A fire outbreak in Debrahkrom, Koforidua, caused partial damage to an electric pole and power cables in the early hours of March 12.
Emergency responders from the ERHQ Sub-Station arrived at the scene at 2:30 a.m., shortly after receiving a distress call. Upon arrival, they found flames and smoke rising from the transformer pole, with reports of loud explosions before the area experienced a blackout.
Firefighters worked swiftly to contain the blaze, bringing it under control by 3:00 a.m. and fully extinguishing it four minutes later. Their prompt intervention helped prevent extensive damage to the transformer, averting a potential power crisis in the area.
Authorities are assessing the extent of the damage while efforts are underway to restore stability to the local power supply.
A dispute at the Koforidua Police Headquarters disrupted the special voting exercise in the Eastern Region on Monday, with tensions flaring between party officials and security personnel.
Tijani Mikano, the New Juaben South Organizer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), clashed with security officers after resisting instructions to leave the designated voting perimeter.
Mikano accused the Electoral Commission (EC) and security personnel of bias, claiming a New Patriotic Party (NPP) official was campaigning within the restricted area.
“The EC has given us a parameter in which we should distance ourselves from the voters, but the NPP is campaigning in the queue so I also decided to campaign with my team but the EC says it is not allowed. If it is not allowed, they should drive the others back so the voters can cast their vote…,” he explained the cause of the incident.
The incident escalated into a heated confrontation, attracting attention from voters, security personnel, and EC officials. Darlington Annan, the presiding officer, explained that the misunderstanding stemmed from Mikano’s belief that NPP agents were violating the voting perimeter.
“He [the NPP representative] was moving around and was asked to move from the queue because he was causing a nuisance to the voters so he was advised to leave the queue, but as he was going, the opponent thought he was interfering so they wanted to know what was happening and in the process, it escalated to a debate between them,” he narrated.
Eastern Region correspondent Kofi Siaw reported that it took the intervention of EC officials and police officers to defuse the situation. Both parties were spoken to and subsequently vacated the premises, allowing voting to continue peacefully.
Meanwhile, special voting in the Western Region has proceeded smoothly with minimal disruptions. Voting in both Eastern and Western Regions had initially been delayed due to a printing error on ballot papers, which necessitated reprinting by the EC.
Calm has since returned to the Koforidua Police Headquarters, with voting progressing without further incidents.
Tensions erupted at the Koforidua Police Headquarters in the Eastern Region during the special voting exercise following a heated altercation over voting perimeter restrictions.
The incident involved Tijani Mikano, the New Juaben South Organizer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), who clashed with security personnel after resisting instructions to leave the voting perimeter. Mikano insisted he would only comply if a New Patriotic Party (NPP) representative, accused of campaigning within the restricted area, was also removed.
“The EC has given us a parameter in which we should distance ourselves from the voters, but the NPP is campaigning in the queue so I also decided to campaign with my team, but the EC says it is not allowed. If it is not allowed, they should drive the others back so the voters can cast their vote…,” Mikano explained.
The situation escalated into a heated exchange, attracting the attention of voters, security personnel, and Electoral Commission (EC) officials at the scene.
According to Darlington Annan, the presiding officer, the NDC executive was misinformed about the activities of the NPP representative. He clarified that the NPP representative, who had caused a disturbance, had already been asked to leave the queue.
“He [the NPP representative] was moving around and was asked to move from the queue because he was causing a nuisance to the voters, so he was advised to leave the queue. But as he was going, the opponent thought he was interfering, so they wanted to know what was happening, and in the process, it escalated to a debate between them,” Annan recounted.
JoyNews reported that EC officials and police officers intervened to de-escalate the situation. Both parties were subsequently escorted away from the premises, and calm was restored. Voting resumed without further interruptions.
Meanwhile, in the Western Region, the special voting exercise progressed smoothly with little to no reported incidents.
It is worth noting that the special voting, originally scheduled for Monday across all 14 regions, was delayed in the Eastern and Western regions due to a mishap that required the Electoral Commission to recall and reprint ballot papers.
The Ghana Police Service has reported that the issue involving a broken seal on a bag of electoral materials in Koforidua, destined for a constituency in the Eastern Region, has been successfully resolved.
Reports had suggested that the seal was found broken when the materials were removed from the armoury. The break occurred during the packing and unpacking process.
However, in an official press statement, the police assured the public that the contents of the bag remain intact and confirmed that the broken seal has been also been retrieved.
“The Ghana Police Service wishes to inform the public that an incident involving the broken seal of one electoral material bag in Koforidua, intended for distribution to one of the constituencies within the Eastern Region, has been successfully resolved.
“It has been revealed that when the bags were removed from the armoury, one of the seals was found to be off. It has been established that this occurred as a result of the packing and unpacking of the bags.
“The broken seal has been found and the contents of the bag have been confirmed to be intact by the stakeholders, including the Electoral Commission and representatives of the political parties who witnessed the incident,” parts of the statement read.
Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission (EC), in collaboration with political party representatives, verified that the bag’s contents were intact and untampered with.
The matter has been fully addressed, with stakeholders reassured of the integrity and security of the electoral materials.
A standoff has erupted between the Counter Terrorism Unit of the Ghana Police Service and residents of Ada, Magazine, Aboabo, Wawase, and Nkurakan.
The conflict began when community members blocked the main Koforidua-Nkurakan road in protest of its deteriorating condition.
On Thursday morning, clad in red and black, residents took to the streets, obstructing traffic with tires, logs, and wooden boxes, which left many commuters stranded as public transport was disrupted along this vital route.
The protesters expressed their outrage over the road’s safety, highlighting that over ten individuals, including a student and motorcycle riders, have tragically lost their lives in accidents that could have been avoided if the road conditions were better.
Leading the demonstration were four assembly members from Ada, Aboabo, Magazine, and Nkurakan, alongside Nana Asiedu Oduro, the chief of Adukrom Akwadum.
They have issued a two-week ultimatum to the government, demanding the contractor return to finish the project or face significant consequences.
“Construction began on this road in 2019 and it is still not completed and so we are on the streets demonstrating because we are suffering and we give the contractor and the government two weeks to come to our aid because this is a major road.”
The Ministry of Health has announced a public health emergency due to the recent detection of poliovirus in Koforidua.
On September 16, 2024, the ministry reported that routine surveillance uncovered circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2. Environmental samples from the area also tested positive for the virus.
As a result, the ministry is taking immediate action to prevent a potential outbreak.
“The Polio Laboratory of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) which serves as the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Polio Laboratory, through routine surveillance activities on polio, has detected circulating Vaccine Derived Poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) from environmental sample in the Koforidua site in Eastern Region.
“The sample was collected on 20 August 2024. The isolation result was obtained on 3rd September 2024 as suspected polio and subsequently confirmed as cVDPV2 on 5th September 2024. This detection of environmental polio constitutes a Public Health Emergency,” the statement said.
Ghanaians are being advised on essential preventive measures to avoid contracting poliovirus.
Polio is a highly contagious viral illness that, in severe cases, can lead to nerve damage, paralysis, breathing difficulties, and potentially death, especially in children.
The virus spreads through direct contact with an infected person or, less frequently, via contaminated food and water.
Individuals infected with poliovirus can transmit the virus through their feces for several weeks.
