TIG Post

Tag: Dead

  • 16 feared dead as Ambulance crashes at Potrikrom Junction

    16 feared dead as Ambulance crashes at Potrikrom Junction

    At least 16 persons are feared dead following a head-on collision in the Ahafo-Ano South East District of the Ashanti Region on Tuesday, March 3. The crash involved an ambulance (registration number GV 527–23) and a Ford Transit bus (registration number GT 6576–19).

    The vehicles were reportedly travelling at high speed. In a related development, eleven (11) persons have sustained injuries following a head-on-collision at Eduadjei on the Cape Coast-Takoradi Highway.

    The victims, eight males and two females, are receiving medical attention at the Elmina Polyclinic.


    Per the Central Regional Fire Service’s account, the two vehicles, an Opel Astra (WR 4860-13) traveling from Cape Coast towards Komenda, collided head-on with a Nissan mini bus (CR 1414-23) heading from Takoradi to Cape Coast. Meanwhile, officials have yet to ascertain the cause of the accident.


    Ghana has reported a surge in the number of fatalities resulting from road crashes this year.

    The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) recorded one thousand five hundred and four (1,504) deaths, compared to one thousand two hundred and thirty-seven (1,237) fatalities reported in the same period in 2024, representing a 21.58 percent increase in the first half of 2025.

    According to provisional data released by the National Road Safety Authority in collaboration with the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), a total of 7,289 road crashes were recorded between January and June this year.

    Per the data, a total of twelve thousand three hundred and fifty-four (12,354) vehicles were involved in these crashes.


    As a result of these incidents, eight thousand three hundred (8,300) individuals sustained injuries. Additionally, one thousand three hundred and one (1,301) pedestrians were knocked down across the country.


    According to recent data provided by the National Road Safety Authority, on average, eight (8) lives are lost every day due to road crashes. Each day, forty (40) road crashes are recorded, and forty-six (46) individuals sustain injuries.

    Daily, sixty-nine (69) vehicles and motorcycles are involved in road crashes.


    To help combat the rising number of road crashes, the National Road Safety Authority has called for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations and increased public education.


    The NRSA has emphasized the need for stronger enforcement to curb the alarming trend. The Road Traffic Act 2004, an Act to consolidate and revise the Road Traffic Ordinance, 1952 (No. 55), provides for more comprehensive regulation of road traffic and road use to ensure safety on the roads and to address related matters.


    A person who drives a motor vehicle dangerously on a road commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction:
    (a) where (i) a bodily injury does not occur, or (ii) a minor bodily injury occurs to a person other than the driver, to a fine of not less than one hundred penalty units and not exceeding two hundred penalty units, or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding nine months, or to both;


    (b) where bodily injury of an aggravated nature occurs to a person other than the driver, to a minimum fine of two hundred penalty units and not exceeding five hundred penalty units, or to a term of imprisonment of not less than twelve months and not exceeding two years, or to both;(c) where death occurs, to a term of imprisonment of not less than three years;


    (d) where there is damage to state property, to a fine of not less than one hundred penalty units and payment for the damage caused in an amount determined by the Court.


    The Court may, upon conviction of a person under subsection (1), (a) order the payment of appropriate compensation to an injured person or to the estate of that person, or (b) order the withdrawal of the driver’s license for a period of not less than three years and not more than five years.


    A person who drives a motor vehicle on a road without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two thousand penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years, or to both.


    A person commits an offence if, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, that person:


    (a) causes anything to be on or over a road;(b) interferes with a motor vehicle, trailer, or cycle; or(c) interferes, directly or indirectly, with traffic equipment, where it would be obvious to a reasonable person that doing so would be dangerous.


    A person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding twelve months, or to both.


    Meanwhile, over one-third of emergency cases at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) have been linked to road crashes, according to statistics from the facility.


    Speaking to the media, Deputy Medical Director of KATH, Dr. Yaw Opare Larbi, noted that road crash victims brought to the emergency unit often do not survive because their injuries are very severe.


    “A little over 30 per cent of the cases that come to this facility, this Accident and Emergency Unit, are due to accidents, and most of the accidents, a few are domestic, but the majority of them are road traffic accidents.


    “Now in Ghana, we know that our statistics, a lot of our road accidents are from errors, driver errors, pedestrian errors. And then we know that we have some percentage that is attributable to maybe things like faulty vehicles or maybe road conditions, but a lot of the accidents are preventable,” he stated.

  • One dead, several properties damaged after fire incident at Sefwi Adjoafua

    One dead, several properties damaged after fire incident at Sefwi Adjoafua

    A domestic fire has claimed the life of 70-year-old Kwasi Nkansah and destroyed a two-bedroom house at Sefwi Adjoafua in the Western North Region.


    The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), in an update on Facebook, said it managed to contain the fire, preventing it from spreading to nearby buildings. Meanwhile, the cause of the fire is yet to be made known.

    Last week, one of Ghana’s oldest settlements, Gambaga Witches Camp in the North East Region, was engulfed by fire, ravaging five rooms following a suspected bush fire trigger.


    The inferno spread rapidly and threatened an eight-room block at the camp. However, reports from fire officers at Gambaga Fire Station indicate that they received a distress call and promptly responded, leading to the salvage of three other rooms.


    Sources at the scene, however, noted that the fire had caused greater damage to the structures before the emergency responders arrived. They attributed this to a delayed distress call and poor road access to the area.

    The surrounding bushland, already ablaze, further complicated efforts to control the flames.


    No casualties were reported. Authorities have yet to conduct a full assessment of the extent of the damage, and investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the fire.


    Meanwhile, reports from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) reported 377 fire outbreaks in the Northern Region in 2025, compared to 373 in 2024, only a slight increase in cases.


    Situated in Gambaga township in Ghana’s North East Region, the Gambaga Witches Camp has stood for more than two centuries as a refuge for people accused of witchcraft. It is one of several such camps in northern Ghana, but Gambaga remains the oldest and most widely known.


    The camp is home to about 100 women who live in roughly 25 round huts. Facilities are extremely basic, with no health services or indoor plumbing. Residents survive through subsistence farming and small-scale trading, while protection is offered by the local chief and earth priest, who oversee rituals and provide sanctuary.


    Most of the women are elderly, often widows, who have been accused of witchcraft by relatives or communities.

    These accusations typically follow misfortunes such as illness, death, crop failure, or other unexplained events. In some cases, the women suffer from mental illness, which remains poorly understood and stigmatized in Ghana. Once accused, they are ostracized and often flee for their lives to Gambaga.


    Belief in witchcraft is deeply rooted in parts of Ghana, where it serves as a traditional explanation for misfortune. Accusations can also be a form of scapegoating or a way to settle family disputes.

    The camp, therefore, represents both protection from violence and exile from society. Human rights groups have long criticized witch camps as violations of dignity and freedom, calling for their closure and the reintegration of women into society.

    Yet for many of the women in Gambaga, the camp remains the only place where they feel safe.


    Fire cases in Ghana since last year


    A fierce fire ravaged seven container shops at Spintex, Accra, around the Marina, in the early hours of Saturday, February 7.


    According to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), it received a distress call at about 12:01 a.m. But was unable to respond immediately due to a faulty fire engine at the Kasapreko Fire Station, which is closest to the scene. As a result, the Tema Motorway Fire Engine was dispatched as the base pump.


    In a Facebook post, the GNFS explained that it had to deploy three fire tenders from the Motorway, Tema Metro, and Tema Industrial Area Fire Stations to bring the blaze under control.


    The firefighting team, led by ADO I Derrick Sarkodie, arrived at the scene at 12:19 a.m. to find the fire already at an advanced stage and spreading rapidly.

    However, a coordinated and tactical operation by the firefighters brought the fire under control, and by 4:32 a.m., it had been completely extinguished.


    The affected shops included seven container shops housing furniture, tailoring, and grocery businesses, along with their contents. No casualties were recorded.


    Firefighters also reported that they prevented the fire from spreading to nearby structures, including Marina Mall, and successfully protected a car garage containing more than 35 vehicles, as well as several adjoining shops and nearby residential buildings.


    The GNFS said investigations are underway to determine the cause of the fire.


    According to reports, Greater Accra has recorded about 5 fire incidents, with the Spintex fire being the latest.

    The Ashanti Region, on the other hand, has seen an alarming number of fire incidents since January 1, recording about 132 cases, a decline from the 187 cases reported during the same period in 2025.


    A fire outbreak on Monday evening, February 2, partially destroyed the girls’ dormitory at Pong Tamale Senior High School in northern Ghana.


    According to reports, the fire originated from the washrooms and later spread through other parts, triggering panic among students.


    Firefighters from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) worked tirelessly to bring the fire under control. Pong Tamale Senior High School has become the latest second-cycle institution in northern Ghana to record a fire outbreak.


    A fire broke out at Tolon Senior High School in the Northern Region on Monday, February 2, destroying parts of a dormitory. Nearly 900 female students were displaced following a fire at Tolon Senior High School in the region.


    The recurring of fire incidents have raised concerns, Ghana recorded over 3,595 fire incidents nationwide in the first half of 2025, with regional breakdowns showing hundreds of cases across the Greater Accra, Ashanti, and Central Regions.


    Barely a week into the New Year, some Kasoa residents had their stalls completely burnt after a fire ravaged stalls in a major outbreak at the Kasoa New Market on Sunday, January 4, 2026.


    According to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), a distress call was received around 4:50 p.m., after which the Kasoa Fire Station swiftly reached the scene and found the fire in a very advanced stage.

    The fire was spreading so rapidly that fire tenders had to immediately call for reinforcement from Weija, Anyaa, Dansoman, Industrial Area, Flagstaff House, Madina, and Swedru fire stations.

    According to reports, Greater Accra has recorded about 5
    After about two hours of firefighting, the tenders managed to extinguish the flames at 6:52 p.m., brought the fire under control at 7:52 p.m., and fully extinguished it by 10:00 p.m.

  • C/R: One killed, several others sustain injuries after violent clash in Winneba

    C/R: One killed, several others sustain injuries after violent clash in Winneba

    A violent clash between two youth factions in Sankor, Winneba, in the Central Region has resulted in the death of an individual.

    Several others have also sustained injuries following the incident which occurred on Sunday, January 25. A video making rounds on social media shows the culprits inflicting machete wounds on themselves.

    The Winneba Divisional Police Commander, ACP Ibrahim Opoku made this known while engaging the media.

    However, the Divisional Police Commander is yet to make known what instigated the clash. Violent clashes in Ghana are mostly fueled by tribalism and chieftancy disputes.

    These actions have led to the loss of many lives and properties. The Upper East Region has since experienced consistent clashes until the intervention of the Asante hene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

    Bawku, which had remained relatively peaceful for a period, saw conflict erupt once more in late 2024. The resurgence of violence was largely sparked by the return of Alhaji Seidu Abagre, a Mamprusi chief who had been enskinned in 2022, only to be exiled later when his enskinment was ruled illegal.

    His return to Bawku followed the withdrawal of an arrest warrant against him by a Kumasi High Court in October 2024, reigniting tensions between the Kusasi and Mamprusi communities. The renewed violence has resulted in deadly confrontations, including attacks on both civilians and security forces.

    Otumfuo Osei Tutu II’s involvement in the peace process was met with widespread approval.

    The Mamprusi-installed rival chief, Alhaji Seidu Abagre, from Bawku following Otumfuo’s recommendation. The Asantehene Osei Tutu II initiated mediation talks last year to find lasting solutions to conflicts in the area.

    According to a statement released by the Interior Ministry, Alhaji Seidu Abagre was removed on December 24.

    “This afternoon, personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) removed Alhaji Seidu Abagre from Bawku, pursuant to the recommendations of the Otumfuo Asantehene Osei Tutu II mediation report regarding the Bawku affair,” the statement read.

    The Ministry assured the public that “Alhaji Seidu Abagre was safe in the care of the security agencies.”

    During the engagement with the groups, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, urged the factions involved in the Bawku chieftaincy dispute to cease power struggles and work towards lasting peace.

    He made the call on Monday, December 1, at the Manhyia Palace Jubilee Hall in Kumasi while speaking to representatives of the Mamprugu and Kusasi.

    “Whatever the outcome of the mediation, you will still have to live together as brothers and sisters,” he added.

    But, the overlord of the Mamprugu Traditional Area, the Nayiri, Naa Bohugu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga, has described a chieftaincy mediation report presented by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, as a “procedurally flawed” and “unilaterally imposed” document.

    According to a statement dated Wednesday, December 17, and issued by the Mamprugu Traditional Council, the content of the document is contrary to the discussions held during the mediation.

    The statement further contended that such actions by Otumfuo contradict the fundamental purpose of mediation. It added that, “I must state clearly and without reservation that the so-called report and recommendations do not reflect my engagements with Otumfuo, nor those of my duly constituted mediation team.”

    “To say that I feel betrayed, disappointed, and deeply hurt would be a grave understatement,” he wrote, alleging that the report was “replete with factual inaccuracies” and displayed a “manifest imbalance” favouring one side’s narrative while omitting Mamprugu’s case.

    Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has stepped in to ensure a lasting solution to the long-standing dispute between the Kusasis and the Mamprusis in Bawku.

    As part of these efforts, the Minister of Finance has been directed by President John Dramani Mahama to create a one-billion Ghana cedi (GH¢1bn) fund for the restoration of peace, rebuilding damaged infrastructure, and reviving economic activities in Bawku.

    The rebuilding of damaged infrastructure will target roads, health facilities, schools, dams, and irrigation systems to support all-year-round farming.

    The fund will be distributed and used gradually over three years, starting in 2026 and ending in 2028. This disclosure was contained in a statement issued by the Presidency on Wednesday, December 17.

    According to the government, the new development also aims to restore Bawku to its former status as a major economic and trading centre in northern Ghana.

  • Family of woman allegedly stabbed by ex-NPP parliamentary candidate demands justice

    Family of woman allegedly stabbed by ex-NPP parliamentary candidate demands justice

    The family of Gilda Nortey, wife of former NPP parliamentary candidate for Korle Klottey, Valentino Nii Noi Nortey, is calling for justice after she was allegedly stabbed by her husband in the United States.

    Gilda is currently receiving medical care and slowly recovering from the attack, which reportedly happened after a disagreement over divorce.

    Speaking about the ordeal on Wednesday, January 21, Gilda’s uncle, David Gyapanin, shared, “They had a little argument, and my niece said she may file for divorce if things continue that way. My niece said Valentino threatened to either kill himself or kill her. He stabbed her three times. She pleaded with him to take her to the hospital. He agreed on condition that she would not mention his name”.

    According to him, “Fortunately, she had the car key and drove herself to the hospital where she works. She’s getting better. As a family, we want nothing less than justice, it happened in the States, and we want to believe that the laws there will be applied fully. You can’t marry someone’s daughter and, just because she wants to end the marriage, decide to end her life. If justice isn’t served in the U.S., we will pursue it in Ghana”. 

    Meanwhile, Lower Paxton Township Police confirmed that the 41-year-old Nortey now faces charges including attempted homicide. The stabbing happened on Saturday, January 17, around 10 a.m., during what police described as a domestic dispute. Authorities say Gilda’s quick thinking likely saved her life. Nortey is being held at Dauphin County Prison, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for January 26.

    Back home in Ghana, To crack down on domestic violence, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service recently arrested a man captured in a viral Facebook video physically assaulting his wife, Harriet Amuzu, at their residence in Ofankor, Ga East Municipality. The suspect, identified as John Odartey Lamptey, was arrested on Monday, November 17, 2025, at the family residence.

    According to a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer, Chief Inspector Brigitte Babanawo, on November 18, two of the suspect’s siblings attempted to attack a female tenant because they suspected she had recorded the incident that drew the attention of authorities.

    “Following his arrest, two of his siblings, Grace Kushie Lamptey and Louis Odartey Lamptey, who attempted to attack a female tenant they suspected of recording and circulating the video, were also arrested, and the tenant was rescued to ensure her safety.”

    Breaking her silence, Harriet Amuzu disclosed that the assault was triggered by her refusal to have sex with her husband, John Odartey Lamptey. According to her, she denied him intimacy because they had been separated for five months. She noted that she left her husband’s residence in Ofankor due to his consistent abuse.

