo for the position of Chief Justice.
In a letter to the Speaker, the President reiterated that this is to avoid a vacuum in the office of the Chief Justice following the retirement of Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah as the outgoing head of the judiciary.
“It is my respectful hope that the approval by Parliament of Justice Torkornoo can proceed expeditiously to enable her assume office as soon as practicable following the retirement of Chief Justice Anin-Yeboah,” parts of the letter read.
Fifteen tenants in Winneba in the Efutu Municipality of theCentral Regionhave narrowly escaped death after a three-storey building collapsed.
According to reports no casualty have been recorded since all 15 tenants of the building survived the incident and have been accounted for.
The Winneba Municipal Fire Service Commander DO2 Kwesi Hugues revealed that, they had a distress call from some residents that a three-storey building have collapsed on some tenants.
In an interview with Adom News, DO2 Hugues indicates that, when they proceeded to the scene, all the tenants were able to escape but none of them were able to pick up their properties.
He revealed that preliminary investigations show that, the building was built in a waterlog while the owner failed to use quality materials.
DO2 Hugues subsequently urged all Ghanaians to stop buying land during the dry season to know the nature of the land.
He also called on Ghanaians to do visibility studies before renting a house.
An eight-year-old baby boy has given up the ghost after drinking a contaminated palm wine.
The incident occurred at Awutu Bantama in the Awutu Senya West District of the Central Region.
The boy known as Agya Kwao died after drinking the substance from the farm of a palm wine tapper who allegedly poisoned the substance after he suspected that some persons have been stealing from him.
Auntie of the deceased, Mercy Acquah says she saw the boy screaming for help and was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead a few hours later.
“I was home when I had a call to come and see my nephew. I got there, and I saw him drunk and unconscious. We rushed him to the hospital, and it was detected that he had taken poison. We tried forcing him to vomit the poison, but it didn’t work. He died a few hours later. The police came for the sample and detected it was poisonous.”
Aspirant flagbearer of the oppositionNational Democratic Congress(NDC), Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, has stated that the large reduction in Ghana’s cocoa production is concerning, given that the commodity represents the foundation of the economy.
Ghana achieved a historic feat of more than 1.14 million tons of cocoa production, about 45% increase in the 2020/2021 crop season.
However, dropped significantly in the 2021/2022 crop season though COCOBOD was yet to provide official figures.
The International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) recent report said cocoa production during 2021/2022 dropped in the two world leading cocoa countries – Cote D’Ivoire (-6%) and Ghana (-34%) owing to multiple factors including devastating effect of swollen shoot disease and climate change.
Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has forecasting about 750,000 tons of cocoa production in the 2022/2023 crop season higher than the 2021/2022 production.
According to Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, his sources indicate Ghana may not meet this target for the season.
He said current happenings in the cocoa sector will ultimately affect the economy and cocoa farmers.
“Our leaders have failed us. What I am hearing is that Ghana may not be able to get 500,000 metric tons of cocoa this year. In 2010/2011, we had one million metric tons. We decided to sustain the gains and increase it so we become number one producer of cocoa in the world. We came up with a policy to distribute 20 million free cocoa seedlings to farmers annually. It was captured in the 2011 budget and we started implementing it. So hearing that we may not get 500,000 metric tons saddens me. It means cocoa farmers are going to suffer”.
Dr. Duffuor stated that “NDC is going to win the election at all cost and when we assume power, we will resume the distribution of 20 million free cocoa seedlings annually so we beat Ivory Coast to occupy the top spot as world largest producer of cocoa. We can’t let the cocoa industry collapse. It is the backbone of the economy”.
Dr. Kwabena Duffuor said this when addressing delegates of the NDC in Akim Manso in Asene Manso Akroso constituency in the Eastern region as part of his 4-day campaign tour.
At Upper West Akyem Constituency, Dr. Duffuor assured Cocoa farmers in the area that the next NDC government will help bring to life an abandoned 48-million-dollar Jute Factory at Adeiso.
The factory established by an Indian group call Ganges in partnership with government in 2008 sits on a 12-acre size land at the Upper West Akyem District.