In a daring daylight robbery, two men on a motorbike seized GHS55,000 from a mobile money vendor in Atwima Koforidua.
The incident occurred as the vendor was returning from the bank to his shop. According to eyewitnesses, the robbers meticulously tracked the vendor from the bank to the exact location where he alighted from the vehicle he used to leave the financial institution.
The robbers, operating on a motorbike, ambushed the vendor and forcibly took the cash he was carrying. The bold nature of the heist has raised significant concerns about security and safety in the area.
Two men on a motorbike snatched GHS55,000 in broad daylight from a mobile money vendor who was returning from the bank to his shop in Atwima Koforidua this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/s1Vio27LBc
The Effiduase Police Command in the New Juaben North Municipality has launched an investigation into the death of a 28-year-old man, Ibrahim Ahmed, whose body was discovered early Tuesday morning at Pipeline, a suburb of Koforidua.
The lifeless body of Ahmed was found by passersby who promptly alerted personnel from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO). Subsequently, NADMO officials contacted the Effiduase Police Command to initiate the investigation.
Upon arrival at the scene, police officers documented the site, taking photographs and collecting forensic evidence. They also engaged with local residents to gather any information that could shed light on the circumstances surrounding Ahmed’s death.
Kankam Twumasi Daniel, the New Juaben North Deputy Municipal Director of NADMO, confirmed the incident, stating that the victim’s body has been moved to St. Joseph Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
“In the early hours of Tuesday, we received a call from Pipeline within the New Juaben North Municipality, specifically Asokore. We had to call the Effiduase Police Command to collaborate with them to move to the scene,” Daniel said.
“Upon arrival, we saw the lifeless body of a young man named Ibrahim Ahmed. The circumstances leading to his death are not yet determined. Police officers are continuing their investigation, and the body has been transported to the St. Joseph mortuary for autopsy. Family members have been identified and have come to assist the team.”
The Koforidua Senior High Technical School (SECTECH) bus involved in the fatal crash on June 29, 2024, was uninsured as per reports.
Transporting about 50 staff members to a funeral, the bus crashed on a sharp curve along the Aseseeso to Somanya road in the Eastern Region.
Tragically, the accident claimed the life of a female kitchen staff member and left several others injured.
In response, Eastern Regional Minister Seth Kwame Acheampong, the Eastern Regional Director of Education, and leaders from the Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) visited the bereaved family and the school to offer condolences.
They also visited six victims still hospitalized at the Eastern Regional Hospital.
The bus, registered GV 84-22, was part of a fleet donated to schools by the government through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND) in 2022.
However, investigations by Starr News revealed that the bus had never been insured, as confirmed by the National Insurance Commission’s (NIC) Motor Insurance Database.
Consequently, none of the accident victims, including the deceased, will receive insurance benefits. Moreover, the vehicle itself is ineligible for coverage for repairs or replacement.
This incident has reignited discussions about state institutions’ compliance with the Insurance Act 2021 (Act 1061), which mandates insurance coverage for all vehicles on public roads.
Senior Minister Yaw Osafo-Maafo in 2018 explained the government’s reluctance to insure its vehicles: “As I speak, all government vehicles are not insured. As a policy, you don’t, because the frequency is such that the government is prepared to pay for insurance coverage for people in an accident rather than insuring its vehicles. It’s a cost estimate.” He, however, urged the government to insure all its vehicles to boost the insurance sector.
Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor, MP for South Dayi, 2022 criticized the government on this matter, stating, “If we have over 18,000 government vehicles and about 98 to 99 percent of them are not insured, that is the problem that the Public Accounts Committee has uncovered, and it’s such an indictment on our public governance structure.”
Additionally, Suweibatu Adam, Chief Director at the Attorney General’s Office, revealed that budget constraints had left 92 official vehicles of the Ministry of Justice uninsured, raising further concerns about financial oversight and accountability.
The unfortunate Koforidua SECTECH bus accident underscores the critical need for government institutions, especially schools, to prioritize vehicle insurance. This is essential not only for ensuring the safety and welfare of students and staff but also for protecting public assets against unforeseen incidents.
Five-year-old Richlove Addobea Haminu tragically drowned during a heavy downpour in Koforidua on Tuesday.
The heartbreaking incident occurred in front of the child’s family home near the Normal Technical School while her parents were at work.
It’s reported that the young girl was celebrating her birthday on the same day.
Accompanied by her fourteen-year-old sibling, who was collecting rainwater for storage, the child slipped into the flowing water and was swept away.
Efforts were promptly launched by a joint team comprising the Police, the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), and community volunteers. Despite their thorough search, the victim remains missing.
The family’s home has become a gathering point for sympathizers, offering condolences and support during this difficult time.
Richlove’s mother, Magdalen Agyeiwaa, expressed profound sadness over the incident but remains hopeful for a positive outcome.
She shared the circumstances leading to the tragedy, emphasizing that Richlove was in the care of her siblings at the time.
She narrated to Kasapa News, “Today is her birthday, so I promised to send her to KFC. So, I decided to go to town to get some money to take her to KFC. But when I got to Agatha market, the rains started. I later received a call from one of my mother-in-laws that my daughter had drowned. I was shocked because they don’t go out when it is raining. I rushed home to confirm the sad incident. She was not in the house alone. She was in the care of other siblings. They are five, and she is the fourth born.”
Among those extending condolences is Rosina Tetteh, a teacher at Grace Child Academy, where Richlove was enrolled.
Alongside other sympathizers, she visited the family to offer comfort and solace.
Ghana marked her 67th Independence Day Celebration on Wednesday, March 6 2024, at Koforidua, Eastern Region.
The celebration was attended by distinguished guests, including Ivorian President, Alassane Ouattara, who served as the Special Guest of Honour.
The event, themed “Our Democracy, Our Pride,” highlighted democratic values and foster peace, especially in anticipation of the upcoming 2024 general elections.
However, president Akufo-Addo who was present at the occasion was caught on camera dozing off while the ceremony was ongoing.
In an attempt to get the president’s full participation, the First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, nudged him.
A video circulating on social media showcasing the Krobo people publicly displaying their cultural heritage has stirred a range of opinions among online users.
The footage depicts a young lady in traditional attire, engaging in a ritual where a napkin is rubbed across her body, leading to divided reactions among viewers.
The incident, which occurred in Koforidua, has sparked a heated debate, with some advocating for a ban on such practices, while others applaud the cultural significance.
The controversial event is part of the Dipo Rites, a well-known but criticised traditional festival and practice in Ghana.
Despite facing criticism, it remains one of the most attended events in the country, drawing significant interest from tourists.
The Dipo Rites, celebrated by the people of Odumase Krobo in the Eastern region of Ghana, takes place annually in April.
The festival symbolises the transition of virgin girls into womanhood, signifying their eligibility for marriage. Parents, upon hearing the announcement of the rites, send their eligible daughters to the chief priest.
However, participation requires the girls to undergo rituals and tests to prove their chastity before being deemed qualified for the festival.
Watch video below:
Krobo Cultural display at the 67th Ghana independence celebration in Koforidua.
I think it’s high Time these practices are abolished.
Ghana marked her 67th Independence Day Celebration on Wednesday, March 6 2024, at Koforidua, Eastern Region.