    However, she found herself at his residence that day because her husband informed her that their child was unwell. Harriet Amuzu added that, unknowingly to her, it was a trap set by her husband.

    “I was at a funeral when he called to say our lastborn was not feeling well. I rushed home, only to find the children playing. When I asked, he said he lied because he wanted to have sex with me,” she recounted.

    She noted that her husband “He told me he had trapped me to kill me,” after she declared her intention to return to her residence.

    The victim further revealed, “He tore my dress and my undershorts, saying he bought them. He even tore the beads around my waist, leaving me naked. He beat me with the metal rod from a standing broom and stepped on me. At one point, he picked up a knife and threatened to cut off my hand.”

    Reacting to the incident, the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection has strongly condemned the violent assault, describing it as an act that infringes on the victim’s rights and is highly punishable by law. In a statement, the Ministry stressed that no individual has the right to subject another person to any form of abuse under any circumstances.

    “The Minister has also reached out to the Ghana Police Service to ensure that a thorough investigation is conducted and justice is served. We also encourage eyewitnesses with vital information to assist law enforcement agencies immediately,” a part of the statement read.

    In a separate incident, a disturbing video that circulated last month also prompted the intervention of the military police. It was CCTV footage showing a muscular man assaulting a young male pharmacist and a young woman in a pharmacy. The incident, which took place at Burma Camp in Accra, came to light late on Wednesday, October 29. In the widely circulated video, the tall, dark-complexioned man was seen slapping the pharmacist.

    The abuser, whose name has been given as Warrant Officer Class One (WO1) Mensah Williams of the Ghana Air Force, was further seen attacking the woman with several blows to her head after she attempted to record the incident. Despite attempts by bystanders to intervene, Mensah Williams continued the assault.

    In response to the incident, the military police arrested Mensah Williams. He is currently in the custody of the Cantonments Police for further investigation and possible prosecution. The video sparked intense debate on social media, with many Ghanaians calling for swift and firm disciplinary action against the soldier.

    According to reports, the assaulted woman is the daughter of the former Provost Marshal of the Military Police. The Provost is a senior military officer responsible for law enforcement, discipline, and security within the armed forces. He coordinates and oversees investigations into crimes involving military personnel.

  • Fire guts Affil Nkwanta slum, 700 dwellers left homeless

    Fire guts Affil Nkwanta slum, 700 dwellers left homeless


    A fire incident that occurred on Saturday, January 17, at Afful Nkwanta in the Oforikrom Municipality of the Ashanti Region has left over 700 slum dwellers stranded.

    The fire ravaged belongings owned mostly by head porters and scrap dealers. The area has recorded a number of incidents, notably in 2016 and 2020.

    Ghana recorded over 3,595 fire incidents nationwide in the first half of 2025, with regional breakdowns showing hundreds of cases across the Greater Accra, Ashanti, and Central Regions.

    Barely a week into the New Year, some Kasoa residents had their stalls completely burnt after a fire ravaged stalls in a major outbreak at the Kasoa New Market on Sunday, January 4, 2026.

    According to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), a distress call was received around 4:50 p.m., after which the Kasoa Fire Station swiftly reached the scene, only to meet the fire at a very advanced stage.

    The fire was spreading so rapidly that fire tenders had to immediately call for reinforcement from Weija, Anyaa, Dansoman, Industrial Area, Flagstaff House, Madina, and Swedru fire stations.

    After about two hours of firefighting, the tenders managed to extinguish the flames at 6:52 p.m., brought the fire under control at 7:52 p.m., and fully extinguished it by 10:00 p.m.

    Although several metallic shops and wooden stalls were destroyed—along with food items such as maize, beans, shea butter, spices, and other merchandise—the swift response by firefighters prevented the blaze from consuming the entire market.

    Fire control officers explained that, despite the losses incurred, several stalls were salvaged. Among the challenges listed by the GNFS during the operation were poor accessibility within the market, long distances to reliable water sources, and interference from members of the public at various points during the operation. This fire marks the second major outbreak at the market in the last two years.

    Fire tenders from Kasoa and Swedru have been left on standby to prevent any possible re-ignition, while investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing.

    A fire incident at Abuakwa Manhyia in the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipality of the Ashanti Region has claimed the lives of a three-month-old baby and six others. The fire outbreak, which occurred at about 12:30 a.m. on Monday, December 22, swept through an apartment.

    This information was disclosed by the Assembly Member for Abuakwa Manhyia, Evans Opoku. Meanwhile, the cause of the incident is yet to be established. Ghana has recorded several fire incidents from January to November this year.

    Recently, a fire outbreak at Tsito–Awudome Gborkorpe in the Volta Region destroyed a two-bedroom self-contained apartment.

    No casualties were reported from the incident, which occurred on Monday, December 8. Several students at Kedjebi-Asato Senior High School (SHS) in the Oti Region were left unconscious after a fire gutted one of the boys’ dormitories on Tuesday morning, December 2.

    The students passed out from exhaustion as a result of smoke inhalation during the fire. Unfortunately, all their belongings were destroyed. Meanwhile, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) successfully brought the blaze under control.

    Last month, a four-bedroom apartment at Aboabo Number 2 in the Asokore Mampong Municipality of the Ashanti Region was razed by fire on Wednesday, November 27. A young man in the community who attempted to help extinguish the fire was electrocuted in the process.

    Speaking to the media, the Assembly Member for the area, Haruna Abdul Rashid, disclosed that the victim is currently receiving treatment at the hospital.

    He added that officers from the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) arrived at the scene to turn off the transformer to prevent the fire from spreading further.

    In the early hours of Wednesday, November 26, an eight-year-old girl lost her life after a devastating fire swept through the Dansoman Market.

    The girl was trapped in the intense blaze and could not escape as the fire engulfed the area. Her charred body was handed over to the Police for preservation and further investigation.

    Several wooden structures and shops, along with their contents, were destroyed. However, adjacent structures were saved due to the prompt intervention of firefighters.

    According to an update by the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), a crew from the Dansoman Fire Station arrived at the scene within two minutes after receiving a distress call at 00:02 hours, but the fire was already at an advanced stage.

    Because of the intensity of the blaze, eight fire engines were deployed to support two private water tankers from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly. The cause of the fire, however, is yet to be determined.

    On Saturday, November 22, a fire incident engulfed the Charkieh Plastics Factory site at Weija Junction in the Greater Accra Region. To contain the blaze, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) dispatched a coordinated team from seven fire stations.

    Last month, the Kwapong Nursing Training College in the Asunafo South District of the Ahafo Region was gutted by fire. The incident, which occurred on Friday, October 31, forced students to flee to safety. Authorities are working to ascertain the cause.

    The newly opened China City Mall at Santasi in Kumasi, inaugurated in May 2025, was also destroyed by fire. No casualties were recorded, but the mall was completely ravaged, with no items salvaged. The cause has not yet been made public.

    Earlier this month, a fire ravaged parts of Kantamanto, at the Tazani Lane section in Accra. Several shops selling wooden planks and hardware were destroyed after the fire broke out near Aayalolo School at 1:17 a.m. on Saturday, September 13.

    The GNFS confirmed in an update on Sunday, September 14: “The flames were confined at 6:26 a.m., brought under control by 6:37 a.m., and fully extinguished by 11:44 a.m.”

    The Service added that two firefighters sustained injuries—one from an electric shock and another from burns to the left arm. Both were treated, discharged, and are in stable condition.


  • A/R: Shootout between police and suspected armed robbers kills three at Jacobu

    A/R: Shootout between police and suspected armed robbers kills three at Jacobu

    A shootout incident between the police and a five-gang suspected armed robbers have resulted in the death of three individuals.

    The deceased; Seidu Issah, 29; Musah Yakubu, 35; and Yahaya Munkaila, also known as Tijani, 25 were pronounced dead on arrival after they were rushed to the Bekwai Municipal Hospital. Meanwhile, the police is manhunting the other two who managed to flee the scene.

    Their bodies have since been deposited at the hospital morgue pending autopsy.

    Two pump-action shotguns loaded with six rounds of ammunition each, an unmarked pistol, a sack containing 25 live cartridges, and six spent shells were retrieved from the scene included as part of the operation.

    The police intelligence-led operation to foil a planned robbery along the Anwiankwanta-Obuasi road in the Ashanti Region on Wednesday, December, 24 turned chaotic when the suspected robbers reportedly opened fire on the officers.

    The five-gang have been identified as wanted persons for their involvement in multiple robbery and homicide cases in parts of the region, including, Manso, Jacobu, and the Anwiankwanta enclave.

    Ashanti Region has in recent times recorded attacks on police by armed robbers. In October, two suspected criminals lost their lives after a shootout incident with the police.

    The shootout was instigated after the police invaded the hideout of robbers in search of one wanted suspect, Osman Majid Abdul Sadik, alias Cross, who is known for several robberies and killings in the Mankranso area.

    The incident was reported barely two weeks after eight police officers sustained injuries following a gunfire exchange between masked men at Sampa in the Bono Region on Sunday afternoon, October 5.

    A police officer was earlier reported to have lost his life as a result of the incident. The clash also left a police vehicle destroyed, caused hundreds of thousands of Ghana Cedis in commercial losses, and destroyed essential goods.

    Tensions between rival groups in the township are believed to have led to the incident. An armed attack at the Gbintri inland checkpoint in the East Mamprusi Municipality of the North East Region left an Assistant Immigration Control Officer II (AICOII), Rafiq Mohammed, dead, and another officer, AICOII Oppong Daniel, injured.

    AICOII Oppong Daniel was reported to be receiving treatment at the Baptist Medical Centre in Nalerigu after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds in the incident.

    While details of the attack remain unclear, reports suggest that the incident took place at about 1:30 a.m. on Friday, October 3. However, AK-47 shell casings used by the attackers during the operation have been retrieved by the joint response team, led by Superintendent Francis Brobbey, Gambaga Municipal Police Commander, and DIS Moro Tanko Mohammed, North Regional Intelligence Officer of the GIS.

    In recent years, the Police Service has made significant progress in tackling robberies and prosecuting offenders. In September, the Ghana Police Service arrested ten individuals and shot three others dead in its efforts to crack down on a series of violent rural bank robberies across the country. Authorities allege that the 15-member gang has been behind a series of robberies in the Ahafo, Western, Central, Eastern, and Ashanti Regions.

    On Sunday, September 14, at 3:30 am, the ring invaded the Saint Martin’s De Porres Cooperative Credit Union with pump-action guns and AK-47 rifles. They escaped the premises with cash after holding the security guard and his wife hostage.

    Briefing the media on Wednesday, September 24, the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Lydia Yaako Donkor, said the police recovered a large cache of weapons, vehicles, and valuables following the operation.

    One of their AK-47 rifles has been traced to one Corporal Francis Adu Yaw of the Tepa District. The said police officer was killed on November 29, 2024, by armed robbers on the Bibiani-Goaso highway.

    The items seized included three AK-47 assault rifles; one single-barrel gun with one AAA round; seven pump-action guns with 96 rounds of AAA ammunition; three Bruni pistols with 40 rounds of ammunition; one M&P pistol with four rounds of ammunition; cash amounting to GH¢18,845, $104, 190 Liberian dollars, ₦5,800, and CFA 31,000; a quantity of assorted Ghanaian coins; six vehicles; four motorbikes; and several mobile phones and pieces of jewellery.

    According to the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), the gang’s operations were successfully undercovered after six months of sustained intelligence operations.“Through sustained intelligence operations, the Ghana Police Service has successfully dismantled the notorious criminal syndicate who have been behind several robberies in various regions of the country,” she stated.

    In August this year, Service announced the retrieval of items used by a gang of armed men during a gold shop robbery at Mpohor in the Western Region over the weekend.

    Weapons, ammunition, clothing, and other materials were among the exhibits. According to a Facebook post on Tuesday, August 19, the police stated that the retrieved items would aid in the ongoing investigation into the case.

    On Sunday, August 17, one person was arrested in connection with the robbery. The police explained that the retrieval was made possible after officers from the Kuntanase District in the Ashanti Region intercepted a suspicious white Toyota Sienta near the Aputuoagya–Bekwai road.

    Currently, the police are on a manhunt for eight others allegedly involved in the heist. They added that two men who were standing by the vehicle fled upon seeing the approaching patrol team.

    According to the police, a search of the vehicle led to the recovery of an AK-47 assault rifle, a locally manufactured firearm, two AK-47 magazines loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition each, and other materials believed to have been used during the robbery.

    “The Ghana Police Service, in its ongoing investigation into the Mpohor gold shop robbery case, has recovered weapons, ammunition, clothing items and some other exhibits linked to the case. As part of intensified anti-robbery patrols, officers from the Kuntanase District in the Ashanti Region intercepted a suspicious white Toyota Sienta near the Aputuoagya–Bekwai road.

    “Two men who were standing by the vehicle fled into the bush upon seeing the approaching police patrol team. A thorough search of the vehicle uncovered an AK-47 assault rifle, a locally manufactured firearm, two AK-47 magazines loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition each, additional packets of ammunition, cowrie shells, a Huawei smartphone, identity documents, and some clothing items.

    “A careful examination of the recovered exhibits against the CCTV footage of the Mpohor robbery revealed a striking resemblance between the clothing items (hooded tops) and the Wellington boots that were used during the robbery. The recovery of these items marks a significant step in the ongoing investigation and manhunt for the suspects,” parts of the statement read.

    On July 30, a shootout between suspected armed robbers and police officers at Atebubu in the Bono East Region led to the death of two suspects.

    According to the Ghana Police Service, the patrol team encountered a robbery attack on commuters along the Atebubu Highway. The suspects opened fire on the officers upon sighting them. Those struck during the exchange were rushed to a hospital but were pronounced dead on arrival, while others escaped into nearby bushes.

    A search of the scene led to the retrieval of a shotgun loaded with two live cartridges, four spent cartridges, and a machete. Intensive efforts are still underway to apprehend the fugitives, police confirmed.

    On July 15, an intelligence-led operation by the Police Intelligence Directorate (PID) foiled a robbery attempt by five armed men targeting a foreign national at Cantonments. Police received credible intelligence that the men were lodging at a hotel in Labadi.

    While en route in a Toyota Yaris vehicle, the suspects opened fire on a police team after detecting surveillance. An officer sustained gunshot wounds, and in the ensuing shootout, two suspects died after being rushed to the Ghana Police Hospital.

    The injured officer, who suffered gunshot wounds to his arm and legs, has been hospitalized and is responding to treatment. Police retrieved two pump-action guns loaded with ammunition, live cartridges, three mobile phones, talismans, and other items from the scene.

    Section 149 of the Criminal Offences Act states that a person who commits robbery commits a first-degree felony. Per Section 150, “a person who steals a thing commits robbery (a) if in, and for the purpose of stealing the thing, that person uses force or causes harm to any other person, or (b) if that person uses a threat or criminal assault or harm to any other person, with intent to prevent or overcome the resistance of the other person to the stealing of the thing.”

    Section 124 of the Criminal Offenses Act also indicates that a person who steals commits a second-degree felony. Where the court that finds a person guilty of stealing is satisfied that, on not less than two previous occasions, the accused was found guilty of stealing, the court shall order that the whole or a part of the term of imprisonment imposed shall be spent in productive hard labour.

    A person subjected to such an order is disqualified from election to Parliament or a District Assembly within the meaning of the Local Government Act, 1993 (Act 462), for up to five years. Productive hard labour refers to labour in a state farm, state factory, or any other public co-operative or collective enterprise specified by the Minister.

    Police efforts in combating robberyIn July, the Police secured a conviction in a four-year-old armed robbery case that occurred in Atonsu, Kuwait, Kumasi. The Kumasi Circuit Court sentenced two individuals to 15 years imprisonment for their role in the violent incident. The convicts, Abass Kasim (26) and Daniel Morro, alias “China” (25), were part of a gang of five that attacked a resident in Atonsu Kuwait on July 31, 2021, around 2:30 a.m.

    The gang, wielding a pistol and cutlasses, shot the victim in the abdomen, inflicted multiple cutlass wounds, and robbed him of valuables including an iPhone 11 worth GHS 5,500, a Samsung phone worth GHS 500, two Apple Watches valued at GHS 3,000, two ladies’ handbags, jewelry, $600, and an unspecified amount of Ghana cedis.