When completed would be the largest jute factory in Africa with a monthly capacity of 600,000 sacks. This would have reduced Ghana’s $215million annual spending on importation of jute sacks to about $70 million.
Again, the factory was expected to provide job opportunities for 2,000 people.
Successive governments after President Kuffuor made efforts to ensure the project is completed for operationalization of the factory, however, the Akufo-Addo led government has failed to pay attention to the final stage of completion leaving the fledging factory to rot in the bush.
Chiefs, cocoa farmers and youth in the area continue to demand state attention to the factory but to no avail.
Presidential candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kennedy Agyapong, has criticized Kwabena Agyapong for accusing him of fabricating an information regarding a contribution he (Ken) made to the party.
Kwabena Agyapong, a former deputy general secretary of the NPP, is reported to have said in an interview with Kumasi-based Angel FM that Ken Agyapong lied when he stated that he repaid a $3 million loan contracted by the party in 1991.
According to Kwabena Agyapong, Ken Agyapong’s claim cannot be true because the NPP did not exist in 1991.
“I will not boast about my wealth, as others do, claiming they gave $3 million to the party in 1991. In 1991, was NPP in existence? NPP was established in 1992. Under military rule, obtaining $3 million from a bank is impossible,” the former NPP general secretary said.
Reacting to this while addressing delegates of the NPP in theCentral Region, Ken Agyapong accused Kwabena Agyapong of being mischievous because he (Ken) never said the loan was contracted in 1991.
Ken, who is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, added that the former NPP general secretary could not have been privy to the said payment because he was a ‘nobody’ in the party by then.
“I said in 1992 when Adu Boahen was elected flagbearer of the NPP myself and Oppong Bio went to CalBank to borrow $3 million to support the party, you can ask Fred Oware if I am lying.
“Kwabena Agyepong at the time supported Dr Safo Adu, he didn’t support Prof Adu Boahen. Dr Konadu Apraku, lawyer Kwadwo Afram Asiedu and I, we walked straight to the bedroom of Adu Boahen, Kwabena Agyapong couldn’t do that because he didn’t support the man.
“He has done his part for the NPP but he should also give us credit. When he even had an accident some of us including Gifty Kleman, Ursula Owusu and Grudle went round campaigning for him to be elected general secretary. At that time, the authorities were against him. But he couldn’t give us credit for supporting him, such things are not good for the party,” he said.
Following a tidal wave that hit several portions of the Moree community in theAbura-Asebu-Kwamankese (AAK) region of the Central Region, some 100 people have been forced to flee their homes.
The surging wave destroyed about 15 structures located close to the sea.
Some of the affected residents are currently being accommodated by friends and relatives while others had taken shelter in some sheds located in the area.
The President-General of Centre of Awareness Global Peace Mission (COA-GPM), ProfessorAto Duncan together with the Regent of Moree over the weekend visited the area.
The visit was to ascertain the situation and also look at the immediate measures to be taken to alleviate the plight of affected residents.
In an interaction with the media after the visit to the area, Prof. Duncan, appealed for immediate intervention to reduce the rate of destruction by the tidal wave.
He noted that the government had a good intention for the community and made reference to the construction of a mini habour and a landing site in the area.
“I don’t think the government has totally neglected them so we need to bring the concern of the people to the government,” he said.
He indicated, it may not be the intention of government to neglect the area.
He stated that, the displacement of people due to the tidal wave was a threat to peace, adding, the COA-GPM seeks to address issues confronting peace in the world and displacement of people is a threat to peace.
Prof. Duncan further appealed to the government to consider the construction of a sea defence wall to prevent the area from being submerged by the sea.
“I felt very sad and decided to move in to ascertain the nature of damage. This is the time we have to convey the message for immediate intervention,” he stated.
He said the sea was now drifting into the community and that it was about time for something to be done to resolve it adding that “this is a huge task, no individual can take it upon to address it.”
The community, he said, was actually in danger and therefore called for intervention in addressing the challenge.