The celebration was attended by distinguished guests, including Ivorian President, Alassane Ouattara, who served as the Special Guest of Honour.
The event, themed “Our Democracy, Our Pride,” highlighted democratic values and foster peace, especially in anticipation of the upcoming 2024 general elections.
However, president Akufo-Addo who was present at the occasion was caught on camera dozing off while the ceremony was ongoing.
In an attempt to get the president’s full participation, the First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, nudged him.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Seth Kwame Acheampong, has disclosed ongoing preparations for the upcoming 67th Independence Day celebrations in Koforidua, emphasizing the thorough arrangements in place to ensure the success of the event.
In an interview with JoyNews on March 5, just before the scheduled celebration on Wednesday, Acheampong highlighted the extensive rehearsals conducted over the past weeks, with the final one taking place the previous day.
He assured that not only are the contingents ready, but the designated venue for the event is also fully prepared.
Acknowledging the potential influx of people into the town and the resulting heavy traffic, the minister mentioned that the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service would strategically deploy personnel to manage the situation at crucial points.
“We have been rehearsing for the past weeks. Yesterday was our final rehearsal day with all the contingents on parade. That aside, the ground where we are going to host this event is also ready.”
Themed “Our Democracy, Our Pride,” the Independence Day celebration on March 7 is anticipated to draw attention to Koforidua, with Acheampong expressing enthusiasm about the region being the hosting location.
He believes that the event will not only attract more people to Koforidua but also contribute to promoting the city as a desirable travel destination.
Addressing the anticipated challenges, Acheampong assured the public that a dedicated health team would be on standby to promptly respond to any emergencies that may arise during the celebration.
“Most people might have already heard of Koforidua, but with the coming into town for the celebration, it is going to bring more people…and it is going to help promote Koforidua,” he said.
A heartbreaking encounter unfolded on the streets of New York when a homeless Ghanaian man, Yaw Kennah, approached a fellow Ghanaian brother, begging for money to buy food.
The homeless man, who has been living on the streets without a job for years, shared his harrowing story with his compatriot.
According to him, he arrived in the United States about 16 years ago to attend a conference. However, he never returned home and instead sought employment at a car wash company in Virginia.
He hoped that previous governments would pass an immigration bill that would allow him to obtain the necessary documents to stay legally in the country.
Unfortunately, his plans did not materialize, and he found himself without a home, sleeping at shelters, train stations and on trains at times.
Despite his efforts to make a living, the man’s dreams were shattered, leaving him destitute and in desperate need of assistance.
“Please I am struggling. Can I get some money to buy food,” Yaw told his fellow brother.
Yaw’s mum hails from Sehwi Bekwai in Western Region and his father, Koforidua, Korantumi in the Eastern Region.
A homeless Ghanaian man approached his fellow Ghanaian brother on the streets of New York to beg for a small amount of money in order to buy food, as he has been homeless and jobless for years now.
A police officer has sustained serious injuries during a violent clash at the New Juaben North constituency in the Eastern Region.
The incident occurred in the midst of an attempt to halt an alleged spiritual incantation at a voting center, reportedly orchestrated by supporters of Nana Agyei, also known as Djoe, a contender in the parliamentary primary.
Reports indicate that a small group of the contender’s supporters gathered at the voting center during the night for the purported incantation. When attempts were made to intervene and stop the ritual, the situation escalated into violence, resulting in a near-fatal attack on the police officer.
The injured officer is currently undergoing treatment at the Koforidua Central Hospital, highlighting the severity of the clash. This incident has cast a shadow over the NPP primaries, adding to the already heightened tension in the lead-up to the crucial electoral process.
In the New Juaben North constituency, where the violent altercation occurred, the competition among candidates is intense. Notable contenders include Seth Kwame Acheampong, the Eastern Regional Minister, as well as Nana Osei Adjei, Joseph Osei Djaba, Philip Twum Yeboah, and Sampson Kwesi Annor.
The altercation underscores the charged atmosphere surrounding the upcoming NPP polls in the region. Seth Acheampong’s bid to return to Parliament is deemed crucial for the NPP, particularly with the exit of key members from the Majority Caucus. Prominent figures leaving Parliament include Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, First Deputy Speaker Joe Osei Owusu, Atta Akyea, Joe Ghartey, Ken Agyapong, and others.
Seth Acheampong, having previously served as a Member of Parliament for the Mpraeso constituency, is now seeking to represent New Juaben North, succeeding the incumbent Nana Adjei Boateng. His extensive parliamentary experience is viewed as invaluable in addressing the gaps left by the voluntary exit of numerous Members of the Majority Caucus of the NPP.
The voluntary exit of these experienced MPs has raised serious concerns about the future trajectory of the NPP, leaving a void in the party’s leadership and parliamentary representation. Seth Kwame Acheampong’s return to Parliament is seen as pivotal, and he is receiving substantial support from delegates and key figures within the NPP to bolster the party’s standing in the next Parliament.
At the constituency level, former New Juaben North NPP chairman Kwadwo Boateng Agyemang has officially declared support for Acheampong, emphasizing his competence, hard work, humility, and vision for the youth.
G/Cop. Micheal Appiah-Kubi of the New Tafo-Akim District Police Command played a key role in uncovering and apprehending Gideon Kojo Asomani Addo, the alleged murderer of his mother, Madam Oforiwaa Mercy in Kyekyewere, Eastern Region, Ghana.
The police officer explained that he became involved when a friend named Kwabena sought assistance to apprehend Gideon for stealing two thousand (2000) cement blocks intended for a building project on Kwabena’s land.
During investigations, Gideon confessed to stealing and selling the blocks.
Subsequently, the police questioned him about his mother’s disappearance, which had been reported seven months earlier. Gideon admitted to the crime, leading investigators to the crime scene.
The deceased has been identified as Madam Mercy Oforiwaa, a retired staff member of the Roads and Highways Authority.
According to sources, Madam Oforiwaa Mercy went missing around 7 months ago, prompting her family to report her disappearance to the police.
The police officially declared her missing and initiated efforts to locate her, including distributing posters in the town seeking information about her whereabouts.
Following police investigations, it was revealed that Madam Oforiwaa Mercy was killed by her son, identified as Kojo Asomani Addo.
A 26-year-old man, Gideon Kojo Asomani Addo, has been apprehended for the killing and burial of his mother in an uncompleted building in a shocking incident at Koforidua-Kyekyewere, near Nyamekrom in the Eastern Region.
The deceased, Mercy Oforiwaa, a retired staff member of the Roads and Highway Authority, was reported missing on June 17, 2023. Despite the family’s efforts, including reporting her disappearance to the police and making numerous radio announcements, her whereabouts remained unknown.
The suspicion of iron rod theft by a neighbor heightened concerns, leading to Gideon Kojo Asomani’s arrest by the police in Koforidua. Shockingly, during police interrogation, he confessed to murdering his mother and burying her in an uncompleted building.
On Wednesday, December 6, 2023, the police accompanied the suspect to the crime scene to verify the alleged burial site. Traditional leaders in the community poured libation to purify the area. Subsequently, an exhumation will be conducted by the police to aid the ongoing investigation.
The daughter of the deceased has been speaking to the media, shedding light on the tragic unfolding of this distressing incident. According to her, the deceased (her mother) was suffering from dementia; therefore, the family was hoping to find her in a few days, but six months later, they lost hope, suspecting foul play.