    Following investigations, Abass Kasim was arrested on August 12, 2021. During interrogation, he confessed and led police to arrest Daniel Morro. A pistol used in the attack was later retrieved.

    On August 19, 2021, the suspects were arraigned before Kumasi Circuit Court 4 and remanded into custody after pleading not guilty. They reappeared on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, when they were convicted and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment each on charges including conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery, unlawful entry, abetment of crime, and possession of firearms without authority.

    The sentences are to run concurrently. They have since been transferred to the Central Prisons in Kumasi. Meanwhile, three accomplices remain at large.

    The police also reported another success after an armed robber, Paul Avortide, was sentenced to 19 years with hard labour for robbery. The 25-year-old, on May 21 at about 4:00 a.m., attacked a pregnant Nigerian woman, Ogechi Chidiebere, at Tsikpota near New Housing, Ho.

    Armed with a machete, he robbed her of GHS 3,000 and a Tecno Spark 30c phone valued at GHS 2,500 as she made her way to antenatal care.

    On June 19, police arrested Harmony Nbonu at Ho Main Market with the stolen phone.He confessed that Avortide had sold it to him for GHS 850. A coordinated operation led to Avortide’s arrest at Matse, a suburb of Ho, as he attempted to flee.

    After investigations, Avortide was charged with robbery under Section 149 of the Criminal Offences Act, while Nbonu was charged with Dishonestly Receiving under Section 146. They were arraigned before Ho Circuit Court on Tuesday, July 1. Avortide pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 19 years in prison, while Nbonu was acquitted and discharged.

    Meanwhile, three individuals suspected in a robbery at Nyanikrom near Shama Junction on Wednesday, July 9, were apprehended. They are Francis Mensah, alias Francis Kwaw (34), Ebenezer Cofie (32), and Samuel Bentum (35). The Western Regional Police Command arrested them following targeted surveillance based on credible intelligence.

    Police revealed that the suspects, armed with insider information, planned to rob company officials returning from a bank in Takoradi with salary funds. On the said day, the suspects ambushed the company vehicle near Unique School Junction at Nyanikrom.They broke the vehicle’s window and made away with the cash. A swift police response led to the arrest of three suspects and the recovery of GHS 149,500.

    The suspects are currently in custody assisting with investigations. However, the company’s driver, Maxwell Kofi Yeboah, alleged to have conspired with them, is at large and being pursued.

    “The Western Regional Police Command assures the public that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspect and bring all perpetrators to justice,” the police said.

    Despite these successes, the Police Service continues to suffer casualties in its fight against armed robbery. Several officers have lost their lives while on duty, though the exact number remains unclear.

    One such incident occurred in September 2024, when an officer was ambushed and killed by armed robbers at Kwame Peprakrom in the Central Region. In response, the government introduced a GHS 50,000 insurance scheme for officers who lose their lives while on duty.Meanwhile, the Police has assured the public of its commitment to ensuring security, law, and order across the country.

  • C/R: Four dead after fatal crash at Twifo Ntafrewaso

    C/R: Four dead after fatal crash at Twifo Ntafrewaso

    A tragic road traffic accident which occurred on Wednesday, December 24 claimed the lives of four  at Twifo Ntafrewaso along the Cape Coast–Twifo Praso road.

    Speaking to the media, The Central Regional Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service, DOII Abdul Wasiu Hudu, disclosed that the vehicle carrying the victims, a Hyundai Getz, registered GW 7715-25 veered off the road and crashed into a tree in a nearby bush.

     The bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the morgue.

    Ghana has reported a surge in the number of fatalities resulting from road crashes this year. Meanwhile, Director of Education, Research, and Training at the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), Chief Superintendent Alexander Kwaku Obeng, has disclosed that between January and November, road accidents in Ghana claimed the lives of two thousand six hundred individuals (2,600). Out of this number, 1,937 were males and 492 females.

    Speaking to the media on Thursday, December 12, he noted that over 22,000 vehicles were involved in the crashes. He added that 13,000 people sustained injuries in the same period. The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) recorded one thousand five hundred and four (1,504) deaths, compared to one thousand two hundred and thirty-seven (1,237) fatalities reported in the same period in 2024, representing a 21.58 percent increase in the first half of 2025.

    According to provisional data released by the National Road Safety Authority in collaboration with the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), a total of 7,289 road crashes were recorded between January and June this year. Per the data, a total of twelve thousand three hundred and fifty-four (12,354) vehicles were involved in these crashes.

    As a result of these incidents, eight thousand three hundred (8,300) individuals sustained injuries. Additionally, one thousand three hundred and one (1,301) pedestrians were knocked down across the country.

    According to recent data provided by the National Road Safety Authority, on average, eight (8) lives are lost every day due to road crashes. Each day, forty (40) road crashes are recorded, and forty-six (46) individuals sustain injuries. Daily, sixty-nine (69) vehicles and motorcycles are involved in road crashes.

    To help combat the rising number of road crashes, the National Road Safety Authority has called for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations and increased public education.

    The NRSA has emphasized the need for stronger enforcement to curb the alarming trend. The Road Traffic Act 2004, an Act to consolidate and revise the Road Traffic Ordinance, 1952 (No. 55), provides for more comprehensive regulation of road traffic and road use to ensure safety on the roads and to address related matters.

    A person who drives a motor vehicle dangerously on a road commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction:

    (a) where (i) a bodily injury does not occur, or (ii) a minor bodily injury occurs to a person other than the driver, to a fine of not less than one hundred penalty units and not exceeding two hundred penalty units, or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding nine months, or to both;

    (b) where bodily injury of an aggravated nature occurs to a person other than the driver, to a minimum fine of two hundred penalty units and not exceeding five hundred penalty units, or to a term of imprisonment of not less than twelve months and not exceeding two years, or to both;(c) where death occurs, to a term of imprisonment of not less than three years;

    (d) where there is damage to state property, to a fine of not less than one hundred penalty units and payment for the damage caused in an amount determined by the Court.

    The Court may, upon conviction of a person under subsection (1), (a) order the payment of appropriate compensation to an injured person or to the estate of that person, or (b) order the withdrawal of the driver’s license for a period of not less than three years and not more than five years.

    A person who drives a motor vehicle on a road without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two thousand penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years, or to both.

    A person commits an offence if, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, that person:

    (a) causes anything to be on or over a road;(b) interferes with a motor vehicle, trailer, or cycle; or(c) interferes, directly or indirectly, with traffic equipment, where it would be obvious to a reasonable person that doing so would be dangerous.

    A person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding twelve months, or to both.

    Meanwhile, over one-third of emergency cases at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) have been linked to road crashes, according to statistics from the facility.

    Speaking to the media, Deputy Medical Director of KATH, Dr. Yaw Opare Larbi, noted that road crash victims brought to the emergency unit often do not survive because their injuries are very severe.

    “A little over 30 per cent of the cases that come to this facility, this Accident and Emergency Unit, are due to accidents, and most of the accidents, a few are domestic, but the majority of them are road traffic accidents.

    “Now in Ghana, we know that our statistics, a lot of our road accidents are from errors, driver errors, pedestrian errors. And then we know that we have some percentage that is attributable to maybe things like faulty vehicles or maybe road conditions, but a lot of the accidents are preventable,” he stated.

  • Roman Ridge building collapse: Majority of victims discharged from hospital

    Roman Ridge building collapse: Majority of victims discharged from hospital

    A majority of the construction workers injured after a three-storey building under construction at the Roman Ridge Engineering Centre in Accra collapsed have been treated and discharged from the hospital, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has disclosed.


    Speaking to the media on Wednesday, October 29, Head of Public Relations for the Service, Desmond Ackah, revealed, “As of yesterday around 9:00 p.m., we had information that some of them had been discharged from the hospital, except a few whose conditions were critical. But we were assured that they were all out of danger.”


    On Tuesday, October 28, the GNFS reported that about fourteen (14) construction workers were in critical condition after the three-storey building collapsed.


    Earlier, the Ghana National Fire Service reported on Facebook that several individuals were trapped following the unfortunate incident. It noted that efforts were underway to rescue those trapped beneath the rubble.


    A few hours later on Tuesday, the Service revealed that it had been able to rescue the individuals and sent them to the 37 Military Hospital and the Ridge Hospital for treatment.


    Authorities are expected to launch an investigation to ascertain what caused the building’s collapse. Ghana has witnessed multiple fatalities and severe injuries resulting from devastating building collapses.


    These incidents have raised significant concerns among professionals in the built environment about construction standards, prompting calls for immediate action. In 2024, four individuals lost their lives after a three-storey building at Kasoa New Market in the Awutu Senya East Municipality in the Central Region collapsed.


    Eyewitnesses described the tragic event, noting that the victims included young workers and trainees. “The sad incident happened at Kasoa. This three-storey building collapsed and four people have died; may their souls rest in peace. This is so sad. Some are young girls learning trade as well as workers. This happened at the Kasoa New Market,” they said.


    According to eyewitnesses, the three-storey building caved in while workers were on the second floor. Among the deceased was a carpenter who died on the spot. The other deceased lost their lives while being transported to the hospital.


    A mason in his early forties lost his life on July 17, 2024, while working on a two-storey building in Sewua, Ashanti Region. The deceased, Kwaku Gyemfi, was the lead constructor at the site.

    Witnesses reported that Gyemfi was attempting to reinforce collapsing pillars when the structure failed. His assistant had warned him of the impending collapse, but he was trapped before he could escape.


    A school building in Adeiso, Upper West Akim District, Eastern Region, collapsed on February 15, 2024, during a rainstorm. The collapse injured 10 out of 50 students present, with four suffering severe injuries.

    Despite ongoing concerns about the building’s deteriorating condition, no preventive measures were taken. The incident occurred as students and teachers sought shelter during a sports event.


    In West Legon, Accra, a two-storey shop complex collapsed during a fire incident, injuring four firefighters from the Legon Fire Station. The fire service had responded to a distress call about a blaze at the location.

    The collapse occurred as they were working to extinguish the fire. Two of the injured firefighters were treated at the University of Ghana Medical Centre for their critical conditions.


    Earlier this month, the Ghana National Fire Service spent more than two hours rescuing a construction worker trapped under a collapsed building at the Kasoa New Market in the Central Region.

    The old residential structure was reportedly undergoing renovation by masons hired by the building’s owner.
    In a similar development, a pit collapse at an illegal mining site at Kasotie in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region on Wednesday night, October 1, claimed the lives of seven illegal miners who were trapped underground.


    According to reports, the pit collapse also left four injured, while several miners were feared trapped. Meanwhile, rescue efforts were carried out by the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) in collaboration with emergency services and local volunteers.


    For years, the country’s efforts to nip the canker in the bud have not yielded the needed results. Among recent measures taken to protect water bodies from illegal miners is the deployment of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS).


    The Secretariat includes the Ghana Armed Forces, the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Immigration Service, the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), the Narcotics Control Commission, and the National Security Secretariat.


    Addressing the security forces, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Amarh Kofi-Buah, directed the team to ruthlessly counter the activities of galamsey operators, calling them enemies of the state.

    “Any recalcitrant entering into these zones is not merely a trespasser. They are an enemy of the state. You are to be firm. You are to be resolute. You are to be ruthless.
    “And please, take it from me, you will take no obstructionist instruction from any big man. Remember, the biggest man in Ghana is the President of the Republic, and he’s the one who has sent you,” Mr. Kofi-Buah charged.

  • Three-storey building collapses at Roman Ridge; 14 workers rescued

    Three-storey building collapses at Roman Ridge; 14 workers rescued

    Fourteen (14) construction workers are in critical condition after a three-storey building under construction at the Roman Ridge Engineering Centre in Accra collapsed.

    The incident, which occurred today, Tuesday, October 28, has sent workers and nearby residents into panic. Earlier, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) reported on Facebook that several individuals were trapped following the unfortunate incident. It noted that efforts were underway to rescue those trapped beneath the rubble.

    “Happening Now… The building has collapsed at the Architectural Engineering Group, Roman Ridge. People trapped inside. Rescue team from GNFS Headquarters are putting up their best to rescue the victims. More details soon,” the GNFS wrote.

    However, in a latest update, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has reported that the 14 male construction workers are currently receiving treatment at the 37 Military Hospital and the Ridge Hospital.

    Meanwhile, authorities are expected to launch an investigation to ascertain what caused the building’s collapse. Ghana has witnessed multiple fatalities and severe injuries resulting from devastating building collapses.

    These incidents have raised significant concerns among professionals in the built environment about construction standards, prompting calls for immediate action. In 2024, four individuals lost their lives after a three-storey building at Kasoa New Market in the Awutu Senya East Municipality in the Central Region collapsed.

    Eyewitnesses described the tragic event, noting that the victims included young workers and trainees. “The sad incident happened at Kasoa. This three-storey building collapsed and four people have died; may their souls rest in peace. This is so sad. Some are young girls learning trade as well as workers. This happened at the Kasoa New Market.”

    According to eyewitnesses, the three-storey building caved in while workers were on the second floor. Among the deceased was a carpenter who died on the spot. The other deceased lost their lives while being transported to the hospital.

    A mason in his early forties lost his life on July 17, 2024, while working on a two-storey building in Sewua, Ashanti Region. The deceased, Kwaku Gyemfi, was the lead constructor at the site. Witnesses reported that Gyemfi was attempting to reinforce collapsing pillars when the structure failed. His assistant had warned him of the impending collapse, but he was trapped before he could escape.

    A school building in Adeiso, Upper West Akim District, Eastern Region, collapsed on February 15, 2024, during a rainstorm. The collapse injured 10 out of 50 students present, with four suffering severe injuries. Despite ongoing concerns about the building’s deteriorating condition, no preventive measures were taken. The incident occurred as students and teachers sought shelter during a sports event.

    In West Legon, Accra, a two-storey shop complex collapsed during a fire incident, injuring four firefighters from the Legon Fire Station. The fire service had responded to a distress call about a blaze at the location. The collapse occurred as they were working to extinguish the fire. Two of the injured firefighters were treated at the University of Ghana Medical Centre for their critical conditions.

    Earlier this month, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) spent more than two hours rescuing a construction worker trapped under a collapsed building at the Kasoa New Market in the Central Region. The old residential structure was reportedly undergoing renovation by masons hired by the owner of the building.

    In a similar development, a pit collapse at an illegal mining site at Kasotie in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region on Wednesday night, October 1, claimed the lives of seven illegal miners who were trapped underground.

    According to reports, the pit collapse, which occurred on Wednesday night, October 1, also left four injured, while several miners were feared trapped. Meanwhile, rescue efforts were carried out by the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) in collaboration with emergency services and local volunteers.

    For years, the country’s efforts to nip the canker in the bud have not yielded the needed results. Among recent measures taken to protect water bodies from illegal miners is the deployment of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS).

    The Secretariat includes the Ghana Armed Forces, the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Immigration Service, the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), the Narcotics Control Commission, and the National Security Secretariat.

    Addressing the security forces, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Amarh Kofi-Buah, directed the team to ruthlessly counter the activities of galamsey operators as they are the enemies of the state. “Any recalcitrant entering into these zones is not merely a trespasser. They are an enemy of the state. You are to be firm. You are to be resolute. You are to be ruthless.

    “And please, take it from me, you will take no obstructionist instruction from any big man. Remember, the biggest man in Ghana is the President of the Republic, and he’s the one who has sent you,” Mr Kofi-Buah charged.

  • Several feared dead as truck crashes near Kasoa Tollbooth

    Several feared dead as truck crashes near Kasoa Tollbooth

    Ghana has recorded a number of fatalities following road accidents in less than 48 hours. According to reports, several are feared dead in a recent road crash that occurred near the Kasoa tollbooth in the Central Region on Sunday, October 26.

    En route to Kasoa, the fully loaded minibus somersaulted multiple times after colliding with a Jeep 4×4, registration number GR 7673. Meanwhile, the number of casualties is yet to be made public by authorities.

    On Saturday, October 25, a fatal crash involving a stationary tipper truck and a Sprinter bus at Atwedie, near Konongo on the Kumasi–Accra Highway, left at least 14 people severely injured.The Sprinter bus, with registration number GR 6626-22, reportedly rammed into the stationary truck, causing the unfortunate incident.