For his part, theRegentof Moree, Nana ObokeseAmpah, explained that, some of the affected residents were now sleeping under sheds.
He appealed to the government to pay attention to the plight of the affected residents since they feel neglected.
He indicated that the havoc associated with the tidal wave had been happening for some time now but response had not come from the authorities.
Moree, he said, was a great historical and traditional town that ought to be preserved and protected.
Some of the affected residents appealed for support from stakeholders.
The Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has said that he fully endorses the Electricity Company of Ghana’s (ECG) efforts to recover every pesewa owing to the firm.
According to him it is important the company remains viable to deliver efficient service to consumers.
Dr. Prempeh made these assertions when he led the ECG’s revenue protection task force to two companies that owed the company various sums of money.
The Minister during these two engagements bemoaned the situation where companies pile up bills for a very long time and refuse to pay.
“As a country, we cannot continue to countenance the attitude of non-payment of bills, among other illegalities and expect optimal service delivery,” he said.
He continued “The financial capacity of the generator, transmitter and distributor is very much anchored on prompt payment of bills, especially as we work to clamp down on all forms of losses and intra-sector debts.”
“These 3 segments of the power value-chai are symbiotically dependent on each other, and therefore we must work together to clamp down on all forms of losses”.
The Minister said, there is no excuse whatsoever for the non-payment of electricity bills and drew an analogy where one cannot negotiate with OMCs to get fuel into his or her car.
“When you need fuel, you cannot but pay to get it, why can’t you do same for the electricity you consume,” he quizzed
The Minister who is also the Manhyia South MP further said that the unbearable cost of fuel for generators incurred by Ghanaians during the ‘Dumsor’ era between 2013 and 2016 is indicative of the luxury of power supply currently, and therefore urged consumers to pay promptly for the value chain to function effectively.
The ECG taskforce continues to mount operations to retrieve all debts owed by the company.
TheNew Patriotic Party‘s (NPP) 1st Vice-Chairman for the Central Region’s Mfantseman Constituency, Gabriel Amoah, has stepped down.
The 44-year-old entrepreneur told the Ghana News Agency he tendered in his resignation letter on Friday, March 31, and was received by Mr Evans Osei, the Constituency Secretary and copied to all appropriate quarters.
Though he could not deny or confirm his widely speculated intention to contest the Parliamentary slot, he was optimistic about working hard with the constituency leadership to stretch the NPP’s political fortunes in the 2024 election.
Having served the party with dedication and commitment across the ranks, Mr. Amoah said it behoved on him to go all out to mobilise the grassroots to make the constituency a stronghold of the NPP.
Elated with his resignation, he said: “After a painstaking effort and a wide consultation and deliberations across the party, I have decided to resign to work assiduously to maintain the political gains of the party in the constituency.
“I want to use this platform to remind all that energizing the base of the party is key and fundamental to the victory of the NPP in the 2024 elections.”
To him, Mfantseman is the heartbeat of the NPP and political activism in Ghana hence, he was prepared to sacrifice his resources not only to save the party in the area but make the party more attractive.
Considering the interesting history of parliamentary candidates of NPP in the Constituency, Mr. Amoah called on the supporters of the party to embark on a massive grassroots mobilization campaign to get more people on board.
That, he said, was the surest way to ensure a resounding victory for the party in the 2024 elections.
For the youth, he said: “As the youth of the NPP, we may have a tougher responsibility, but breaking the eight is a must-do for us. We must convince Ghanaians that changing a productive regime merely because it has lasted for eight years is not healthy for a country that seeks progress.
“We must prove beyond any reasonable doubt to Ghanaians why the party must not go after its two-term regime cycle. Beyond singing the chorus of ‘Breaking the Eight’, we must critically engage our minds forthwith,” he added.
Kennedy Agyapong, a member of parliament for Assin Central district in the Central region has spoken out against the notion that people from the north are violent.
Kennedy Agyapong who claims to have family ties to that part if the country stated that northerners are simply quick to defend themselves and their rights when they are being cheated or taken advantage of. Hence, the stereotype that they are violent is untrue.