She said her brother’s strange behavior in recent times deepened their suspicion that he might have killed their mother.
The lifeless body of an unidentified woman in her forties has been discovered in Koforidua Asokore, located behind the Odomankoma block factory in the New Juaben North Municipality of the Eastern Region.
Residents of the area made the grim discovery around 7 p.m. on Wednesday, October 11.
In response to a distress call, officers from the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) in the municipality swiftly arrived at the scene, accompanied by police personnel from the Effiduase district command.
The exact cause of death remains unknown as the police have initiated their investigative procedures. However, the residents of the area are growing increasingly concerned, as this marks the third such incident in less than a month. In the previous month, two women were tragically murdered by unidentified assailants.
Confirming the incident to Citi News, Kankam Twumasi Daniel, the New Juaben North Deputy Municipal Director of NADMO, disclosed that the deceased’s body has been taken to the St. Joseph Hospital morgue for a thorough autopsy.
He stated, “Around 7 pm yesterday, we received a call that the dead body of an unidentified lady in her forties has been found behind Odomankoma block factory at Asokore.
A team of NADMO officials and the Ghana Police Service was organized to convey the body from the place to St. Joseph’s mortuary. The case is under investigation by the Police.”
Education officials in Sekyere Afram Plains, Ashanti Region are depending on drones to distribute examination papers to students taking this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
This is as a result of the challenges facing the West African Examination Council (WAEC) in delivering materials to students in the Sekyere Afram Plains area after the Sene River overflowed its banks, education authorities have turned to drones as a solution.
The Director of Education for the Sekyere Afram Plains District, Prince Owusu Ansah, has revealed that drones will be utilized throughout the duration of the examination.
“We will be conducting the exams throughout the week, with the drones facilitating the delivery of questions to the candidates. These questions will be securely housed at the Anyinam police station. Once the exams conclude on Friday, we are hopeful that the road conditions will have improved, the water levels would have receded, allowing us to transport all the answer scripts by road to the depot at Mampong,” stated Mr. Ansah.
Across the nation, a total of over 600,000 students are participating in the week-long Basic Education Certificate Examination. Among them, there are 300,323 males and 300,391 females from 18,993 schools nationwide.
This year’s cohort of candidates marks the final group to undertake the Basic Education Certificate Examination, which has been a part of the educational landscape for over three decades.
Personnel from the Ghana Police Service (GPS), National Investigations Bureau (NIB), along with external invigilators, have been dispatched to address any instances of examination misconduct that might arise at various examination centers during the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the New Juaben South Municipality of the Eastern Region.
A total of 2,488 candidates from 76 different primary schools are currently participating in the BECE at four examination centers located in Koforidua.
The Municipal Director of Education, Mustapha Haruna Appiah, emphasized that comprehensive measures have been established to prevent any form of examination misconduct at all the Koforidua centers.
He stated, “Stringent entry protocols have been put in place. If a search reveals no unauthorized materials, candidates will be allowed into the examination hall. We have also engaged with the students, conducting sessions last week to enlighten them about the consequences of engaging in examination malpractice. We believe they have attentively heeded this advice and will exhibit appropriate behavior.”
“During our visits, we observed a high level of confidence among the candidates. This indicates that the risk of examination misconduct is low, given our proactive measures. Additionally, the presence of the BNI and other security personnel serves as a deterrent. Students are well aware that any misbehavior will result in legal consequences,” he asserted.
Isaac Appau Gyasi, the Municipal Chief Executive, expressed commendation for both the involved stakeholders and the candidates themselves, highlighting their exemplary attitude and behavior. He pledged the assembly’s commitment to support academically talented but financially challenged students in their pursuit of further education, contingent on their successful performance.
“Today’s observations underscore the effectiveness of the teachers’ preparations, and the students’ dedication is evident. This fills me with satisfaction, and I am confident that the outcomes will be favorable for all parties involved.”
“We want to assure the students that the assembly remains dedicated to their success. Our support will continue, as it has in the past. Our primary desire is for them to excel and excel admirably,” he affirmed.
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.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in the Eastern Region has made a heartfelt plea to the residents, urging them to establish watchdog committees in their neighborhoods to protect transformers and other equipment from thefts.
The appeal comes in response to a notable increase in transformer thefts within the region, carried out by unidentified individuals.
Within a span of just one month, seven transformers have fallen victim to theft. One such incident involved a 50 kv transformer, installed for streetlights near Koforidua’s Oyoko Roundabout, which was taken away last Tuesday.
Additionally, thieves brought down a transformer at Pampaso No 1 in the Suhum district, opening the tank and making off with valuable copper wires.
On another occasion, an attempt was made on a transformer located at Oboma farms in Kade.
The Public Relations Officer of ECG in the Eastern Region, Emmanuel Halm, disclosed that the thieves recently cut off cables and disconnected panels of a transformer, plunging the entire community into darkness. Fortunately, they managed to escape when alert passersby raised an alarm.
The surge in transformer thefts has become a significant concern for ECG, with a total of four transformers brought down and attempts made to access their tanks during this period. Copper wires have been a common target for these thieves.
In light of these troubling incidents, ECG appeals to the general public for assistance in apprehending these culprits who continue to pose a threat to the electrical infrastructure.
The establishment of community watchdog committees can play a crucial role in protecting the vital equipment and ensuring the well-being of the entire region.
“We have been hit by a worrying trend which is a surge in transformer thefts. We have visited seven electricity-mounted transformers and four transformers have been brought down and the thieves attempted to open the tanks of the transformers, and they often steal the copper wires. Just this Monday, we were hit by another theft near the Kade District
“We are therefore appealing to the general public to help us to apprehend such culprits who come around our transformers.”
Koforidua police have begun a probe into the death of Bonzie Kelvin, a final-year student at Ofori Panin Senior High School (OPASS).
Kelvin, 19, was discovered with multiple knife wounds and in critical condition. He was rushed to Effiduase St. Joseph Hospital but unfortunately passed away on July 13, 2023.
Kelvin had obtained permission to attend his sister’s wedding before returning to prepare for the upcoming West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The cause of his death remains unknown, meanwhile, the Adweso Command personnel have initiated an investigation to apprehend the suspects.
Unknown assailants have lynched to death a final-year science student at Ofori Panin Senior High School (OPASS) in the Eastern area in Koforidua.
On Wednesday evening, a young 19-year-old student known as Kelvin Bonzy, also referred to as Paa Kwasi, was discovered by a passerby in a grievous condition near Koforidua Technical University (KTU). He was lying in a pool of blood, battling for his life, having sustained multiple knife wounds.
Prompt medical attention was sought, and he was swiftly transported to St. Joseph Hospital. Tragically, despite the efforts made, Kelvin’s injuries proved fatal, and he passed away in the early hours of Thursday.
Kelvin, who had been diligently preparing to sit for the West Africa Secondary Schools Certificate Examination (WASSCE) scheduled for the following month, was highly regarded by his former teacher as a brilliant student.
His parents, filled with hope for his future, had envisioned him becoming a Medical Doctor. This loss is undoubtedly a profound tragedy for his loved ones and the entire community.