    Meanwhile, three individuals lost their lives in a fatal crash that occurred on Friday night, October 24, on the Tatale–Zabzugu road in the Northern Region. More than ten others were injured in the aftermath of the incident. The victims in the crash were traders returning from the Kukpalgu market. 

    They encountered the unfortunate incident when the Kia truck, with registration number GW-5828-17, carrying them collided with an abandoned motorking tricycle on the road.The bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the Tatale District Hospital, while the injured are receiving treatment at the same facility.

    In a similar development, Founder and leader of the All People’s Congress (APC), Hassan Ayariga’s  Toyota V8 has reportedly crashed with a commercial vehicle with registration number GS 3642-12 at the Ashaiman overhead in Accra. The near-fatal road accident which occurred on Friday, October 24, has left one individual injured.

    According to eyewitnesses, Hassan Ayariga’s driver hit the commercial vehicle, causing the V8 to lose control and veer off the road into a gutter.

    Ghana has recorded a series of road accidents this year. Some months ago, an accident at Bechem in the Bono Region claimed the lives of two individuals, including a church leader of the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church.

    The fatal crash, which occurred on Sunday, August 10, left several others sustaining injuries, including children. According to reports, the victims who were close to Aburaso were coming from a camp meeting they attended in Kumasi. Reportedly, the tire of the bus carrying the individuals had a fracture, leading to a burst, hence, causing the vehicle to somersault.

    On Monday, July 28, a tragic road accident on the Atwedie stretch of the Kumasi–Accra Highway resulted in the deaths of sixteen members of the Saviour Church of Ghana. Days after, an accident at Asamankese in the Eastern Region on Wednesday, August 6, reportedly claimed the life of an individual. Officials have yet to confirm any casualties.

    The unfortunate incident occurred after a tipper truck veered off its road, crashing into shops around the Dukes Filling Station. According to sources, many other individuals sustained injuries. Reports have it that the tipper truck was overspeeding when it veered off the road.

    “It happened so fast—one moment the road was clear, the next, the truck was crashing into everything in its path,” an eyewitness recounted.

    Following the incident, it is said that emergency services went to the scene to rescue individuals who were trapped. Medical assistance was also provided, according to reports. Per reports, the Police Service has commenced investigations into the accident, with the driver of the tipper truck providing assistance.

    Local officials have reportedly given assurance of aiding the victims of the accident. The deceased were reportedly returning from the church’s annual programme in the Eastern Region.

    Their deaths were confirmed after their bus crashed with an oncoming fuel tanker. All 16 victims were laid to rest in a single large grave on Thursday, July 31, by the Obogu community and church leadership.

    Ghana has reported a surge in the number of fatalities recorded due to road crashes. In the first half of 2025, the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) reported one thousand, five hundred and four (1,504) deaths, compared to one thousand, two hundred and thirty-seven (1,237) fatalities reported in the corresponding period in 2024, representing a 21.58 percent increase.

    According to provisional data released by the National Road Safety Authority in collaboration with the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), a total of 7,289 road crashes were recorded between January and June this year.

    Per the data, a total of twelve thousand, three hundred and fifty-four (12,354) vehicles were involved in the road crashes. Owing to the road accidents, a total number of eight thousand, three hundred (8,300) individuals sustained injuries.

    Also, one thousand, three hundred and one (1,301) pedestrians were knocked down across the country. According to the recent data provided by the National Road Safety Authority, on average, eight (8) lives are lost every day due to road crashes.

    Each day, forty (40) road crashes are recorded, and forty-six (46) individuals sustain injuries. Daily, sixty-nine (69) vehicles and motorcycles are involved in road crashes. To aid in combating road crashes, the National Road Safety Authority has called for stern enforcement of traffic regulations and public education.

    The NRSA has called for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations and increased public education to help curb the rising number of road accidents across the country.

    The Road Traffic Act 2004, an Act to consolidate and revise the Road Traffic Ordinance, 1952 (No. 55), provides for a more comprehensive regulation of road traffic and road use, to ensure safety on the roads and to provide for related matters.

    A person who drives a motor vehicle dangerously on a road commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction, (a) where (i) a bodily injury does not occur, or (ii) a minor bodily injury does occur, to a person, other than the driver, to a fine not less than one hundred penalty units and not exceeding two hundred penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding nine months or to both the fine and imprisonment.

    (b) Where bodily injury of an aggravated nature occurs to a person, other than the driver, to a minimum fine of two hundred penalty units and not exceeding five hundred penalty units or to a term of imprisonment of not less than twelve months and not exceeding two years or to both the fine and the imprisonment; or (c) where death occurs, to a term of imprisonment for a term of not less than three years.

    (d) Where there is damage to state property, to a fine of not less than one hundred penalty units and payment for the damage caused in an amount determined by the Court.

    The Court may, on the conviction of a person under subsection (1), (a) order the payment of appropriate compensation to an injured person or to the estate of that person, or (b) order the withdrawal of the licence for a period of not less than three years and not more than five years.

    A person who drives a motor vehicle on a road without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two thousand penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years or to both the fine and the imprisonment.

    A person commits an offence if without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, that person, (a) causes anything to be on or over a road, (b) interferes with a motor vehicle, trailer or cycle, or (c) interferes, directly or indirectly, with traffic equipment, where that it would be obvious to a reasonable person that to do so would be dangerous.

    A person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding twelve months or to both the fine and the imprisonment.

  • Fatal crash on Tatale–Zabzugu road leaves three dead, others injured

    Fatal crash on Tatale–Zabzugu road leaves three dead, others injured

    Three individuals lost their lives in a fatal crash that occurred on Friday night, October 24, on the Tatale–Zabzugu road in the Northern Region. More than ten others were injured in the aftermath of the incident. The victims in the crash were traders returning from the Kukpalgu market. 

    They encountered the unfortunate incident when the Kia truck, with registration number GW-5828-17, carrying them collided with an abandoned motorking tricycle on the road.The bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the Tatale District Hospital, while the injured are receiving treatment at the same facility.

    In a similar development, founder and leader of the All People’s Congress (APC), Hassan Ayariga’s  Toyota V8 reportedly crashed with a commercial vehicle with registration number GS 3642-12 at the Ashaiman overhead in Accra. The near-fatal road accident which occurred on Friday, October 24, has left one individual injured.

    According to eyewitnesses, Hassan Ayariga’s driver hit the commercial vehicle, causing the V8 to lose control and veer off the road into a gutter.

    Ghana has recorded a series of road accidents this year. Some months ago, an accident at Bechem in the Bono Region claimed the lives of two individuals, including a church leader of the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church.

    The fatal crash, which occurred on Sunday, August 10, left several others sustaining injuries, including children. According to reports, the victims who were close to Aburaso were coming from a camp meeting they attended in Kumasi. Reportedly, the trye of the bus carrying the individuals had a fracture, leading to a burst, hence, causing the vehicle to somersault.

    On Monday, July 28, a tragic road accident on the Atwedie stretch of the Kumasi–Accra Highway resulted in the deaths of sixteen members of the Saviour Church of Ghana. Days after, an accident at Asamankese in the Eastern Region on Wednesday, August 6, reportedly claimed the life of an individual. Officials have yet to confirm any casualties.

    The unfortunate incident occurred after a tipper truck veered off its road, crashing into shops around the Dukes Filling Station. According to sources, many other individuals sustained injuries. Reports have it that the tipper truck was overspeeding when it veered off the road.

    “It happened so fast—one moment the road was clear, the next, the truck was crashing into everything in its path,” an eyewitness recounted.

    Following the incident, it is said that emergency services went to the scene to rescue individuals who were trapped. Medical assistance was also provided, according to reports. Per reports, the Police Service has commenced investigations into the accident, with the driver of the tipper truck providing assistance.

    Local officials have reportedly given assurance of aiding the victims of the accident. The deceased were reportedly returning from the church’s annual programme in the Eastern Region.

    Their deaths were confirmed after their bus crashed with an oncoming fuel tanker. All 16 victims were laid to rest in a single large grave on Thursday, July 31, by the Obogu community and church leadership.

    Ghana has reported a surge in the number of fatalities recorded due to road crashes. In the first half of 2025, the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) reported one thousand, five hundred and four (1,504) deaths, compared to one thousand, two hundred and thirty-seven (1,237) fatalities reported in the corresponding period in 2024, representing a 21.58 percent increase.

    According to provisional data released by the National Road Safety Authority in collaboration with the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), a total of 7,289 road crashes were recorded between January and June this year.

    Per the data, a total of twelve thousand, three hundred and fifty-four (12,354) vehicles were involved in the road crashes. Owing to the road accidents, a total number of eight thousand, three hundred (8,300) individuals sustained injuries.

    Also, one thousand, three hundred and one (1,301) pedestrians were knocked down across the country. According to the recent data provided by the National Road Safety Authority, on average, eight (8) lives are lost every day due to road crashes.

    Each day, forty (40) road crashes are recorded, and forty-six (46) individuals sustain injuries. Daily, sixty-nine (69) vehicles and motorcycles are involved in road crashes. To aid in combating road crashes, the National Road Safety Authority has called for stern enforcement of traffic regulations and public education.

    The NRSA has called for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations and increased public education to help curb the rising number of road accidents across the country.

    The Road Traffic Act 2004, an Act to consolidate and revise the Road Traffic Ordinance, 1952 (No. 55), provides for a more comprehensive regulation of road traffic and road use, to ensure safety on the roads and to provide for related matters.

    A person who drives a motor vehicle dangerously on a road commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction, (a) where (i) a bodily injury does not occur, or (ii) a minor bodily injury does occur, to a person, other than the driver, to a fine not less than one hundred penalty units and not exceeding two hundred penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding nine months or to both the fine and imprisonment.

    (b) Where bodily injury of an aggravated nature occurs to a person, other than the driver, to a minimum fine of two hundred penalty units and not exceeding five hundred penalty units or to a term of imprisonment of not less than twelve months and not exceeding two years or to both the fine and the imprisonment; or (c) where death occurs, to a term of imprisonment for a term of not less than three years.

    (d) Where there is damage to state property, to a fine of not less than one hundred penalty units and payment for the damage caused in an amount determined by the Court.

    The Court may, on the conviction of a person under subsection (1), (a) order the payment of appropriate compensation to an injured person or to the estate of that person, or (b) order the withdrawal of the licence for a period of not less than three years and not more than five years.

    A person who drives a motor vehicle on a road without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two thousand penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years or to both the fine and the imprisonment.

    A person commits an offence if without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, that person, (a) causes anything to be on or over a road, (b) interferes with a motor vehicle, trailer or cycle, or (c) interferes, directly or indirectly, with traffic equipment, where that it would be obvious to a reasonable person that to do so would be dangerous.

    A person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding twelve months or to both the fine and the imprisonment.

  • Odwira festival: One dead, four injured after shooting incident

    Odwira festival: One dead, four injured after shooting incident

    The ongoing Odwira Festival at Ahwerease in the Akuapem South Municipality of the Eastern Region has been marred by tragedy following a shooting incident that left one person dead and four others injured. The unfortunate incident, which occurred on Wednesday, October 22, reportedly followed a dispute between the Abokomahene and the Abimuhene of Ahwerease, escalating into an exchange of gunfire among some young men.A pump-action gun and a pistol used during the incident have been retrieved by the police, while thirty-four (34) individuals have been detained for their involvement in the shooting.

    Meanwhile, Eastern Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Ebenezer Tetteh has warned against future occurrence, adding that his outfit will not tolerate acts of violence.

    The use of unlicensed guns has become a growing trend in Ghana, particularly during festivals. Illegal possession of small arms continues to pose a significant challenge across the country.

    However, Ghana has strengthened its global stance against nuclear weapons. In September, Ghana joined sixty-nine (69) other nations in efforts to reduce and ultimately eradicate dangerous weapons, particularly nuclear bombs, from the world.

    Announcing the development on Saturday, September 27, via the X platform, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, stated that Ghana has officially ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). The move, according to the Minister, reflects Ghana’s commitment to supporting global peace and a stable security for the world. The Minister further applauded both the Cabinet and Parliament for their unanimous approval of the treaty.

    He also recalled how Ghana’s first president, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, was a strong advocate of disarmament in 1962, adding that the late President would be proud of this groundbreaking step.

    “Yesterday, Ghana boldly demonstrated to the world that we shall be a Nuclear-Weapon-Free State by depositing our instrument of ratification on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) at the UN. I commend the Ghanaian Cabinet and Parliament for the unanimous ratification. As I indicated in my UN address, Ghana has been consistent across all political parties in advocating for total disarmament and creating a new world without nuclear weapons.

    “Ghana’s Founder, Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah, who convened the 1962 World Without the Bomb conference in Accra, would be absolutely proud of this moment. It was an honour to meet with the inspiring Melissa Parke and Seth Shelden of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). ICAN won the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize for their groundbreaking work to attain a world without nuclear weapons. We shall triumph and end global impunity,” he wrote.

    Ghana’s final ratification of the TPNW was signed in 2017 and approved by Parliament in July 2025. Ghana has been instrumental in promoting Africa’s stance as a nuclear-free continent.

    The sixty-nine (69) countries that have ratified the treaty are: Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Indonesia, Ireland, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Laos, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, and Madagascar.

    The others include: Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Mongolia, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Niue, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Seychelles, South Africa, Sri Lanka, the State of Palestine, Sudan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

    In Ghana, institutions such as the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons (NACSA) have called on the judiciary to impose stricter punishments on individuals found in possession of unlicensed firearms.

    In 2024, NACSA reported one million illicit pump-action guns, AK-47s, pistols, and locally manufactured arms in circulation in Ghana. The Commission described these figures as a threat to national security.

    The Head of the National Arms Marking Programme at the time, Mr. Frank Boateng Asumani, stated: “Currently, we have 2.3 million small and light weapons in circulation, out of which 1.2 million are legally registered and the remaining 1.1 million cannot be accounted for.”

    Speaking to The Independent Ghana, the Deputy Director of Policy, Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation (PPME) at NACSA, Gyebi Asante, stressed the urgent need to review existing laws governing firearms possession to better counter current security challenges.

    “We are advocating for the law to be reviewed to suit the current situation and also be able to align with our current dispensation. It is something we have taken steps to do. Already, we have a proposed Bill, the National Arms Bill, at the Ministry of Interior to look at the document and endorse it.

    “For example, the penal sanction, when you have a law that regulates the possession of arms that can kill, you must have a strong penal sanction that can deter people from going behind the law to buy these weapons, so the law as it is now is not deterrent enough,” he added.

    He emphasized that the current penal sanctions are insufficient to deter illegal arms possession. According to him, the existing law stipulates a maximum jail term of five years or a fine of up to 1,000 penalty units, equating to 12,000 Ghana cedis.

    He added that there is no minimum penalty established, allowing judges to exercise discretion in sentencing. This loophole, he indicated, has led to situations where individuals found guilty of illegal gun possession could potentially pay as little as 100 Ghana cedis or serve a mere two weeks in jail.

    “For example, it says that you can be jailed for not more than 5 years and you can also be fined for not more than 1,000 penalty units. A penalty unit is 12 Ghana cedis, which makes it 12,000 Ghana cedis, not beyond, but it doesn’t give a minimum.

    “If you are arrested for illegally possessing a gun, the judge uses his discretion and he can decide that go and pay 100 cedis and if you don’t pay you will go to jail for two weeks because the law does not give you any minimum requirement. We see that as a serious challenge and a gap in the law that must be addressed,” he added.

    Mr. Asante revealed that the Commission has submitted to the Ministry of Interior a proposal to amend the current Arms and Ammunition (Amendment) Act, 1972 (Act 604).

    The National Arms Bill aims to close the existing gaps in the law, ultimately working towards a safer environment for all Ghanaians. Additionally, he emphasized the urgent need for the bill to be enacted into law to ensure effective control and regulation of small arms and light weapons (SALW).

    Established by an Act of Parliament in 2007, NACSA’s mandate includes regulating the possession and control of small arms and light weapons, with a particular focus on curbing illegal production, trade, transfer, and cross-border movement of such weapons that contribute to crime and insecurity.

  • Fatal accident at Wakrom Junction leaves 5 dead, 12 injured

    Fatal accident at Wakrom Junction leaves 5 dead, 12 injured

    A fatal accident at Wakrom Junction near Yamoransa on the Cape Coast–Accra Highway has killed five people and left twelve others injured. One critically injured victim is currently receiving treatment.