In a video shared by Oman Channel on April 7, 2023, and sighted by GhanaWeb, the NPP flagbearer hopeful while speaking to members of the party in the Ayawaso East Constituency of the Greater Accra region, explained that because bortherners are quick to defend themselves, they are often labeled as violent. However, he stressed that this is not an accurate characterization of the people from the northern region of Ghana.
“…and the truth is, for my household, I celebrate both Salah and Christmas, in fact, my grandmother was a Muslim before she married. So, she was ‘Asante kremo’ but all my grandfathers are Muslims, I have Seidu, Abass, Siaka, and Yakubu, and all of these people are in my family who are Muslims.
“They settled more at Ajumako Anyan Asiam, whereby one of them married a Muslim there, so, all my family people are full of Muslims, except a few of us whose grandparents married Christians.
“You don’t know where I got my braveness from, my father used to teach at Wa, so I was always fighting and there was a certain day when I went to beat a certain lady. So, my mother was crying lamenting about what a man gave her during her pregnancy to mix with her meals and eat.
“So, I asked her about what she was lamenting about? and she replied that a certain man used to give her some powder to mix with her porridge and drink so that her son will become strong after delivery.
He added “So, for me, I am a ‘Wawula’ person, I come from Wa, and that is where the braveness comes from. That is why whenever I see the Northerners, I become happy because we all have the same character, we all hate nonsense … if you want to cheat us and we don’t give room for such things then you conclude we are not good.
“Do you understand? I know you don’t like cheating, so when it happens then you just say your mind, then they will conclude that they are violent people. So, I should sit down for you to cheat on me and go scot-free, no, is not possible. So, for me, I am one of you,” he said.
The race for the NPP flagbearership slot has top party members including Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia; former trade and industry minister, Alan Kyerematen; former food and agric minister, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto; former NPP General Secretary, Kwabena Agyapong among others.
November 4, 2023, has been slated as the date for the NPP presidential primaries to elect a flagbearer for the general elections in 2024.
A 25-year-old man, Samuel Hagan, is in critical condition after his ex-wife’s husband butchered him at Ekumfi Abontsi in the Central Region.
The suspect, Kwame Tawiah, is currently at large after committing the crime.
Information gathered indicates that the victim who has a 4-year-old boy with his ex-wife went to her house to give her money and foodstuff for his son’s care after she had reported to him that the boy was sick and has been admitted at the hospital.
Mother of the victim, Adjoa Eduamah, revealed that when Samuel entered the compound, the current husband, Kwame Tawiah, questioned his reason for coming to the house.
Adjoa Eduamah says it became an argument between the two of them.
She said at first, the suspect wanted to wound her son with a shovel but her son was able to escape the shovel attack and decided to leave the area.
Adjoa Eduamah indicates, the suspect, however, went back to his house, pulled out a cutlass and attacked her son while he was on his way back to Ekumfi Dunkwa.
The victim is currently at the Mankesim Hospital receiving treatment while an official complaint has been lodged at Essaekyir police station.
Some land guards have inflicted machete wounds on three employees at a block manufacturer in Millennium City, Kasoa in the Central region.
The thugs numbering over 20 were said to have fired guns at the workers when they stormed the block factory site.
Kasapa News’ Yaw Boagyan reports that the invasion by the land guards followed an argument between a driver of the factory and a sub-chief of the area.
According to the driver, Eric Nyamekye, the Youth Chief (Mmrantehene) of Millennium City scratched the company’s truck used in transporting blocks to customers with his Toyota Landcruiser.
The driver says he was slapped by theChiefwhen he approached him to demand that he repairs the damaged area of the truck.
He continued that unknown to them, the Chief later mobilized one truck full of armed land guards who fired shots and attacked the innocent workers with machete and other weapons severely injuring three workers in the process.
They were rushed to the hospital for treatment and the case reported to the police station for investigation.
However, no arrest had been made at the time of filing this report on Tuesday, April 11, 2023.
A seventeen-year-old Junior High School two pupil met his untimely death after a dilapidated abandoned bridge fell on him and killed him at Gomoa Nyanyano in the Central Region.