Ghanaian female rapper Eno Barony, a well-known rapper, did not spare any effort when she graced the stage at her eagerly anticipated Eid Concert last weekend in Koforidua Zongo.
The Magic Mindx-organized event featured a talented lineup of musicians, including Jupitar, Amerado, Yaw Tog, Koo Ntakra, and EL Kojo, among many other well-known performers who enthralled the audience with their outstanding performances.
The ecstatic fans couldn’t contain their excitement as they witnessed some of Ghana’s top musicians belting out their chart-topping hits.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere was charged, with the crowd chanting along to every lyric, solidifying Eno Barony’s position as a commanding force in the country’s music scene.
Shortly after the concert, Eno Barony took to her official Instagram page to express her gratitude to her loyal fans and fellow artistes who graced the stage alongside her.
She penned a heartfelt message, saying, “I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the incredible artistes who joined me on stage at my Eid Concert last Saturday! Your exceptional performances brought the house down and left the crowd in awe. Each one of you showcased your talent with utmost brilliance, and I am immensely grateful for your contribution to the resounding success of my concert. My team at Magic Mindx and I deeply appreciate your support. Special thanks to Amerado, Yaw Tog, Jupitar, Koo Ntakra, Wise B, and EL Kojo.”
Eno Barony’s Eid Concert in Koforidua Zongo undoubtedly proved to be an unforgettable night for music enthusiasts, leaving a lasting impression of the rapper’s prowess and the remarkable talent showcased by the assembled artistes.
On Tuesday, some angry residents in Boti and Nkurakan in the Yilo Krobo Municipality of the Eastern Region attacked thepolicefor detaining a lady who allegedly sold marijuana in big quantities in the area.
The plain cloth police officers came under spontaneous attack by residents of Boti where the suspect was arrested forcing them to fire warning shots.
One person was hit by the bullet.
The irate residents of Boti who were pursuing the police officers aboard a taxi called other residents along the Boti to Huhunya and Nkurakanroad to mount a barricade claiming the police officers were armed robbers.
The youth of Nkurakan blocked the road at the Nkurakan Police station area, burnt the taxi used by the police officers, and attempted to lynch them but were saved by the local police.
Reinforcement from the Eastern Regional Police headquarters arrived at the scene amid firing of warning shots.
The windscreen of the police vehicle was smashed. The standoff between the police and the irate youth lasted for several hours before the atmosphere deescalated.
The police whisked their men under attack to the Koforidua Divisional Headquarters.
On Saturday, June 17 a man who killed his 23-year-old lady girlfriend at Trom, a suburb of Koforidua in the Eastern Region has voluntarily surrendered to the police.
The deceased body was found in her rented apartment on Saturday night after the suspect, her boyfriend, led police to the place.
According to co-tenants with the deceased, theboyfriend was the last person to visit her during a naming ceremony.
They are shocked at the incident because they did not hear any scream for help from the deceased room.
“I saw him when he entered, he didn’t even greet us. He looked calm in demeanour. I am so shocked this has happened. When he entered we were already having the naming ceremony. This is soo sad,” one of the male tenants said.
A return to the scene with the suspect on Sunday to find the sharp object used in the murder was not unsuccessful, police said.
A careful observation of the scene indicates the deceased struggled with the suspect.
The suspect is currently in police custody as investigations continue.
This is the second case of a murder by a suspected boyfriend in a space of weeks in the Eastern Region.
The Eastern Regional Hospital in Koforidua has released fifteen patients who were unable to afford their medical bills.
The patients, who had gone through various medical procedures and were discharged to go home by health professionals, were unable to reunite with their families for more than three weeks.
Their release came after the management of Suzy Herbal Center responded positively to a distress call made by the management of the Koforidua Central Hospital to assist in paying up the medical bills, which totalled more than GH¢30,000.
The Clinical Director at the Eastern Regional Hospital, Dr. Foster Amponsah, described the situation as taking a toll on the operations of the hospital and increasing congestion at the facility.
He called on corporate Ghana to come to the aid of several others who are still being detained at the hospital due to their inability to pay their medical bills.
On his part, the Public Relations Officer of Suzy Herbal Center, Charles Obiri, who spoke to Citi News, called on the government and the Ministry of Health to review the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to help cater for the needs of the very vulnerable and less privileged in society.
Tragedy unfolded in Trom, a suburb of Koforidua in the Eastern Region, as a jilted lover allegedly took the life of his girlfriend.
The horrifying incident took place on June 17, 2023, at Junction 5 in the Trom community.
According to reports, the victim had been in the process of ending the relationship with the suspect and had recently moved to her current residence. On the day of the incident, while a naming ceremony was underway in the house, the suspect visited his girlfriend.
Witnesses residing in the same house stated that the victim went outside to meet the suspect and then brought him into her room. Amidst the commotion of the naming ceremony, it is believed that the suspect murdered the victim, drowning out her desperate screams for help.
The suspect, who is in his 30s, allegedly engaged in a struggle with the victim before forcefully gagging her with a piece of cloth and slitting her throat. Later in the evening, the suspect, wearing a red shirt with the words ‘Rest In Peace’ on the back, turned himself in to the police.
Following an examination of the crime scene, the police recovered the victim’s lifeless body and transported it to the morgue. The community was engulfed in anger and tension, as enraged youth gathered at the scene, threatening retaliation against the suspect. To prevent further escalation, the police quickly removed the suspect from the scene in a taxi.
This heinous crime has left the community in shock and mourning, as the loss of a young life unfolds amidst a tragic love affair gone terribly wrong.
The Eastern Regional Fire Command has begun investigating a fire incident at Daasebere Estate, a suburb ofKoforidua in the New Juaben South Municipality that destroyed an apartment.
Although the cause of the fire is yet to be known by the fire service, some eyewitnesses who spoke to Citi News indicated that there was a spark from a socket in one of the rooms where the occupant was charging her mobile phone.
Some personnel of the National Ambulance Service and the Ghana Police Servicewho occupied the apartments together with their families narrowly escaped death but unfortunately lost all their belongings to the fire.
“I was in town yesterday when they called me that our house was on fire, so I quickly went to the fire service station to report the fire. When I got there, they told me that they had already dispatched a team to attend to the fire. When I got back, they were not there, so we decided to attempt fighting the fire ourselves, but it was too late,” one victim narrated.
The victims are appealing to the public for assistance as they have lost everything in the inferno.
Several new mothers have been detained atKoforidua‘s Eastern Regional Hospital due to their failure to pay medical expenses.
Most of the new mothers went through caesarean sections, while others had their babies admitted at the neonatal Intensive Care Unit, services which have become very expensive in recent times.
The new mothers who claim they are over 20 say their medical bills range between Ghc4,000 to Gh1,000.
Speaking to the media, some of the new mothers said they lost their babies yet the hospital has presented huge medical bills to pay.
Some of the detained new mothers narrated that “We were referred from Begoro to this place. My Children were twins they put them in machine(incubator )they say one is dead yet they have not shown that dead baby to me because they say I have not paid my bills. What to eat is even a problem [she cried]. They said I should pay Ghc4,200.”
Another said “I have been discharged but I have not been able to pay my bills so still detained .There was blood from my baby’s mouth and nose .They gave the baby blood and oxygen but the baby died didn’t survive .They have however given me a bill of Ghc1,200 to pay. I have Health Insurance but it doesn’t work.I came from Begoro. I am now stranded”.