    The unfortunate incident occurred on Monday, September 15, after a DAF truck loaded with 700 bags of rice, registration number AW 9548-13, collided with a Toyota Hiace passenger vehicle, registration number GC 9728-21.

    A rescue team from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) at the Central Regional Headquarters arrived promptly at the scene to assist the accident victims.

    Ghana has recorded a series of road accidents this year. In just the past few weeks, an accident at Bechem in the Bono Region has claimed the lives of two individuals, including a church leader of the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church.


    The fatal crash, which occurred on Sunday, August 10, left several others sustaining injuries, including children. According to reports, the victims who were close to Aburaso were coming from a camp meeting they attended in Kumasi. Reportedly, the trye of the bus carrying the individuals had a fracture, leading to a burst, hence, causing the vehicle to somersault.


    On Monday, July 28, a tragic road accident on the Atwedie stretch of the Kumasi–Accra Highway resulted in the deaths of sixteen members of the Saviour Church of Ghana. Days after, an accident at Asamankese in the Eastern Region on Wednesday, August 6, reportedly claimed the life of an individual. Officials have yet to confirm any casualties.


    The unfortunate incident occurred after a tipper truck veered off its road, crashing into shops around the Dukes Filling Station. According to sources, many other individuals sustained injuries. Reports have it that the tipper truck was overspeeding when it veered off the road.


    “It happened so fast—one moment the road was clear, the next, the truck was crashing into everything in its path,” an eyewitness recounted.


    Following the incident, it is said that emergency services went to the scene to rescue individuals who were trapped. Medical assistance was also provided, according to reports. Per reports, the Police Service has commenced investigations into the accident, with the driver of the tipper truck providing assistance.


    Local officials have reportedly given assurance of aiding the victims of the accident. The deceased were reportedly returning from the church’s annual programme in the Eastern Region.


    Their deaths were confirmed after their bus crashed with an oncoming fuel tanker. All 16 victims were laid to rest in a single large grave on Thursday, July 31, by the Obogu community and church leadership.


    Ghana has reported a surge in the number of fatalities recorded due to road crashes. In the first half of 2025, the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) reported one thousand, five hundred and four (1,504) deaths, compared to one thousand, two hundred and thirty-seven (1,237) fatalities reported in the corresponding period in 2024, representing a 21.58 percent increase.


    According to provisional data released by the National Road Safety Authority in collaboration with the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), a total of 7,289 road crashes were recorded between January and June this year.


    Per the data, a total of twelve thousand, three hundred and fifty-four (12,354) vehicles were involved in the road crashes. Owing to the road accidents, a total number of eight thousand, three hundred (8,300) individuals sustained injuries.


    Also, one thousand, three hundred and one (1,301) pedestrians were knocked down across the country. According to the recent data provided by the National Road Safety Authority, on average, eight (8) lives are lost every day due to road crashes.

    Each day, forty (40) road crashes are recorded, and forty-six (46) individuals sustain injuries. Daily, sixty-nine (69) vehicles and motorcycles are involved in road crashes. To aid in combating road crashes, the National Road Safety Authority has called for stern enforcement of traffic regulations and public education.


    The NRSA has called for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations and increased public education to help curb the rising number of road accidents across the country.


    The Road Traffic Act 2004, an Act to consolidate and revise the Road Traffic Ordinance, 1952 (No. 55), provides for a more comprehensive regulation of road traffic and road use, to ensure safety on the roads and to provide for related matters.


    A person who drives a motor vehicle dangerously on a road commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction, (a) where (i) a bodily injury does not occur, or (ii) a minor bodily injury does occur, to a person, other than the driver, to a fine not less than one hundred penalty units and not exceeding two hundred penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding nine months or to both the fine and imprisonment.


    (b) Where bodily injury of an aggravated nature occurs to a person, other than the driver, to a minimum fine of two hundred penalty units and not exceeding five hundred penalty units or to a term of imprisonment of not less than twelve months and not exceeding two years or to both the fine and the imprisonment; or (c) where death occurs, to a term of imprisonment for a term of not less than three years.


    (d) Where there is damage to state property, to a fine of not less than one hundred penalty units and payment for the damage caused in an amount determined by the Court.


    The Court may, on the conviction of a person under subsection (1), (a) order the payment of appropriate compensation to an injured person or to the estate of that person, or (b) order the withdrawal of the licence for a period of not less than three years and not more than five years.


    A person who drives a motor vehicle on a road without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two thousand penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years or to both the fine and the imprisonment.


    A person commits an offence if without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, that person, (a) causes anything to be on or over a road, (b) interferes with a motor vehicle, trailer or cycle, or (c) interferes, directly or indirectly, with traffic equipment, where that it would be obvious to a reasonable person that to do so would be dangerous.


    A person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding twelve months or to both the fine and the imprisonment.

  • Kumasi: 20 passengers robbed at gunpoint on Tweapease-Mfensi stretch

    Kumasi: 20 passengers robbed at gunpoint on Tweapease-Mfensi stretch


    A group of armed robbers have attacked at least 20 passengers at gunpoint in a Sprinter bus with registration number GG 4181-16 en route to Kumasi on the Sunyani road in the Ashanti Region.

    According to Citi News, the incident occurred around 1:00 a.m. on Friday, September 12, between Tweapease and Mfensi, near the Moments of Glory Prayer Army (MOGPA).

    Per a victim’s account, the armed men who were five in number ordered passengers to surrender their belongings, including money, mobile phones, and other valuables after blocking the road. 

    The passenger added that the victims were left severely traumatised; however, no one was physically assaulted during the robbery. Residents and commuters have since lamented over the deplorable state of that stretch.

    They have attributed the increasing spate of robberies in the area to the poor road. In recent years, the Police Service has made significant progress in tackling robberies and prosecuting offenders. 

    Currently, the police are on a manhunt for eight others allegedly involved in a gold shop robbery at Mpohor in the Western Region . The Ghana Police declared them wanted after they retrieve of items used by a gang of armed men during a gold shop robbery. 

    Weapons, ammunition, clothing, and other materials were among the exhibits. According to a Facebook post on Tuesday, August 19, the police stated that the retrieved items would aid in the ongoing investigation into the case.

    On Sunday, August 17, one person was arrested in connection with the robbery. The police explained that the retrieval was made possible after officers from the Kuntanase District in the Ashanti Region intercepted a suspicious white Toyota Sienta near the Aputuoagya–Bekwai road.

    According to the police, a search of the vehicle led to the recovery of an AK-47 assault rifle, a locally manufactured firearm, two AK-47 magazines loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition each, and other materials believed to have been used during the robbery.

    On July 30, a shootout between suspected armed robbers and police officers at Atebubu in the Bono East Region led to the death of two suspects.

    According to the Ghana Police Service, the patrol team encountered a robbery attack on commuters along the Atebubu Highway. The suspects opened fire on the officers upon sighting them.

    Those struck during the exchange were rushed to a hospital but were pronounced dead on arrival, while others escaped into nearby bushes.

    A search of the scene led to the retrieval of a shotgun loaded with two live cartridges, four spent cartridges, and a machete. Intensive efforts are still underway to apprehend the fugitives, police confirmed.

    On July 15, an intelligence-led operation by the Police Intelligence Directorate (PID) foiled a robbery attempt by five armed men targeting a foreign national at Cantonments. Police received credible intelligence that the men were lodging at a hotel in Labadi.

    While en route in a Toyota Yaris vehicle, the suspects opened fire on a police team after detecting surveillance. An officer sustained gunshot wounds, and in the ensuing shootout, two suspects died after being rushed to the Ghana Police Hospital.

    The injured officer, who suffered gunshot wounds to his arm and legs, has been hospitalized and is responding to treatment. Police retrieved two pump-action guns loaded with ammunition, live cartridges, three mobile phones, talismans, and other items from the scene.

    What the law says about robbery and stealing

    Section 149 of the Criminal Offences Act states that a person who commits robbery commits a first-degree felony. Per Section 150, “a person who steals a thing commits robbery (a) if in, and for the purpose of stealing the thing, that person uses force or causes harm to any other person, or (b) if that person uses a threat or criminal assault or harm to any other person, with intent to prevent or overcome the resistance of the other person to the stealing of the thing.”

    Section 124 of the Criminal Offences Act also indicates that a person who steals commits a second-degree felony. Where the court that finds a person guilty of stealing is satisfied that, on not less than two previous occasions, the accused was found guilty of stealing, the court shall order that the whole or a part of the term of imprisonment imposed shall be spent in productive hard labour.

    A person subjected to such an order is disqualified from election to Parliament or a District Assembly within the meaning of the Local Government Act, 1993 (Act 462), for up to five years. Productive hard labour refers to labour in a state farm, state factory, or any other public co-operative or collective enterprise specified by the Minister.

    Police efforts in combating robbery, in July, the Police secured a conviction in a four-year-old armed robbery case that occurred in Atonsu, Kuwait, Kumasi. The Kumasi Circuit Court sentenced two individuals to 15 years imprisonment for their role in the violent incident. The convicts, Abass Kasim (26) and Daniel Morro, alias “China” (25), were part of a gang of five that attacked a resident in Atonsu Kuwait on July 31, 2021, around 2:30 a.m.

    The gang, wielding a pistol and cutlasses, shot the victim in the abdomen, inflicted multiple cutlass wounds, and robbed him of valuables including an iPhone 11 worth GHS 5,500, a Samsung phone worth GHS 500, two Apple Watches valued at GHS 3,000, two ladies’ handbags, jewelry, $600, and an unspecified amount of Ghana cedis.

    Following investigations, Abass Kasim was arrested on August 12, 2021. During interrogation, he confessed and led police to arrest Daniel Morro. A pistol used in the attack was later retrieved.

    On August 19, 2021, the suspects were arraigned before Kumasi Circuit Court 4 and remanded into custody after pleading not guilty.

    They reappeared on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, when they were convicted and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment each on charges including conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery, unlawful entry, abetment of crime, and possession of firearms without authority.

    The sentences are to run concurrently. They have since been transferred to the Central Prisons in Kumasi. Meanwhile, three accomplices remain at large.

    The police also reported another success after an armed robber, Paul Avortide, was sentenced to 19 years with hard labour for robbery. The 25-year-old, on May 21 at about 4:00 a.m., attacked a pregnant Nigerian woman, Ogechi Chidiebere, at Tsikpota near New Housing, Ho.

    Armed with a machete, he robbed her of GHS 3,000 and a Tecno Spark 30c phone valued at GHS 2,500 as she made her way to antenatal care.On June 19, police arrested Harmony Nbonu at Ho Main Market with the stolen phone.

    He confessed that Avortide had sold it to him for GHS 850. A coordinated operation led to Avortide’s arrest at Matse, a suburb of Ho, as he attempted to flee.

    After investigations, Avortide was charged with robbery under Section 149 of the Criminal Offences Act, while Nbonu was charged with Dishonestly Receiving under Section 146.

    They were arraigned before Ho Circuit Court on Tuesday, July 1. Avortide pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 19 years in prison, while Nbonu was acquitted and discharged.

    Meanwhile, three individuals suspected in a robbery at Nyanikrom near Shama Junction on Wednesday, July 9, were apprehended. They are Francis Mensah, alias Francis Kwaw (34), Ebenezer Cofie (32), and Samuel Bentum (35).

    The Western Regional Police Command arrested them following targeted surveillance based on credible intelligence.

    Police revealed that the suspects, armed with insider information, planned to rob company officials returning from a bank in Takoradi with salary funds. On the said day, the suspects ambushed the company vehicle near Unique School Junction at Nyanikrom.

    They broke the vehicle’s window and made away with the cash. A swift police response led to the arrest of three suspects and the recovery of GHS 149,500.

    The suspects are currently in custody assisting with investigations. However, the company’s driver, Maxwell Kofi Yeboah, alleged to have conspired with them, is at large and being pursued.

    “The Western Regional Police Command assures the public that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspect and bring all perpetrators to justice,” the police said.

    Despite these successes, the Police Service continues to suffer casualties in its fight against armed robbery. Several officers have lost their lives while on duty, though the exact number remains unclear.One such incident occurred in September 2024, when an officer was ambushed and killed by armed robbers at Kwame Peprakrom in the Central Region.

    In response, the government introduced a GHS 50,000 insurance scheme for officers who lose their lives while on duty.

  • Immigration officer murdered in Accra; police nab suspect

    Immigration officer murdered in Accra; police nab suspect

    The lifeless body of an immigration officer identified as Stephen King Amoah, also known as Nana Kofi, was discovered in a drainage system near GBC Satellite, opposite Comet Estate, Accra, on Wednesday, July 9.


    The deceased is said to have gone missing five days (since July 3) before his tragic death. This was contained in a press statement by the Ghana Police Service on Thursday, July 10.


    Providing more details about the tragic incident, the police noted that the murderer(s) of the 38-year-old also set his body on fire.

    The deceased’s remains have been conveyed to the Police Hospital morgue after the relatives positively identified the body as Stephen.


    The police have disclosed that their preliminary investigations indicate the deceased had gone to meet his debtor, one Bright Aweh, who had promised to pay the outstanding debt owed on Thursday, July 3, in the evening.


    The victim never returned home that night, and his phone remained switched off throughout, raising concerns among family and friends who later reported him missing.


    “Investigations revealed that on 3rd July 2025, at about 8:00 p.m., the deceased left his residence at Ashongman Estate after receiving WhatsApp images of cash bundles from one Bright Aweh, who requested to meet him at a spot at Ashongman Estate to settle an outstanding amount.


    “According to the complainant, the deceased never returned home that night, and his phone remained switched off thereafter,” the police said.


    After the deceased’s family filed a complaint at the police station, Bright Aweh was arrested to assist with the investigation.


    He admitted that he met with the deceased and alleged that he gave a cash of GHS500,000 to the deceased, instructing him “to use part of the money to pay off some debts and hold the remaining amount for later collection.”


    But the police in their statement noted that “the suspect could not clearly explain the source of the funds and gave conflicting statements.”


    Meanwhile, the police have pledged to get to the bottom of the case and ensure justice is served to the perpetrators.


    “The Regional Police Command strongly condemns such violent and criminal acts and assures the public that it is working diligently to uncover the full circumstances surrounding this incident and bring all responsible persons to justice,” it added.


    The police have also called on anyone with information relevant to the case to contact the nearest police station or call the police emergency numbers 18555 or 192.

    Immigration Officer killedDownload
  • Two more shot dead in Bawku; death toll climbs to 35

    Two more shot dead in Bawku; death toll climbs to 35

    Gunmen have attacked two separate areas in Bawku, leading to the deaths of two people.

    One of the victims, identified as Moro Aziz, a man with mental health issues, was reportedly killed after he entered the Bawku cemetery in the Gozesi area.

    The second victim, Kasim, was shot in the Daduri neighborhood while attempting to relocate to another area.

    Per reports, these recent incidents have pushed the total number of deaths to 35 since violence reignited in late October 2024.

    Despite the imposition of a dawn-to-dusk curfew, the area remains unstable. The conflict, which started in November 2021 over the installation of a rival chief, persisted through 2023 before easing, only to resurface recently.

  • Deadly crash on Accra-Kumasi highway claims seven lives

    Deadly crash on Accra-Kumasi highway claims seven lives

    The Suhum Motor Transport and Traffic Department of the Ghana Police has launched an investigation into a tragic accident that claimed the lives of seven individuals near Suhum on the Accra-Kumasi Highway.

    The victims, comprising five males and two females, died instantly when a VIP Bus, with registration number GR 7632-24, collided with a fuel tanker, UE 9644-22, around 4:30 AM on Saturday.

    The bus was en route from Tamale to Accra when it was struck by the tanker, which veered into its lane.

    The collision caused both vehicles to overturn, with the bus ending up in a ditch, and both drivers losing control in the process. Emergency responders from the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana National Fire Service quickly arrived to assist in evacuating the deceased and transporting their bodies to the Suhum government hospital.

    To manage the situation, police, along with bystanders, directed traffic and arranged for towing trucks to remove the damaged vehicles from the roadway.

    The National Ambulance Service was also on-site to transport the injured to the same hospital.