The deceased was returning from school when the bridge broke and trapped him and got hit by a huge slab taking his life instantly.
The body of the teenager was removed and deposited at the mortuary.
The case has been reported to the police pending investigation.
Meanwhile, some angry residents at Gomoa Nyanyano Allow Me Junction have threatened to vote against the Member of Parliament for the area, Hon. Desmond De-Graft Kwasi Patioo for failing to fix the bridge as part of his 2020 campaign promises.
They doubt the MP will muster the courage to come and campaign in the area for the 2024 elections after not fulfilling his promises.
According to the residents anytime it rains pupils, find it difficult to cross the bridge to their various schools.
They are charging him to immediately have the bridge fixed to prevent another death.
A National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate for 2024, John Mahama, has characterized the Akufo-Addo-led administration as a governmentthat shirks accountability.
According to him, accepting responsibility is a mark of good leadership, a quality that is lacking inPresident Akufo-Addo.
“What is making it difficult for them to govern is that they are not people who listen to advice. They never accept their mistakes, so they are not able to learn from their mistakes. Notwithstanding the poor state of Ghana’s economy, still they are not accepting responsibility.“Nothing can be fixed if the leader cannot take responsibility,” he insisted.
Speaking to branch and constituency executives of the NDC in the Awutu Senya East and West Constituencies on Tuesday, Mr. Mahama who is campaigning to lead his party to the 2024 presidential election said: “When you listen to them, they say it is not their fault. Are they saying it is the fault of Ghanaians? Who went for all those loans? It was them. Yet whenever you tune in to the news, they say it was Covid-19 that caused our problems. They say it was Russian-Ukraine that caused them.”
He expressed surprise that the President did not follow his example but continues to refuse to accept responsibility for the woeful state of the nation.
“When President went to parliament to deliver the State of the Nation Address, I thought he would accept responsibility the way I did when we had an energy crisis in this country. I did not cause it; it was caused by lack of addition to our (power) generation for many years. So, it got to a time, our demand had exceeded our ability to generate power” he explained.
“I went to Parliament. I did not say I did not cause it. I said you elected me to take responsibility, so I take responsibility for it, and I will fix it. That is what leadership is about. This is a President who cannot take responsibility and if you can’t take responsibility, you can’t fix anything” he said to wild cheers.
President Mahama is on a three-day ‘Building the Ghana we want together’ campaign tour of the twenty-three constituencies in the Central Region.
According to a UTV news report, the victim, who is a known thief in the community, was killed and his body dumped on the roadside, in front of the International Central Gospel Church in Winneba.
The report indicated that residents had heard the victim cry for help at dawn but could not explain what led to him being lynched.
They only realised that the victim was the thief who has been caught several times stealing in the community, in the morning.
The residents, according to UTV reporter, Jacob Kubi, said that the suspected thief has been caught stealing on several occasions, but any time he is handed over to the police, he is released in no time.
They said that the accused thief has been stealing from market women and had been breaking into homes and shops in the community.
Kwesi Nyantakyi, the former president of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), reacted to the dismissal ofAnas Aremeyaw Anas‘ defamation lawsuit against Kennedy Agyapong.
In 2018, Anas filed a GH¢25 million defamation lawsuit against Kennedy Agyapong, the Member of Parliament for Assin Central in the Central Region, but the court ruled on March 15 that the claim is without merit.
In a lengthy ruling, Justice Eric Baah held that the plaintiff [Anas Aremeyaw Anas] failed to prove that Kennedy Agyapong defamed the investigative journalist by airing the documentary – “Who watches the watchman.”
Speaking on Accra-based Oman FM earlier today, Mr. Nyantakyi said “the High Court’s decision testifies to the truth that Anas Aremeyaw Anas is not honest but as described by the court, he is a blackmailer and an extortionist.”
“The judge also described his job as an investigative terrorist instead of an investigative journalist. He has been totally disgraced. He once portrayed himself as an angel, but today I’m not even sure he is at the devil’s level yet.”