“My bill given to me is also Ghc1,000 They gave my baby oxygen. I came from Kyebi, I am stranded” another stranded new mother narrated.
Lastly, a new mother from Suhum also added “For me it is my bill that I am unable to pay. I have been detained. I have paid some but left with Ghc1,000 .I came from Suhum I don’t have anyone to help me”
The economic hardship being experienced in Ghana has impoverished many lower class people. This has resulted in many of such people struggling to meet basic life necessities such as payment of medical bills.
Their plights have been worsened by the disfunction of the National Health Insurance scheme due to failure by the authority to reimburse health service providers.
The situation is fueling high cases nonpayment of medical bills , revenue losses due to absondment at many hospitals.
The Eastern Regional hospital for instance ,continue to make huge revenue losses to absconders every year.
The hospital for instance, loss GH¢103,476 from about 75 patients who absconded after inability to pay their medical bills in 2022.
In 2017 and 2018, losses made to patients who either absconded or could not pay their medical bills due to poverty amounted to almost Ghc350,000
According to the Hospital, “in 2018 about 20 patients sneaked out of their sick beds and absconded with total medical bills of Ghc11,080 while in 2017, 52 patients also absconded at the blind side of the Hospital Authorities with total medical bills of Ghc23,000.”
Management of the hospital has instituted social welfare services for the poor and vulnerable who genuinely cannot pay their bills to sign undertaking for payment in installments.
In 2018, theHospitalwrote off medical debt of 13 patients identified to be paupers to the tune of Ghc19,000 after Department of Social Welfare had done background checks to established their financial status.
A five-year-old girl is said to have died when a building collapsed on her during a heavy downpour at Ada Magazine in the New Juaben South Municipality of the Eastern Region.
The deceased, Kukua Esther, was in the building with her 7-year-old brother at the time of the unfortunate incident on Saturday.
According to reports, both children were rushed to the Koforidua Central Hospital, however, the girl was pronounced dead my health officers.
The boy, who sustained injuries, is still receiving treatment while the body of the young girl has been deposited at the morgue.
Narrating the incident, mother of the kids, Diana Labotey said, “The children were standing behind me in the kitchen, but I noticed they were feeling cold, so I asked them to go into the room. So after 10 minutes, I heard a loud sound, so I rushed into the room and noticed the back of the building had collapsed on the children. The head of the girl was badly damaged, so when we rushed them to the hospital, she was pronounced dead, but the boy is still at the hospital.”
Personnel from the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) and the Ghana Police Service, who visited the scene, have commenced investigations.
An investigation into a violent attack on students and teachers at New Juaben Senior High School in Koforidua is currently being carried out by the Eastern Regional Police Command.
The attack is believed to have been carried out by suspected students of the Koforidua Senior High Technical School (SECTECH).
The incident, which took place on Sunday evening, resulted in injuries to four students from New Juaben and the school’s chaplain.
The school’s management and alumni have strongly condemned the attack.
According to reports, approximately 30 students from Koforidua SECTECH, who share a wall with New Juaben Senior High School, invaded the premises and attacked students.
The police were called to the scene and managed to drive the attackers away.
However, later that night, after the police had left, hundreds of SECTECH students allegedly returned and began pelting stones. The motive behind the attack remains unclear at this time.
During the incident, SECTECH students allegedly vandalized a school bus, damaged the windshield of the headmaster’s Toyota Corolla, ransacked the school’s sick bay, and caused damage to the roofs of three teachers’ bungalows.
They also reportedly destroyed two poly tanks that served the boys’ dormitory and teachers’ bungalow.
The four injured students from New Juaben and the school’s chaplain have received medical treatment and have been discharged from the hospital.
Upon visiting the scene, Citi News observed numerous stones and other objects scattered around.
Mark Ofori Frimpong, the headmaster of New Juaben Senior High School, confirmed that four students have been arrested in connection with the incident.
He also mentioned that the headmaster of Koforidua SECTECH has requested the cost of all the damaged items.
This recent attack is not an isolated incident, as expressed by alumni of New Juaben Senior High School, who are deeply concerned about the safety of the students.
Eugene Oware Koranteng, President of the 1992 alumni association, believes it is crucial for alumni from both schools to intervene and take preventive measures to avoid such incidents in the future.
Efforts to reach the management of Koforidua SECTECH for comment were unsuccessful.
The period of Akans holding the flagbearership post in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is over, according to Member of Parliament for New Juaben South Constituency in the Eastern region and Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Michael Okyere Baafi.
According to him, it is now time for other tribes to also take over to lead the party as presidential candidates and to ascend the presidential seat.
Mr. Okyere Baafi explained that the NPP is made up of members from different ethnic groups and religions, therefore, appropriate for anyone qualified to lead the party regardless of his or her background.
“What I want to say is that, with the direction of the country, it is not only one community which makes Ghana. We have Ashantis, we have Ewes, we have Gas, we have Krobos and Bonos in Ghana. Some of all these tribes are Members of NPP which means the era where only Akans lead the party is over. Now we need people from all these tribes listed to also lead the party to become president” Okyere Baafi said.
Hon. Michael Okyere Baafi made this comment when speaking at the official launch of “Women Delegates For Bawumia” in Koforidua, the Eastern regional capital.
Okyere Baafi described as deceitful and untenable claims that Ghana is a Christian-dominated country therefore a Muslim cannot become president.
“They say Ghana is a Christian country so some say a Muslim cannot lead the country. This is where I want to speak briefly on. For all those contesting the election, the only one who can be president is called Mr. Mahamudu Bawumia. Among the aspirants the only one who can lead the party into victory, his name is Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia”.
He continued, “Some Christians who want to deceive you that they are the majority so won’t vote for Muslim must cast their minds to Nigeria. In Nigeria, Muslims are majority but the President is a Christian. In Senegal, Muslims are majority but the President is a Christian. Listen very well! A country with diverse tribes means everyone could become president in future”.
He said Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has demystified the myth that Muslims cannot fellowship with Christians in church, and has set a standard that will become a yardstick for every Muslim who wants to be President.
“Christians must listen. For the first time, we are going to have a Muslim as President to serve as standard to every Muslim who dreams to be President. Dr.Bawumia will be the first Muslim to bring that standard because most Muslims don’t enter Churches to fellowship but we have a Muslim (Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia) who attends all-night services, a Muslim who goes to conventions, a Muslim who attends retreats, a Muslim who worships with Christians such a Muslim will become standard”.
He added “So henceforth, every Muslim who wants to be president will follow the standard. He must be a Muslim who can enter into churches, he should be a Muslim who can attend retreats, that is the paradigm shift brought to Ghana by Dr. Bawumia. He is setting a standard for everybody who is a Muslim who wants to become a president, for the first time he has set the standard for all of us. So don’t let anyone deceive you. Dr. Bawumia is well experienced, he has the will-power, he has the expertise, he has knowledge and wisdom to move Ghana forward.”
“Women Delegates for Bawumia” is a new political group within the ruling NPP made up of female delegates who have declared support for Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to become flagbearer of the party in 2024.”
The theme for the Women Delegates for Bawumia is “The Strength of a Woman, the force behind Bawumia.”
The launch was attended by female delegates of the NPP from all 33 Constituencies in the Eastern region.