    ADO1 Opare Akonnor who speaks for the Suhum Fire Service command noted “We had a call at 043hrs from the police that there had been an accident involving two vehicles; the tanker and the VIP bus. So, quickly we dispatched our guys to the scene to come and help.

    “We were able to rescue several people but we cannot give the actual number of people we have been able to rescue. The accident occurred in the night. We handed over those we were able to rescue to the ambulance service for them to be taken to the ho

    Witnesses who arrived shortly after the crash shared their accounts with the media. The police are urging the public to notify any relatives expecting travelers from this route to come for identification.

  • Famous broadcaster, Godwin Avenorgbo, is dead

    Famous broadcaster, Godwin Avenorgbo, is dead

    Veteran broadcaster Godwin Avenorgbo, known to many as ‘Big Godwin,’ has passed away. He died on Monday, August 19, 2024, with the cause of death not yet disclosed.

    Before his passing, Avenorgbo, who was affectionately referred to as the “Grandmaster,” served as the Director of Communication for the Melcom Group of Companies.

    A statement from Ghana Television, where he had a notable career, read:“The ‘Grandmaster’ (Godwin Avenorgbor) bows out. May his gentle soul rest in peace.”

  • AOMC’s former head, Kwaku Agyeman-Duah passes on

    AOMC’s former head, Kwaku Agyeman-Duah passes on

    The former Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Oil Marketing Companies (AOMC) and a board member of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Kwaku Agyeman-Duah, has been reported dead.

    According to reports suggest that he died over the weekend following a brief illness.

    Earlier this year, in April, Dr. Riverson Oppong took over from Agyeman-Duah as the CEO of AOMC.

    The AOMC represents companies involved in the distribution and marketing of oil and petroleum products across Ghana.


    Profile of Kwaku Agyeman-Duah

    Kwaku Agyeman-Duah was a distinguished professional in the petroleum industry, with a career that spanned several decades.

    He was the CEO and industry coordinator for the AOMC and also served as the Chairman of the Private Enterprise Federation, a leading business advocacy group in Ghana.

    Mr Agyeman-Duah was a respected figure in the industry, holding positions on numerous boards and committees, including the GIPC Board of Governors, the UPPF Management Committee at the National Petroleum oil, the Disciplinary and Complaints Settlement Committee, the Consumer Service Committee, and the Ministerial Advisory Board at the Ministry of Energy.

    His expertise in quality management systems earned him a role in the Ghana Quality Standards Committee.

    Before his work with the AOMC, Agyeman-Duah held significant roles, including Director of Operations, Director of Administration, and Senior Staff at Kaiser Aluminum, as well as Director of Marketing at Dock Operations and Shipping. His contributions were vital to the growth and success of these organizations.

    Agyeman-Duah held a Bachelor of Science degree in Materials Science and Engineering and a postgraduate diploma in Industrial Management from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana.

    He also earned a Master’s degree in Business Administration with a focus on finance from Gonzaga University in the USA.

    With his extensive experience and deep knowledge, Kwaku Agyeman-Duah was a highly regarded leader in the petroleum sector and made significant contributions to Ghana’s business landscape.

  • W/R: 7-year-old dies from electrocution at Bibiani

    Seven-year-old Blessing Yemo Twotwoo has tragically lost his life to electrocution at Gyedi-Kyekyewere, a suburb of Bibiani in the Western North region.

    While playing with his brother and friends, Blessing suffered the fatal accident.

    His elder sister, Jackline Mensa, was preparing cassava when she received a distressing call from his playmates.

    She hurried to the scene and found Blessing struggling for breath.

    Despite their frantic rush to the hospital, Blessing was pronounced dead on arrival.

    Samuel Kwagyire, the Assemblyman for Gyedi Kyekyewere, assured the community of measures being taken to prevent such incidents in the future.

    He urged parents to maintain vigilant supervision over their children.

    After completing their investigation, the police released Blessing’s body to the family for burial, leaving the entire community deeply saddened by his untimely death.

  • Ghanaian man allegedly found dead at hotel in Korea

    Ghanaian man allegedly found dead at hotel in Korea

    A Ghanaian businessman was found dead in his Seoul hotel on Tuesday (June 4, 2024), during a visit to attend an event linked to the Korea-Africa Summit, police reported.

    Local media identified the man, in his 50s, as a company official from Ghana, found deceased in his hotel room in Seoul’s Gangnam district on Tuesday morning.

    According to the report, “police found no signs of foul play.”

    Authorities suspect the man may have died from an illness.

    The businessman was in Seoul for a business counseling event on the sidelines of the Korea-Africa Summit, which began on Tuesday with delegations from 48 African nations, including 25 heads of state.

    The Ghana Embassy in South Korea has not yet commented on the incident.

    4o

  • Fishing boat sinks near Ada West; one reported dead

    Fishing boat sinks near Ada West; one reported dead

    One person has been reported dead after a fishing boat capsized near the Ada West District in the Greater Accra Region.

    The National Disaster Management Organization in the Ada West District provided this information.

    The incident occurred on Wednesday, May 29, when a boat carrying ten individuals developed a leak and sank.

    Initially, four of the ten individuals, including two Ghanaians, were reported missing. However, three people were later rescued.

    Sadly, one person was found dead, and the remains have been taken to the morgue.

  • Kasoa triple murder case: Alleged key suspect identified

    Kasoa triple murder case: Alleged key suspect identified

    The individual responsible for the tragic stabbing death of a 40-year-old woman, Alberta Armah Hagan, and her two daughters at the Net Link Estate community in Kasoa, has been identified.

    Allegedly, the suspect carried out this appalling act after the deceased mother reported him to the police for stealing twenty thousand Ghana cedis from her mobile money account.

    This horrifying incident also left two of her children critically injured, aged 9 months and 6 years old.

    Presently, the 6-year-old boy and 9 months baby is in critical condition, receiving medical care under police supervision at the hospital.

    According to reports from Angel FM, the perpetrator has been identified as the father of Alberta Armah Hagan’s youngest child.

    The report further revealed that the father of her other three children has been living abroad for six years.

    Consequently, the deceased woman had been involved in a relationship with the alleged assailant, resulting in a nine-month-old son.

    Watch video below:

  • W/N Region: Lifeless body of 46-year-old man reportedly found in a bush at Kwasibenkrom

    W/N Region: Lifeless body of 46-year-old man reportedly found in a bush at Kwasibenkrom

    A 46-year-old man, Francis Asamoah, also known as “Yaawi,” was discovered deceased in a bush at Kwasibenkrom in the Bethlehem Electoral Area within the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai Municipality of the Western North Region.

    His absence was noted after he had been missing for two days.

    His wife, Georgina Ofori, recounted that he had gone to plant maize while she was preparing food at home for their meal in the farm.

    Upon her arrival at the farm, she realized her husband was missing, and despite extensive efforts, he could not be located.

    Georgina enlisted the help of neighbors to search for him, but their endeavors were fruitless. The community continued the search the following day, leading to the discovery of Francis’s body.

    Authorities were alerted, and the police intervened, transporting the body to the Bibiani Government Hospital mortuary for further investigation.

    The Assemblyman for the Bethlehem Electoral Area, Nyarni, expressed suspicions of foul play surrounding the incident.

  • Accident on N1 Highway leaves motorcyclist dead, another injured

    Accident on N1 Highway leaves motorcyclist dead, another injured

    A fatal accident occurred on Monday night along the N1 highway in the Greater Accra Region, resulting in the death of a motorcyclist and injury to another driver due to a triple collision.

    Eyewitnesses reported that the accident occurred when a speeding tipper truck traveling along the Accra-Lapaz route attempted to overtake a pick-up vehicle entering from the Accra-Ashaiman road.

    The tipper truck collided with the pick-up, causing a subsequent collision with the motorcyclist.

    Sadly, the motorcyclist was crushed under the weight of the tipper truck, while the pick-up driver was trapped inside the severely mangled vehicle.

    The rescue efforts involved a collaborative endeavor between eyewitnesses and emergency responders, resulting in the successful extraction of the injured pick-up driver.

    It required the combined efforts of both eyewitnesses and emergency respondents to rescue the injured pick-up driver.

  • Woman reportedly shot dead on her farm at Adaklu Tevikpo

    Woman reportedly shot dead on her farm at Adaklu Tevikpo

    A tragic incident occurred on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, as a woman was reportedly shot dead on her farm in Adaklu Tevikpo, located in the Adaklu district.

    Eli Keti, the Assemblyman of Adaklu Kpetsu Electoral Area, revealed to the Ghana News Agency that the victim, known only as Maama, was in her late thirties.

    According to Keti, the son of the deceased, whose name has been withheld, stated that his mother departed for the farm around 5:30 am that day, while his father mentioned he would also be heading to another farm.

    The son further informed that he left his father at home to attend classes, returning to the farm around 2:00 pm after school, only to discover his mother’s absence.

    Instead, he found her lying on the ground with blood covering her body. He promptly notified his uncles and the community chief, who reported the incident to the Adaklu Ahunda Police.

    Upon examination, the Police discovered gunshot wounds on the deceased’s body and subsequently transferred it to the Ho Teaching Hospital morgue for autopsy.

    Since the tragic event, the husband of the deceased, Kwame Ayew, has gone missing. Witnesses from the couple’s neighborhood testified to a previous altercation between them just a day before the incident.

    The Police have verified the incident and are actively searching for Kwame Ayew, whom they identify as the main suspect.

  • Violent clash between CHRIMETO, Ngleshie Amanfro SHS leaves two dead

    Violent clash between CHRIMETO, Ngleshie Amanfro SHS leaves two dead


    A tragic incident has unfolded in Ngleshie Amanfro, within the Ga South Municipality, where two lives were reportedly lost in a clash between students of Christian Methodist Senior High School (CHRIMETO) and Ngleshie Amanfro SHS.

    According to a report from UTV in Accra, the conflict originated from an incident during the Christian Methodist SHS’s invitation of Ngleshie Amanfro SHS to their Student Representative Council (SRC) week celebration. Subsequently, reprisal attacks occurred between the two schools over several days.

    Initially under police control, the situation escalated on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, as Ngleshie Amanfro SHS students, armed with various weapons such as saws, hoes, and cutlasses, attacked Christian Methodist students concluding their SRC week celebration.

    As reported by UTV’s Jacob Kubi, the Ngleshie Amanfro students arrived in a large bus, leading to a violent clash. Aware of a potential attack, Christian Methodist students had also armed themselves.

    Tragically, during the chaos, one student attempting to evade the assault was struck by a speeding car, resulting in a fatal outcome despite immediate hospitalization. Another student was reportedly stabbed during the clash, succumbing to injuries.

    The reporter highlighted the uncertainty regarding the schools to which the deceased students belonged.

  • John Kumah’s compassion and expertise leave an indelible mark on Ghana – Akufo-Addo

    John Kumah’s compassion and expertise leave an indelible mark on Ghana – Akufo-Addo

    President Akufo-Addo has emphasized the significant role played by the late Deputy Finance Minister, John Kumah, in advancing the government’s economic agenda.

    Taking to Facebook, Akufo-Addo hailed John Kumah as an exemplary Ghanaian patriot.

    “I am deeply saddened by the tragic news of the sudden death of the Deputy Minister for Finance and Member of Parliament for Ejisu, Hon. John Ampontuah Kumah, whose untimely passing has left us all bereft of a bright, energetic light in our midst.

    “I knew him very well both in my days as Leader of the Opposition and as President of the Republic, and his warmth, humility, and genuine concern for others endeared him to me and to all who crossed his path. His unwavering dedication to service, his tireless commitment to the betterment of our nation, and his profound passion for uplifting the lives of the people of Ejisu and Ghana were evident to all who had the privilege of knowing him. He was a stalwart of the New Patriotic Party in the Ejisu constituency, which he served with great enthusiasm and devotion as a Member of Parliament.

    “He was the first Chief Executive Officer of the new entity I set up in my first term, the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP). He distinguished himself in that office, and, therefore, merited his promotion to the office of Deputy Minister for Finance, where he brought not only expertise and skill, but also a deep sense of compassion and empathy to his role. His efforts were instrumental in advancing Government’s economic agenda, and ensuring that the fruits of our progress were equitably shared amongst all segments of society. He was a Ghanaian patriot par excellence.

    “To his wife, children, family and the New Patriotic Party in the Ejisu constituency and across the nation, I offer my deepest condolences. on their great loss. May God bless him, and allow his soul to rest in perfect peace in His Bosom until the Last Day of the Resurrection when we shall all meet again.”

    Tragically, John Kumah passed away on Thursday, March 7, leaving behind a grieving family. The 45-year-old legislator represented Ejisu and is survived by his wife and six children.

    Mr Kumah’s unwavering dedication to service, tireless commitment to national betterment, and profound passion for uplifting the lives of the people of Ejisu and Ghana were evident, making him a stalwart of the New Patriotic Party in the Ejisu constituency.

    As the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) in Akufo-Addo’s first term, Mr Kumah distinguished himself, earning promotion to Deputy Minister for Finance.

    Akufo-Addo praised Mr Kumah for bringing not only expertise and skill but also a deep sense of compassion and empathy to his role.

    Profile

    Hon. Dr.  John Ampontuah Kumah was a Lawyer and an Entrepreneur with over fifteen (15) years’ experience in leadership, creativity, innovation and resourcefulness in creating jobs, and supporting youth development.


    As the first Chief Executive Officer for the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), he successfully positioned the NEIP as the enabler of the Entrepreneurship Ecosystem in Ghana. Under his leadership, the programme trained 7,000 startups in 2018 under the Presidential Business Support Programme and supported 1,350 beneficiaries with funds.   


    Prior to working for government, Hon. Kumah was the founding member and Managing Partner of Aduaprokye Chambers, a law firm. He also worked as the founder of Majak Associates Ltd, a building and construction company. 


    In November 2020, Hon. Dr. John Ampontuah Kumah received a Doctorate in Business Innovation from the Swiss Business School in Switzerland. Before then, he had acquired a Masters in Applied Business Research, at the same Business School in 2019.


    His rich educational background includes a Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Business Research in 2019 at Nobel International Business School (NIBS). In 2009, he had an Executive Masters degree in Business Administration (Finance), from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).


    It all began at the University of Ghana, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics with Philosophy, a Bachelor of Art Degree (Law) LLB in 2011 and a Professional Law Certificate from the Ghana School of Law in 2013. He was admitted to the Ghana Bar in 2013.


    As an Entrepreneur by birth, a Lawyer by Profession, a Politician by Choice, a Preacher by Divine Calling, he sees none of these as an accident, but a call to serve humanity.


    He is a family man with six children, and married to Apostle Mrs. Lilian Kumah. 

  • What happened to Nkrumah’s body after his death

    What happened to Nkrumah’s body after his death

    History recounts that Ghana’s inaugural president, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, succumbed to prostate cancer without any family members by his side in 1972 while in exile in Romania.

    During his exile, Nkrumah harbored suspicions of being unsafe from Western intelligence agencies and feared poisoning.

    These suspicions heightened when his cook died mysteriously in Conakry, Guinea, following his overthrow in Ghana. Upon Nkrumah’s demise on April 27, 1972, his body was sent to Guinea, where he had been appointed co-president.

    A contentious saga unfolded regarding Nkrumah’s wishes for his remains. In his will, Nkrumah expressed a desire to be cremated, with his ashes scattered across Africa. Meanwhile, his elderly mother, Madam Elizabeth Nyaniba, yearned for her son’s body to be returned to Ghana.

    The Ghana Police Service reportedly offered a $120,000 bounty for Nkrumah’s return, dead or alive, after his overthrow. The National Revolutionary Council (NRC), which assumed power, later revoked this reward.

    Sékou Touré, Guinea’s President, withheld Nkrumah’s body despite assurances from Ghana’s leader at the time, Col Ignatius Kutu Acheampong.

    Sékou Touré sought certain conditions, including the lifting of charges against Nkrumah, release of his supporters, and an official welcome for Nkrumah’s remains.

    After international intervention by Presidents William Tolbert, Siaka Stevens, and General Yakubu Gowon, Sékou Touré agreed to return the body, leading to a state funeral in Guinea. The Guinean public and Nkrumah’s mother had fervently requested the return.

    The state funeral, attended by African and global leaders, occurred on May 1, 1972. A Ghanaian delegation later attempted to persuade Sékou Touré to return Nkrumah’s body but was unsuccessful. Nkrumah’s embalmed body was eventually flown to Ghana on July 7, 1972, after months of negotiation. A national day of mourning was declared, and Nkrumah’s body was laid in state before being buried in his hometown of Nkroful.