In June 2018, the former member of Fifa’s executive council was filmed taking $65,000 in cash from an undercover reporter in a film captured by journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas which was aired by BBC Africa’s investigations unit, Africa Eye.
Nyantakyi was pictured placing the “shopping money” into a black plastic bag from an undercover reporter pretending to be a businessman keen to invest in Ghanaian football.
He later agreed to what he believed to be a sponsorship deal for the Ghana FA, which he had presided over since 2005. The bogus deal, invented by the reporters, would have enabled millions of dollars in commission to be paid to a company controlled by him.
This cost him his positions as FIFA Council Member and 1st Vice President of CAF.
At Kasoa Millennium City in the Central Region, Efo Kwasi Joseph, a 71-year-old father and carpenter has cut off the two fingers of his 11-month-old biological son.
The incident happened on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, in the afternoon.
According to the wife of the suspect, Juliana Amenasor, she was shocked to see her baby boy lose his fingers after her husband who is a carpenter took the child to his workshop and cut his fingers.
Information gathered indicates that the suspect had always threatened to use his son for money rituals and warned that he’ll cut the baby’s fingers but his wife always rebuked him.
The wife of the suspect in an interview with Kasapa News Yaw Boagyansaid, the child is in serious pain and can’t stop crying.
She added that she needs money for surgery and also buy medications prescribed by Doctors which is a major challenge, hence called on the public for financial support.
The mother has appealed to the Inspector General of police to intervene and prosecute the husband to serve as a deterrent to others.
Meanwhile, the case has been reported to the Millennium City police for investigation.
The suspect is yet to be arrested at the time of filing the report.
The GHC25 million defamation lawsuit brought by renowned investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas against Kennedy Agyapong, the MP for Assin Central in the Central Region, has been dismissed by theAccra High Court.
Anas, in 2018, dragged the lawmaker to court for allegedly defaming him. In his application, Anas prayed to the court to award aggravated damages of GHC25 million to compensate for the defamatory material published against him by the MP.
In court
In a lengthy ruling delivered today Wednesday 15 March 2023, Justice Eric Baah held that the plaintiff [Anas Aremeyaw Anas] failed to prove that Ken Agyapong defamed him by airing the documentary – “Who watches the watchman” – but rather, the documentary exposed shady deals that Anas and his associates were involved in.
The court further held that Agyapong provided sufficient evidence to prove that the plaintiff used the findings of his work to solicit money from persons implicated in the evidence gathered by him.
The evidence, according to the court, also proved that those who were able to pay the sums of money demanded by Anas and his associates, got exempted from videos that were shown to the public.
The court concluded that what Anas is engaged in is not investigative journalism but rather investigative terrorism and that Agyapong was justified to call Anas “a blackmailer, corrupt, an extortionist, and evil”.
“I find the claims by the plaintiff [Anas Aremeyaw Anas) meritless and they are hereby dismissed” Justice Baah ruled.
Publications
According to Anas, Agyapong on 29 May 2018, during a live programme in Twi on Adom TV, categorically stated that he [Anas] was a blackmailer, corrupt, an extortionist, and evil.
According to the statement of claim filed by the lawyers of Anas, the defendant, similarly, Mr. Agyapong published defamatory words on 31 May 2018, on Oman FM, a private radio station owned by the defendant [KennedyAgyapong].
The statement of claim also stated that the defendant published more defamatory materials against the plaintiff via other platforms to the extent of releasing pictures purported to be those of the investigative journalist in his bid to blow the latter’s cover.
Reputation injured
Anas indicated in his statement of claim that his reputation, especially as a lawyer and as a globally acclaimed investigative journalist, has been egregiously damaged.
“Furthermore, Anas indicate that following the publication, he was inundated with numerous calls from business associates, journalists around the world, social relations, friends, outright strangers, and he has had to answer very mortifying questions,” the statement of claim said.
According to Anas Aremeyaw Anas, Mr. Agyapong published the words complained of knowing them to be false and reckless.
Cost awarded
Lawyers of Kennedy Agyapong after the ruling asked the court to award cost of 1 million Ghana cedis against the plaintiff [Anas Aremeyaw Anas].