The National Coordinator of “Women Delegates for Bawumia” Maame Esi Davenport said the aim of the group is to secure 80% female delegates’ votes for Dr. Bawumia.
This she said will be done through a vigorous campaign strategy trumpeting the achievements of the Akufo Addo/Bawumia-led government.
She touted the competence of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in leading the country describing him as an able and exceptional Vice President whose involvement in politics has changed the face of Ghanaian politics.
She stated that Dr. Bawumia’s experience in both the private and public sectors adds to his credentials as the best presidential material.
She averred that Dr. Bawumia has been instrumental in the Akufo Addo-led government’s policy interventions impacting positively the country
Maame Esi Davenport debunked propaganda by opponents that Dr. Bawumia is new in NPP stating that “he has been with the NPP for decades, worked so hard for the NPP to win power through his economic lectures that exposed the incompetence of John Mahama led government” therefore deserves to lead the party.
On women empowerment, she said Dr.Bawumia has demonstrated in many ways his commitment to empowering women to take leadership roles to change society, using his Wife the second lady Samira Bawumia as an example.
The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA)’s move to clamp down on unregistered products continues in various parts of the country. In the latest twist, nine persons have been arrested by the FDA in some parts of Koforidua, the Eastern Regional capital for selling unregistered products.
The Eastern Regional FDA office together with the Koforidua Central Police Command on Thursday, April 13, 2023, organized a swoop at five major information centres within three areas.
The suspects were apprehended for engaging in the sale of unauthorized products such as herbal medicines and cosmetic products in the form of capsule mixtures and balms.
Areas visited by the three teams included Nkurakan, Asokore, and Efiduase.
Other areas include lorry stations and Herbal retail shops within the New Juaben South Municipalities.
Mr George Ampofo Ayeh, the Regional FDA Public Relations Officer on Nkawkaw-based radio station, Agoo FM said authorities are on the verge of eradicating unregistered drugs from the Ghanaian market.
He said a series of similar exercises will be held across regions with their focus on suspicious information centres and hidden areas.
The five-hour operation, which commenced at 5:30 to 10:00 am was the first phase of the exercise which targeted information centres due to complaints reaching the FDA of suspicions of selling illegal products.
Adding up, he indicated that the second phase of the exercise would also be on the selling of unregistered sex enhancement products or aphrodisiacs.
The vice chancellor of Koforidua Technical University, Professor David Kofi Essumang, has disclosed the lack of lecture rooms in the institution.
He argues that the situation forces students to spend a lot of time on campus.
Prof Essumang made the disclosure at the school’s 27th matriculation in Koforidua the Eastern Regional capital.
He further added that inadequate student’s hostel is also a major challenge this he said makes it difficult for his outfit to have grasp of the students.
He entreated the matriculates who were about five thousand one hundred and 43 to be good ambassadors of the school.
He further advised them that their primary aim of enrollment is to study and channel their energies in that direction therefore limiting their time on social media.
The Vice Chancellor also revealed that the University through its Financial Aid Board FAB at the Counselling Unit, financial assistance will be provided to brilliant but needy students and other qualified needy students who, without such assistance, may not be able to meet their educational expenses.
Miss Patricia Oware who represented the matriculants urged her fellow students to take advantage of the opportunity given to them as students of the university and strive to become assets to the nation.
A woman’s body was discovered in the Koforidua stretch of the Densu River.
The corpse was found in a supine position on river rocks close to the Ghana Water Company Limited dam in the eastern region’s Densuano Communities area of New Juaben South.
The body of the yet to be identified woman dressed in local cloth with black piece of cloth around the waist but without sandals was found in the river Friday Morning.
The Densu River is reported to have been full after rainfall few days ago compelling Ghana Water Company Limited to open the dam to avoid damage.
Benjamin Appiah, assembly member for old Estate West confirmed the incident to Starr News.
He said the deceased is not known in the Densuano community and its surrounding areas therefore suspects she might have drowned from a distance yesterday but swept to the Dam area of the river
Benjamin Appiah, said it took the intervention of the New Juaben South Municipal Chief Executive Isaac Appaw Gyasi who released a vehicle at the assembly to NADMO and Police to transport the body to the mortuary.
According to Pius Enam Hadzide, the chief executive officer of theNational Youth Authority (NYA), 5 of 10 Youth Resource Centers currently under construction nationwide are expected to be completed and handed over by the end of March 2023.
The facilities’ development began in 2018 and was intended to take nine months to complete; nevertheless, five years later, not a single one has been finished.
A Joy Sports campaign tagged Bush Resource Centres has been highlighting the neglect and abandoning of the facilities which have already seen about $20 million invested in the projects.
Reacting to the reports by Joy Sports’ Fentuo Tahiru Fentuo on PM Express Wednesday, March 15, Hadzide said the authority has strategically decided to concentrate resources on completing five of the projects. He has now claimed those five will be completed and handed over by the end of the month.
“The instructions to the contractors which we are still following is the end of this quarter so I expected that by the end of March [five of the projects should be completed],” he said on Joy News.
“Tartan track is being laid as we speak in Axim because we are almost complete. I can assure you that we are committed to completing the projects.
“We have almost complete five. We will complete the other five in due time.”
The five projects that are expected to be completed by the end of the month include; Ho, Axim, Koforidua, Wa and Dormaa.
Management of the Eastern Regional Hospital in Koforidua has expressed displeasure over how some patients who visit thehospitalleave without settling their debts.
According to the management, patients and their relatives who often arrange with management to have an undertaking to enable them defer the settlement of their debt do not fulfil their part of the bargain and often abscond from the hospital unceremoniously.
Briefing the media on this disturbing development, theMedical Superintendent of the regional hospital, Dr. Arko Akoto Ampaw said the development is affecting the finances and operation of the facility.
“We are contacting the medical social workers unit so that they can be evaluated to see whether they can pay or cannot. And whether they want to have an undertaking to defer payments to another date, they don’t do that. And patients just disappear from the wards without paying their bills, and it’s causing a lot of loss to the hospital,” he bemoaned.
He said management is working around the clock to ensure that security at the hospital is tightened.
“Security around the hospital is also a contributory factor, we hope to tighten security so that such things are minimised,” Dr. Ampaw said.
He also called on the general public who are yet to come for the remains of the relatives at the mortuary to do so in order to help the hospital decongest the morgue.
“The hospital itself, capacity to contain the population size is beginning to decrease. In most cases, our mortuaries are quite full to capacity and may also be that people are not burying early. We would have wished that the population takes note of that. So that they can take their bodies and bury them early to make available spaces. In any case, management is expanding that area in the future,” the Medical Superintendent of the hospital stated.
Elizabeth Arthur, the 58-year-old woman who was arrested by the police for preparing pepper sauce, shito, with rotten vegetables in Koforidua, in the Eastern Region, has been slapped with a one month jail sentence.
According to a news report by UTV, in addition to the one-month sentence, Elizabeth was fined GHC4,800.
The report added that if the 58-year-old woman is unable to pay the fine, she will serve an additional 20 months in prison.
It indicated that a Koforidua court presided over by Nana Ama Debrah Finn, gave the judgment on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, after the accused person pleaded not guilty to the crimes she was charged with.