  • US: Man allegedly kills Ghanaian girlfriend after pushing her in front of moving vehicle

    US: Man allegedly kills Ghanaian girlfriend after pushing her in front of moving vehicle

    News of the tragic death of a young Ghanaian woman based in the United States, Brittany Boateng, has surfaced on the internet.

    According to a report by EDHUB on X, the 29-year-old Brittany lost her life after being allegedly pushed in front of oncoming vehicles on a Chicago highway by her boyfriend during a heated argument.

    The post stated, “A 29-year-old US-based Ghanaian lady has reportedly lost her life after allegedly being pushed into oncoming vehicle on a highway.The sad incident occurred on 23rd February 2024 in Chicago, Illinois when Brittany and her boyfriend Quincy got into a heated altercation, leading to her boyfriend throwing her into the path of a moving car”.

    “The boyfriend has since been arrested and Chicago Police is currently investigating the incident,” it added.

    Brittany Boateng’s boyfriend has been arrested, and Chicago Police are currently investigating the incident, as mentioned in the report.

    The attached obituary confirmed Brittany’s place of death, stating that she will be laid to rest on Sunday, March 24, 2024.

    This unfortunate incident adds to a series of deaths involving Ghanaians in the diaspora, such as the recent case of Adu Boakye, a 39-year-old father who had recently moved to Canada and was fatally shot in a random incident, leaving behind four children.

  • Man suspected to be armed robber found dead at Kasoa High Tension

    Man suspected to be armed robber found dead at Kasoa High Tension

    Unknown assailants have shot and killed a suspected armed robber, Baba Mohammed, whose lifeless body was later found at Kasoa High Tension in the Awutu Senya East Constituency, Central Region.

    The incident occurred at dawn on Thursday, February 8, 2025.According to reports from Kasapa News Yaw Boagyan, the deceased, with multiple bullet wounds, was abandoned by an unidentified taxi cab.

    Residents who found the body in a pool believe he might have been involved in an armed robbery, resulting in the fatal shooting.

    Promptly, the police from Kasoa Divisional Police Command transported the injured suspect to Kasoa Polyclinic for urgent medical attention. Unfortunately, he was declared dead upon arrival.

    The police have initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, and the deceased’s body has been deposited at the mortuary.

  • Video: Mortuary man narrates how some pastors buy dead bodies to ‘build their altars’

    Video: Mortuary man narrates how some pastors buy dead bodies to ‘build their altars’

    A mortuary worker, Yaw Mateng has come forward with claims that some pastors allegedly purchase dead bodies to use in building their altars. 

    In an interview, he stated that he has witnessed instances where pastors, seeking specific body parts for their rituals or spiritual practices, approach mortuary workers with financial offers to acquire the deceased. 

    The motive behind these alleged transactions is suggested to be the belief that incorporating certain body parts into their altars would enhance the efficacy of their spiritual endeavors.

    He claimed that these transactions often occur discreetly, with pastors making financial arrangements to acquire bodies under the guise of performing spiritual rituals.

  • Grace Boadu’s family fought against her when she was alive – Maurice Ampaw

    Grace Boadu’s family fought against her when she was alive – Maurice Ampaw

    Private legal practitioner, Maurice Ampaw has asserted that the late founder of Gracegift Herbal Clinic, Grace Boadu, faced familial challenges and was not embraced by her family.

    According to him, internal conflicts arose because Dr. Boadu did not provide assistance to any of her relatives.

    The deceased according to him, faced both spiritual and physical opposition from her family.


    He further revealed that, owing to the actions of certain family members, Grace’s mother intervened to prevent her from maintaining contact with them.

    During an interview on Kasapa FM, he claimed that not supporting her family posed a challenge for her, as she did not receive the expected familial backing.


    Lawyer Ampaw also alleged that Dr Boadu’s family obstructed her romantic endeavors, discouraging potential suitors due to suspicions of financial motives.

    “Her family doesn’t support her, her family arose against her because they thought it was right for her to help them. Her mother was protecting her over the family. No uncles or aunties came close to her to the extent that I spoke to them. They prevented her suitors from marrying her because they said those individuals were in for her money,” he added.

    Dr. Boadu, a renowned herbal medicine practitioner, was discovered dead in her bathroom at her Tantra Hills residence in Accra on Monday, January 29, 2024.

  • Police finds no obvious evidence of foul play in mysterious death of Darius Appiah  

    Police finds no obvious evidence of foul play in mysterious death of Darius Appiah  

    The Fredericksburg Police Department has announced that there is no apparent evidence of foul play in the death of Darius Joshua Appiah, whose disappearance had sparked an intense search effort by family and friends. Appiah was found dead more than 10 days after going missing.

    The police, expressing condolences to the grieving family and friends of Appiah, have stated that his death is now an active investigation, and they are urging anyone with information about Appiah or the events leading up to his death to come forward.

    Darius Appiah, 22, was last seen driving a dark green 2004 Lexus RX330 SUV with Virginia license plate VBT8217. The police revealed that on Friday, Mr. Appiah’s vehicle was discovered in Alum Springs Park, but his whereabouts remained unknown until Saturday, February 3, 2024.

    According to the police report, a 911 call on Saturday reported the discovery of a body in Hazel Run at 10:30 a.m. Patrol officers, along with the Fredericksburg Fire Department and the Rescue Squad, responded to the area at 1:50 p.m., where the body was recovered from the creek.

    The victim, identified as Darius Joshua Appiah, had been reported missing on January 25. He was last seen on January 24 on Maine Road in Fredericksburg, Virginia, just before 3 p.m. Family members noted that he disappeared after picking up food on his way home from work.

    The body has been transported to the Medical Examiner’s office for an autopsy to determine the cause of death. While the police have not identified any signs of foul play, the circumstances surrounding Appiah’s disappearance and subsequent death have left the community seeking answers.

    As the investigation unfolds, the Fredericksburg community is grappling with the loss of a young life and awaiting the results of the autopsy to shed light on the mysterious circumstances surrounding Darius Appiah’s tragic end.

  • CEO of Grace Gift Herbal Clinic, Dr Grace Boadu, confirmed dead

    CEO of Grace Gift Herbal Clinic, Dr Grace Boadu, confirmed dead


    The founder of Grace Gift Herbal Clinic, Dr. Grace Boadu, has been confirmed dead.

    The somber announcement was initially made by Kessben FM on its social media channels. Dr. Boadu succumbed to a prolonged illness, with news of her demise circulating online just a few hours ago.

    Ghanaians on various social media platforms are expressing their condolences to the grieving family.

    The nation mourns the loss of a remarkable heroine and philanthropist.

    It’s worth noting that in November of the previous year, Dr. Grace Boadu had generously contributed Ghc10,000 to the ‘Heal Okomfo Anokye Project,’ spearheaded by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

  • Unknown individual shoots National Service person to death in Nkwanta

    Unknown individual shoots National Service person to death in Nkwanta

    A tragic incident has occurred in Nkwanta, Oti Region, where a National Service person named Gowugade Denis was fatally shot while on his farm with his family.

    The assailant remains unidentified, and as of now, no arrests have been made in connection with the crime.

    Municipal Chief Executive for Nkwanta South, Bright Lenwah, expressed his sorrow over the incident and stated that authorities are actively working to reassess and modify their strategies to prevent such incidents in the area.

    In a related development, reports indicate that agitated youth, previously involved in protesting the deaths of two youngsters at the office and residence of Kadjebi District Chief Executive Wilson Agbanyo, have allegedly vandalized the COCOBOD office at Papase in the Oti Region.

    The vandalism includes damage to ECG meters supplying power to the facility and other lighting installations.

    While the cause of the attack remains unclear, it is believed to be connected to recent protests and disturbances in the area related to the deaths of two youngsters from Yadzo.

    In response to the escalating situation, military personnel have been deployed to the district to maintain law and order.

  • Ex-wife shot to death by husband at Amasaman

    Ex-wife shot to death by husband at Amasaman


    A woman, identified as Esinam Vivian and a mother of two, was brutally murdered by her ex-husband at her pub in Amasaman Three Junction, Accra, on Thursday, December 28, 2023.

    Esinam Vivian had legally separated from her ex-husband due to constant threats and abuse.

    At approximately 2:00 pm on Thursday, her ex-husband, armed with a pistol, entered the pub and shot her three times before turning the gun on himself.

    Disturbing videos from the incident depict the deceased woman lying in a pool of blood, while another video shows the ex-husband struggling for life, surrounded by police officers who responded to the scene.

    The fate of the ex-husband, who was taken away by the police, remains unknown.

    The court had dissolved the marriage between the deceased and her killer, who shared two children, following an application by the deceased.

  • Wizkid loses mum

    Wizkid loses mum

    Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, professionally known as Wizkid, has reportedly lost his mother.

    The sad news has left his admirers in a state of mourning, profoundly affected by the unexpected announcement.

    Although the Nigerian singer-songwriter has not officially confirmed the heartbreaking incident or issued a formal statement, a report from @gistloversblog1 indicates that the esteemed Grammy award-winning artist endured the loss of his mother during the early hours of Friday, August 18, 2023.

    Wizkid’s profound connection with his mother has been palpable throughout his journey in the music industry, as he consistently conveyed his profound affection for her.

    The emotional turmoil he must be grappling with at this very moment, upon learning of his mother’s passing, is difficult to fathom.

    Mrs. Dalopo Jane Balogun, who initially had reservations about Wizkid’s chosen path and was understandably disheartened when he left school, underwent a remarkable transformation as she watched her son’s success blossom into reality.

    She evolved into a steadfast pillar of support, frequently observed expressing her pride from the sidelines at concerts and events. Her role transcended that of a mother; she was also an avid fan.

  • Dead man found on Koforidua street

    Dead man found on Koforidua street

    A lifeless body of a man has been discovered on the streets of Koforidua, Abogri in the Eastern Region.

    The circumstances surrounding his death remain uncertain, but there are unconfirmed reports suggesting that he might have been subjected to a lynching.

    The man’s body was found naked, with a piece of cloth concealing his private parts, and his leg was inexplicably chained to a sign post.

    Adding to the mystery, a tricycle suspected to belong to him was found burnt a short distance away from the scene.

    The local Assemblyman for the area, Sowah, recounted that he was alerted to the situation early in the morning and subsequently called the police for assistance in retrieving the body.

    “I was called early morning to come and see the body and call the police to come and pick him up,” said Sowah. “I cannot confirm if he indeed was lynched,” he added.

    However, he was unable to provide any definitive information about who might have been responsible for the alleged lynching, stating that he couldn’t confirm the nature of the man’s demise.

    The authorities promptly intervened, and the police took custody of the body, depositing it at the St. Joseph Hospital in Effiduase.

    Investigations into the incident have been initiated to shed light on the circumstances leading to the man’s tragic death.

    Some residents, choosing to remain anonymous, speculated that the man could have been lynched due to suspicions of cable theft.

    However, these claims remain unverified as investigations are underway to determine the actual cause and culprits behind the unfortunate event.

  • Kenyan cult: 12 additional dead bodies found – Kenyan authorities reveal

    Kenyan cult: 12 additional dead bodies found – Kenyan authorities reveal

    On Monday, Kenyan authorities confirmed the discovery of 12 additional dead in the Shakahola forest, where a gathering of an evangelical group engaged in rigorous fasting, was taking place.

    The latest finding raises the dead toll to 403.

    Nearly three months after the initial victims of what is known as the

    “Shakahola forest massacre” were discovered, police believe that most of the exhumed bodies are those of followers of the Good News International Church, founded by self-proclaimed pastor Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, who advocated fasting to death in order to “meet Jesus”.

    The former taxi driver has been in custody since 14 April and will face charges including “terrorism”.

    Sixteen other people are accused of being part of a group of “henchmen” responsible for ensuring that no follower broke the fast or escaped from the forest near the coastal town of Malindi.

  • Ashanti Region: Unknown gunman shoots police to death

    Ashanti Region: Unknown gunman shoots police to death

    A tragedy has struck at the Bia-Tano Forest checkpoint, Ashanti Region, as an unidentified assailant has shot and killed Sergeant Titus Avoka Azasiyande, a dedicated police sergeant stationed at the area.

    The lifeless body of Sergeant Avoka Azasiyande was discovered on Thursday morning by a passing tipper truck driver en route from Kasapin to Bediako.

    The fallen officer was found lying atop his AK-47 rifle, accompanied by an empty shell adjacent to him.

    The circumstances surrounding this devastating incident are currently under investigation.

    Following the discovery of Sergeant Titus Avoka Azasiyande’s lifeless body, the driver promptly notified the authorities.

    The police arrived at the scene and ensured the preservation of the body by transporting it to the Goaso mortuary for autopsy.

    Meanwhile, the police are still in the process of identifying the assailants and establishing the motive behind this heinous act.

    Sergeant Avoka Azasiyande had been stationed at the Tano Forest Snap Check, a remote area situated in the Ashanti Region.

    During the investigation, the police recovered several items from the crime scene, including Sergeant Avoka Azasiyande’s Vivo mobile phone, food packaged in a polythene bag, and his Honda motorbike.

  • Former DCE for Nkwanta South laid to rest

    Former DCE for Nkwanta South laid to rest

    The late Joseph Ninkab, former District Chief Executive of Nkwanta South, was laid to rest at his residence in the Nkwanta South area of the Oti Region, on Saturday, June 3.

    The burial ceremony was attended by notable figures including John Gyapong Kodjo, the Oti Regional NDC chairman, Kofi Adams, the MP for Buem, party members, former MMDCEs, sympathisers from the NPP, and others.

    FORMER DCE FOR NKWANTA SOUTH LIAD TO REST

    Joseph Ninkab had been appointed as DCE in 2009 during the regime of former President Atta Mills.

    Prior to his appointment, he had served as the longest-serving NDC constituency secretary.

    Former DCE for Nkwanta South laid to rest

    His dedication and contributions to the development of the area were widely recognised and unmatched.

    During the burial service, several executives present described him as a selfless leader and a dedicated person who had made significant sacrifices for the development of the area.

    Former DCE for Nkwanta South laid to rest

    They emphasised that the impact of his leadership could not be measured, and the people in the area would forever remember him.

    Former DCE for Nkwanta South laid to rest

    Mr Ninkab passed away on Tuesday, February 7, 2023. He was reportedly found dead in his room.

    The Nkwanta South Constituency Secretary of the NDC, who confirmed the news to Ghana News Agency (GNA). He stated that the family had revealed that the former DCE had gone to bed the day before but did not wake up.

  • Police lock courtroom to prevent attack from late Maadwoa’s relatives

    Police lock courtroom to prevent attack from late Maadwoa’s relatives

    The Asokore Mampong District Court in the Ashanti Region witnessed heightened tensions on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, as police personnel took the necessary step of locking the courtroom to prevent the entry of late Maadwoa’s family members.

    The deceased is suspected to have been shot and killed by her police boyfriend, Inspector Twumasi.

    According to GhanaWeb’s Ashanti Regional Correspondence, the police prevented all family members, including Maadwoa’s biological parents, from entering the courtroom immediately after suspect, Inspector Twumasi, arrived.

    The decision to lock the courtroom and keep the family members outside according to him was made without any reason given.

    It was revealed that the agitated family members had attempted to physically assault the suspect forcing the police officers to take the said action by locking the courtroom.

    Their intense emotions compelled security operatives to lock the court as a precautionary measure.

    It was also suspected that some family members of the deceased might be armed, prompting the officers to conduct a thorough search at the court premises.

    26-year-old Victoria Dapaah also known as Maadwoa was allegedly killed by her boyfriend, Inspector Ahmed Twumasi on 20th April 2023 at Adum, a few meters away from her house.

    During the first court hearing, the suspect confessed to committing the act but insisted that it was not his intention to kill “his lover.”

    Meanwhile, the Asokore Mampong District Court, presided over by His Worship Samuel Buabeng Quansah has remanded Inspector Twumasi into prison custody.

    The suspect who is currently being transferred from police to prison custody will be in remand and is expected to reappear before the court on 20th June 2023.