Lawyer for the Anas Aremeyaw Anas when he stood on his feet offered to pay Ghc 20,000.00 as cost.
Justice Eric Baah indicated that since the award of cost in such civil cases is at the discretion of the court, he will award cost of GHc 50,000.00 against the plaintiff [Anas Aremeyaw Anas].
The father of Evans Wireku, the 22-year-old, who was stoned to death over a robbery incident at Denkyira Fobinso in the Upper Denkyira West Districtof the Central Region, calls for justice.
Peter Wireko believes a reprisal attack is imminent and fears delay on the part of thepoliceto arrest anyone related to the crime may spark violence.
The father who was speaking to Citi News says even if his son was indeed a robber as it’s been alleged, he doesn’t deserve to die in the manner in which he did.
He is also worried that traditional authorities in the area have turned a blind eye to the issue.
“The Traditional Authorities have turned a deaf ear to the issues, and we know they matter in cases like this. I went to see the Police Commander yesterday and I saw the chief who ordered for my son to be stoned but ‘m only hoping that they will interrogate him.”
“My worry is that if authorities don’t arrest anyone it will spark a reprisal attack and I fear for what will happen. I want authorities to give us justice in this matter.”
In the Ajumako Enyan Essiam District, Central Region, a 40-year-old man has been beaten to death for stealingplantainsfrom a farm near Ajumako Bisease.
The suspect, Kwame Essel, said to be a notorious plantain thief, was caught in the act with his accomplice who bolted after seeing the owner of the plantain approaching.
Information gathered by Kasapa News’ Yaw Boagyan indicates that the suspect, early Sunday morning February 12, 2023, went to the farm and stole the foodstuff to sell to a buyer.
But the prospective buyer rejected them after the suspect failed to tell where he got the plantains from.
He then sold it to some strangers who had come to the town for a funeral.
Around 4:30 pm the same day, he went to the same farm to steal again but unfortunately, this time round, he was caught.
He was then made to carry the plantains on his head and paraded through the principal street of Ajumako Bisease while being beaten.
A three-year-old child has met his untimely death after nurses at the Breman Brakwa Polyclinic in the Central Region allegedly refused to attend to him when he was seriously sick.
According to a report gathered by Kasapa News, Yaw Boagyan, the grandmother of the deceased brought the sick child, Reginald Nkrumah all the way from Breman Eshiem to Breman Brakwa Polyclinic for treatment around 6am Friday, February 3, 2023.
But upon reaching the hospital, the nurses were said to be having a staff meeting and even when information got to them about the boy’s condition none of them got out of the meeting to attend to the dying little boy.
According to the woman, she requested the child’s folder to enable her to attend another hospital but the nurses refused to give it to her till the child died while lying on the floor at a time the nurses were having refreshments after the meeting.
The Hospital administration after seeing the lifeless body of the child reportedly begged the family of the child not to report it to the police.
The body of the child has been deposited at the Mortuary for preservation and autopsy.
The case has been reported to the police for investigation.
All attempts to get the hospital authorities to comment on the matter proved futile.
Meanwhile, when the District Director of Health, Mr. Cletus was reached he said the issue had not come to his attention.
A thirty year old security man has been fatally shot by armed robbers at a quarry at Awutu Kwei in the Central Region.
Four assailants attacked the victim, Kofi Diaka who became unconscious at Hao-xin stone Quarry site on Thursday, February 2, 2023, around 4:30 PM, taking away GHC2,500.
The victim after being shot decided to run and hide but unfortunately fell down and couldn’t stand on his feet.
He was rushed to Winneba Special and Trauma Hospital for treatment but later referred to Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for treatment.
Reports say the same quarry site was robbed a week ago and an undisclosed amount of money taken away by armed armed robbers.
In an interview with Kasapa News, Alexander Thompson who is in charge of Safety Health at the quarry site said this is the third time they have been robbed and it puts fear in the foreigners who have invested in Ghana.
Meanwhile, the case has been reported to the police for investigation.