    His Worship gave the judgement after ACP Kofi Blagodzi, Head of Legal and Prosecution at the Ashanti regional police command had read that the Attorney General’s advice which approved the prosecution of the suspect for murder.

    According to the prosecutor, the attorney general’s advice has given the green light for the prosecution of the police officer as a suspected murderer, and others.

    He subsequently pleaded with the court that despite the greenlight, prosecution may need a few days to ready its full dockets so that the case can be transferred to the high court.

    His Worship Samuel Buabeng Quansah, however, ordered for the suspect to be remanded into prison custody.

  • “My daughter told me she wanted to die so I gave her permission to end it” – Mother reveals

    “My daughter told me she wanted to die so I gave her permission to end it” – Mother reveals

    Note: This essay includes discussions of self-harm and suicidal ideation.

    My daughter, who is now a 28-year-old therapist leading a happy and productive life, almost didn’t make it to adulthood due to mental illness.

    Faith was 9 years old the first time she threatened to hurt herself with a knife. It was the spring of 2004 and my husband and I were watching “The Sopranos” when Faith came downstairs after bedtime, grabbed a paring knife from the kitchen counter and stood between the paused TV and us. Tony Soprano was frozen on the screen behind her, a forkful of pasta halfway to his mouth. He looked as dumbfounded as I felt.

    “I’m a terrible person,” Faith said as she squeezed the handle of the knife.

    My whole body tensed.

    Her teacher had called that afternoon to tell me that Faith and her friends played a mean trick on the new girl in their third grade class.

    “You’re not a terrible person,” I said. “You did something that wasn’t kind or respectful, and it’s normal to feel bad about that. But you’re not a terrible person.”

    She scratched the point of the blade across her palm ― not hard enough to do anything, but still.

    “Faithy, why don’t you put down that knife,” my husband said.

    “I like it,” she said.

    “Give me the knife.” I held out my hand but did not get off the sofa. Faith was small, but strong and unpredictable.

    She looked at me with eyes that were both fierce and desperate. She didn’t move. She was just a little girl. She wore tie-dyed pajamas with chicks on them. Her long brown hair was damp from the shower. Her chest rose up and down as she breathed, and I found myself matching her, breath for breath.’

    Faith, age 14 in 2009, at a program in Hawaii called Pacific Quest. "Though located in paradise, it was anything but," the author writes. "Here she is washing her clothes on a washboard."

    Faith, age 14 in 2009, at a program in Hawaii called Pacific Quest. “Though located in paradise, it was anything but,” the author writes. “Here she is washing her clothes on a washboard.”

    Courtesy of Brenda Ferber

    “Faithy,” I said, softening my tone. “Do you want to maybe see a therapist?”

    Her shoulders relaxed and she nodded. She took three steps toward us, handed me the knife, and fell into our arms.

    Over the next eight years ― hampered by questions like “Is this just a phase?” “Are we helicoptering?” and “Can we afford this?” ― we took Faith to social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists. She tried medications that didn’t help. She spent five days in an adolescent behavior wing of our local hospital, where she became aware of the problems caused by her aggressive communication. She attended a wilderness therapy program in Hawaii for two months and learned to nurture herself like her seedlings in the nursery there. She went to a therapeutic boarding school in Montana for three weeks. That place was such a disaster, the only thing Faith learned was that if she shouted loudly and clearly enough, we would always come to her rescue.

    All along, even while Faith was sending out nude photos of her teenage body, harming herself to dull her emotional pain and fighting the urge to die, she excelled at school, sports and friendships. Her smile lit the room. Her enthusiasm and energy were contagious. She charmed every kid, adult and animal she met.

    My husband and I were confused, stressed, often overwhelmed. We knew that the very traits that were making childhood and adolescence so difficult for our daughter — her intensity, sensitivity and passion — would someday make her an extraordinary adult. There’d be no stopping Faith… if we could get her to adulthood alive.

    “Use your powers for good,” we told Faith again and again.
    Faith, age 17 in 2011. “Depression doesn’t always look sad,” the author writes. “Only a few months after this photo was taken, Faith was telling the author she wanted to end her life.”


    Faith, age 17 in 2011. “Depression doesn’t always look sad,” the author writes. “Only a few months after this photo was taken, Faith was telling the author she wanted to end her life.”

    Courtesy of Brenda Ferber

    One day in 2012, when Faith was 17, she squeezed in next to me on the sofa in our living room. I was reading a book, our dog nestled at my feet. My daughter looked more depleted than ever. She’d recently been kicked out of her elite boarding school, considered too promiscuous and emotionally fragile to be part of their community. She was back at our local public school with kids who didn’t understand her and a softball team that didn’t want her. She’d blown the last semester, getting all D’s and a sympathy A from her math teacher.

    The reality of her situation had set in, and she was depressed in a way I hadn’t seen before. There was no mania or anger fueling her depression, just a weary hopelessness, a soul-sucking resignation.

    “Things will get better,” I said.

    “No. Don’t say that. They won’t.”

    For years, I’d been telling Faith this, reminding her she was strong and resilient. For years, I’d listened and comforted and sometimes yelled and screamed. All along, I had tried to shape my daughter into the person I thought she could be. The person I wanted her to be. The person I wished she could be. That person was not “mentally ill,” but rather a tough teen who would grow out of her issues with the right help. And yet, here we were. Clearly, my optimism and hope for my child, combined with the stigma and fear of mental illness, had kept me from accepting the truth for far too long.

    Faith stroked our pup’s silky fur. She kept her head down and said, “You’re going to be OK, though. When I die. You’ll get over it.”

    I took a breath. “Faith. I won’t.”

    “Mom. Kids die all the time. If I had cancer and died, you’d get over it. You’d move on.”

    “No. You don’t understand. I’d never get over it. And besides, you don’t have cancer. If you had cancer, I’d try every single thing to cure you. Western medicine. Eastern medicine. Everything in between.”

    She met my eyes. “But then, if you tried it all and I was still sick, you’d let me die, right?”
    The author enjoying a snuggle on the sofa with Faith and their pup at home in Deerfield, Illinois. “This photo is from 2012, a few months after Faith’s energy healing,” the author writes.


    The author enjoying a snuggle on the sofa with Faith and their pup at home in Deerfield, Illinois. “This photo is from 2012, a few months after Faith’s energy healing,” the author writes.

    Courtesy of Brenda Ferber

    She was right, I would. But this wasn’t cancer. Or was it? What was the difference, really? This depression was killing her, surely as a malignant tumor.

    I thought back to one afternoon when Faith was six weeks old, and I was putting her down for a nap. She was crying uncontrollably, and I was a sleep-deprived new mom. Faith wasn’t wet or hungry, hot or cold. She was simply inconsolable. I stood there, rocking her in my arms, back and forth, back and forth, willing her to stop crying and go to sleep. Please, I prayed, I needed this nap.

    She didn’t let up. My movements became bigger and stronger, swinging her really. And then, all of a sudden, I thought about whipping her to the floor. If I threw Faith to the ground, the crying would stop, right?

    Right.

    I didn’t throw her to the ground. Instead, I held her tighter as I fell into the rocking chair and sobbed. She snuggled into me, and the two of us cried together, connected in our misery.

    That traumatic moment still haunted me. I was terrified by the power I had to hurt my child, frightened by how her strong emotions could provoke such desperation in me. But perhaps I was missing the point. I hadn’t hurt Faith when she was an infant. In fact, I’d done exactly what she needed: I cried with her. She had these big emotions that might not have made sense, but I was there with her. I held her until they passed. And I kept holding her.

    I looked at my daughter snuggled next to me on the sofa, devoid of expression, beaten down to a shadow of herself. Maybe, all the years of trying to shape Faith into a person who didn’t struggle under the grip of mental illness had been a mistake. Maybe, telling a person that things will get better is not always what they need to hear. Maybe, what I should have been doing was what I’d done when Faith was six weeks old: be there with her in her pain.

    Fear had prevented me from doing that ― fear of losing Faith to madness, to suicide. But I finally understood my fear was not stopping that from happening. All it did was keep me from empathizing when my daughter desperately needed it. I had to find courage. I had to validate what Faith was experiencing, even if that meant embracing the possibility of losing her.

    So I did.

    The author and Faith at a family wedding in 2021.

    Courtesy of Brenda Ferber

    I said, “OK, I hear you. If we try everything else, and you still feel this bad, you can end your life.”

    Faith took a deep breath. With those words, she was no longer alone. I had metaphorically fallen into the rocking chair and cried with her. She knew I would hold her for as long as it took.

    I don’t normally tell people about that conversation, because it’s so easily misunderstood. It sounds horrific ― something a mother should never and would never say. I would have done anything to save Faith’s life. I didn’t want her to die by suicide. And yet, those are the words that tumbled out of my mouth.

    One of my close friends told me it wasn’t horrific at all ― it was a radical act of love. That’s how I like to think about it. Because what those words conveyed to Faith was that I understood the depth of her pain. That what she was feeling was real. That I was right there, by her side. That we would try everything under the sun to help her.

    Suicide is horrifying. We don’t know how to talk about it, so we often shy away from the topic altogether. Or we tell our loved one not to think that way. What does that do, other than invalidate them in their loneliest, most hopeless moment? The truth is, withholding my permission would not have stopped Faith from dying by suicide if that’s what she were determined to do. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, someone dies by suicide every 11 minutes. I have to believe most of those people had loved ones who were urging them to hold on a bit longer, telling them things would get better.

    If I could redo that conversation with Faith when she was 17, I’d say: I hear you. You’ve been in pain for years, and you deserve relief. I’m grateful for your courage to let me know what you’re feeling. I’m in awe of your resilience, and I see how exhausted you are, even though you’re so strong. I’d ask her if she had a plan. I’d ask her if she had what she needed to carry out the plan. I’d ask her if she had a time frame for when it would happen. I’d ask every scary question in a calm, nonjudgmental way, and I’d keep on listening and validating and loving.

    Courtesy of Brenda Ferber

    We like to think we have control over how our kids turn out. But our kids are who they are. We can model our values for them. But the job of parenting isn’t to shape our kids into the happy and competent adults we want them to be. It’s to discover who they are. To love and accept them fully, even if that means accepting their mental illness ― not as a phase, but as another aspect of their life. By discovering, accepting and loving, we give our kids the ability to shape themselves into happy and competent adults.

    What happened after this conversation in 2012? My daughter felt heard and understood. She tried Western medicine. Eastern medicine. Everything in between. Energy healing and a new medication did the trick. Something shifted. Faith found a way to go on. She’s 28 now and she manages her mental health every day. She has her master’s degree in social work, and she works as a therapist. Things did get better for Faith ― not because I said they would, but because Faith made it so. And let me be clear, she still has a mental illness. But for now, it’s under control.

    As for me, I became a crisis counselor for Crisis Text Line. I give strangers all over the world the empathy and validation they need to get through their darkest moments. My daughter taught me how.

    Source: Bliss Goldstein via huffpost.com
  • Amhara ruling party official in Ethiopia shot dead

    Amhara ruling party official in Ethiopia shot dead

    Authorities in Ethiopia have indicated that the head of the Prosperity Party, which is in power in the country’s Amhara region, and members of his security detail have been shot and killed.

    According to a statement released by the communications office of the region, Girma Yeshitla was ambushed approximately 250km (155 miles) north of Addis Ababa while he was on his way back from an official trip, the BBC reported.

    Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed called the killing “shameful and horrible” and blamed it on unnamed “violent extremists” who he said chose to settle differences through guns rather than dialogue.

    Several weeks following the announcement by the federal government regarding the dissolution of a paramilitary force, which had incited widespread protests and violence in Amhara, the killing occurred.

    Mr Girma faced strong criticism from opponents of the force’s dissolution, who saw him as one of the faces behind the move.

    The killing of senior politicians is not new in Amhara. In 2019, the regional leader and other top officials were killed in what was described as a failed regional coup attempt.

  • Unknown gunman opens fire in Wa East, kills one

    Unknown gunman opens fire in Wa East, kills one

    One person dead and several others injured after unknown man opened fire at the Wa East District of the Upper West Region.

    According to reports, the residents effected an arrest of an unknown man, who was armed, in the area. But suddenly other armed men emerged from the bushes and opened fire on the gathered residents.

    The incident is said to have occurred on Sunday, April 2.

    The victims were all taken to the Wa Regional Hospital, where the survivors are responding to treatment.

    Member of Parliament for Wa East Constituency Godfred Seidu Jasaw confirmed the incident but said information is “sketchy”.

    Speaking on Midday News on 3FM on Wednesday, April 5, Mr Seidu Jasaw said relative calm has returned to the area, according to the Assembly member he talked to.

    He said the matter has been reported to the Upper West Regional Police Command, which is now handling the case.

    A manhunt to arrest the gunmen has been launched.

    “The police in Wa municipality were alerted and they got on to the scene but the activities had taken place and the assailants had left.

    “At the moment, my information is that the case has been reported to the regional police CID.”

    There are suspicions that the case may be as a result of simmering chieftaincy and land disputes.

    The MP also said some residents suspect the assailants may be galamseyers who are trying to assert their control of the area.

  • Farmer allegedly shot dead by police over Fulani menace

    Farmer allegedly shot dead by police over Fulani menace

    At his home in Maamekrobo, in the Kwahu Afram Plains South District of the Eastern Region, 54-year-old farmer Kwasi Ahoku is said to have been shot dead by police.

    The incident occurred on Friday, February 3, 2023, around 6:30am.

    It is alleged that the police are the cause of the death after firing several shots into the house of the deceased in an attempt to force him out for interrogation after a Fulani herdsman claimed that his cattle has been gunned down by a farmer suspected to be the deceased.

    A resident who is the former Chairman of the Afram Plains Farmers Association, Mathew Afrani in an interview on Agoo FM Morning revealed that about fifteen bullets were fired at the deceased residence, leaving several gunshot marks on the wall of the house.

    “After the gunshots, the police forced and broke into the room of the suspect and found him dead with gunshot wounds on his body in a pool of blood,” he said.

    Speaking on the matter, the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Kwahu Afram Plains South District Assembly, Evans Kyei Ntiri expressed his displeasure with the devastating incident which has occurred in his district.

    He explained that he had a call from the District Police Commander who informed him of the incident.

    He said, according to the Police, the deceased (Kwasi Ahoku) tried to face off with the policemen when the police got to his residence.

    “He challenged the police that he is also in possession of a gun which escalated the tension and resulted in many warning shots released in the skies. As the police broke into the room, they saw the man dead lying beside his gun. We are still investigating the matter to know the actual root of the incident,” Mr Ntiri said.

    Police say the matter is under investigation and will be receiving persons who are willing to help out with information on the said incident.

  • Nigerian Catholic priest shot dead by gunmen

    Nigerian Catholic priest shot dead by gunmen

    Armed men have shot and killed a Catholic priest at his church in Kafin Koro, northern Nigeria, leaving his rectory set on fire.

    The body of Father Isaac Achi was found in the charred ruins of the building.

    Another priest, Father Collins Omeh, was shot as he tried to escape the blaze and subsequently taken to hospital.

    He told local reporters that Father Achi was shot dead by the gunmen, who he said were shouting jihadi slogans.

    In a separate incident, a gang in the north-western state of Katsina kidnapped at least five people as they prepared for a church service.

    Source: BBC

  • Specialised intel operation by police leads to arrest of two armed robbers

    The police in the Ashanti Region on Thursday, October 13 arrested two armed robbers after a specialised intelligence operation.

    One other robber attempted to fire at the police but he was overpowered by returned fire, leaving him dead upon arrival at the hospital.

    According to a statement issued by the Director of Public Affairs at the Ghana Police Service, Grace Ansah-Akrofi,  the deceased, whose name was given as Issaka Muniru, was wanted after jumping bail at the court.

    He had led a gang to rob a pastor of his two gold watches and mobile phones on May 26, 2021.

    “The deceased was granted bail by the court but he jumped the bail and a bench warrant was therefore issued for his arrest,” the police statement said.

    “His accomplices are still attending trial at the court.”

    In another robbery instance, he was arrested among four “but he managed to escape”.

    The three suspects have since been remanded into prison custody.

    The police commended the Ashanti Regional Police Command, especially personnel of the Regional Intelligence and Operations teams, for leading the operation.

    “We would like to assure the public that we will continue to carry out our constitutional mandate of protecting life and property and maintaining law and order even at the peril of our lives.”