Her lawyers from the Legal Aid Department pleaded with the court to give her a non-custodial sentence because of her age and condition to no avail.
It can be recalled that GhanaWeb reported on the arrest of the 58-year-old by the Ghana Police Service for what has been suspected to be an unhealthy way of preparing shito, in January 2023.
The woman, popularly-known as Naana, who trades in the business of selling shito in the city, was found out by some millers where she frequents to have her ingredients grinded.
This, according to a UTV reporter, Michael Akrofi, had been going on for a while until one of the millers decided to give a tip-off to the police to follow up on it.
The reporter explained that some of the items Naana uses for her shito are the peels of onions that are disposed of at ‘chop bars’.
The Court of Appeal’s sessions in four regional capitals have been suspended, according to the Judicial Service.
Tamale, Cape Coast, Ho, and Koforidua are the affected cities.
As contained in the Public Notice, all appeals from the Northern Sector of the country including the Upper East, Upper West, North East, Northern, Savannah, Bono East, Ahafo, Western North and Ashanti regions would be heard in Kumasi while all appeals in the Southern sector including the Western, Central, Eastern, Oti, Volta, and Greater Accra Region will be heard in Accra.
“In view of this, all pending appeals in the Court of Appeal listed above are accordingly transferred to Kumasi and Accra respectively”.
However, in a Twitter post, Minority Chief Whip and MP for Adaklu constituency, Governs Kwame Agbodza has questioned the reason for the closure of the Court of Appeal.
According to him, it is surprising that such a decision has been taken at a time when there is advocacy for the construction of more courts and the training of more lawyers and judges to bring justice closer to the people.
It was a “red carpet” affair for the campaign team of the immediate-past Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen, and his team when they arrived in Koforidua, the capital of the Eastern Region.
The New Patriotic Party stalwart, who is seeking to lead the party as its flagbearer, was in the region on a day’s tour when he got what can be described as a presidential welcome from the people of Koforidua.
Surrounded by traders, party supporters, and onlookers shouting praise in Alan Kyerematen’s name, the women laid their clothes on the streets for the politician to walk on, reports The Chronicle newspaper.
The report added that Alan Kyerematen, as part of his visit, paid a call on the Paramount Chief of the New Juaben Traditional Area, Nana Kwaku Boateng III, to officially inform him of his intentions to run as president of Ghana.
“In a closed-door meeting, Mr. Alan Kyerematen discussed matters of interest with Nana Kwaku Boateng III and some of his sub-chiefs. They also discussed his ambition to become flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party,” the report stated.
Alan also met with some executives of the NPP in the region, where he appealed to them to lend him their support as he aims to become their flagbearer.
A hit-and-run driver has crushed a man to death in Koforidua, the Eastern regional capital.
The body of the deceased was found in a pool of blood with bruises and severe head injury on Thursday dawn at Abriwa-Nkwanta Oyoko Road near S.D.A Training College School Park.
Officers from NADMO Municipal Secretariat led by the Municipal Director Mr Herbert Danso together with personnel from the Municipal Police Command went to the scene to take inventories and conveyed the body to the Koforidua Regional Hospital.
NADMO officials, however, claim the man was mentally unstable.
A hit-and-run driver has crushed a man to death in Koforidua, the Eastern regional capital.
The body of the deceased was found in a pool of blood with bruises and severe head injury on Thursday dawn at Abriwa-Nkwanta Oyoko Road near S.D.A Training College School Park.
Officers from NADMO Municipal Secretariat led by the Municipal Director Mr Herbert Danso together with personnel from the Municipal Police Command went to the scene to take inventories and conveyed the body to the Koforidua Regional Hospital.
NADMO officials, however, claim the man was mentally unstable.
Elizabeth Arthur, a 58-year-old lady from Koforidua, was detained by the authorities for what was thought to be an unsafe method of making the regionally produced pepper sauce known as shito.
Naana, a woman who sells shito in the city, was discovered by some millers since she frequently visits them to have her ingredients ground.
This, according to a UTV reporter, Michael Akrofi, had been going on for a while until one of the millers decided to give a tip-off to the police to follow up on it.
The reporter explained that some of the items Naana uses for her shito are the peels of onions that are disposed off at ‘chop bars’.
“A miller was the first to notice this activity by the woman called Elizabeth Arthur, who is popularly known as Naana in Koforidua. She is 58 years. The millers realised that anytime she brings things to be milled, they were all rotten and unwanted things.
“The millers also know the work the woman does; she sells shito, so they were convinced that what she comes to grind is for the shito. To confirm this, the millers started observing her and truly confirmed that she was using those things to prepare her shito.
“Some of the things she sends to them are the wasted parts of onions. She does that by going there to sweep the waste with the pretext that she is going to dispose of them. When she returns home, she doesn’t even sort out the waste. She only adds some pepper to what she has, plus some ginger peels she also picks from the chop bars and then she goes to have them milled. When she is done, she prepares the shito and goes to sit by kenkey sellers to sell it.
“One of the millers eventually reported the suspicion to the police and thankfully, the police followed up on it and found her right in the act. She has since been sent to the Central Police Station,” he narrated.
The UTV reporter further explained that the middle-aged woman has since been granted bail but the police have also called on the Food and Drugs Authority, as well as well as the Standards Authority and environmental health experts to come in to help them ensure that the woman is prosecuted.
He added that the woman has been in the trade of selling shito for a very long time, supplying her product to a lot of kenkey sellers in Koforidua.
“The woman has grandchildren who she sends around to sell the shito for her,” he added
Elizabeth Arthur, 58, has been detained by the authorities in Koforidua for preparing shito with rotten ingredients.
The woman, popularly-known as Naana, who trades in the business of selling shito in the city, was found out by some millers where she frequents to have her ingredients grinded.
This, according to a UTV reporter, Michael Akrofi, had been going on for a while until one of the millers decided to give a tip-off to the police to follow up on it.
The reporter explained that some of the items Naana uses for her shito are the peels of onions that are disposed off at ‘chop bars’.
“A miller was the first to notice this activity by the woman called Elizabeth Arthur, who is popularly known as Naana in Koforidua. She is 58 years. The millers realised that anytime she brings things to be milled, they were all rotten and unwanted things.
“The millers also know the work the woman does; she sells shito, so they were convinced that what she comes to grind is for the shito. To confirm this, the millers started observing her and truly confirmed that she was using those things to prepare her shito.
“Some of the things she sends to them are the wasted parts of onions. She does that by going there to sweep the waste with the pretext that she is going to dispose of them. When she returns home, she doesn’t even sort out the waste. She only adds some pepper to what she has, plus some ginger peels she also picks from the chop bars and then she goes to have them milled. When she is done, she prepares the shito and goes to sit by kenkey sellers to sell it.
“One of the millers eventually reported the suspicion to the police and thankfully, the police followed up on it and found her right in the act. She has since been sent to the Central Police Station,” he narrated.
The UTV reporter further explained that the middle-aged woman has since been granted bail but the police have also called on the Food and Drugs Authority, as well as well as the Standards Authority and environmental health experts to come in to help them ensure that the woman is prosecuted.
He added that the woman has been in the trade of selling shito for a very long time, supplying her product to a lot of kenkey sellers in Koforidua.
“The woman has grandchildren who she sends around to sell the shito for her,” he added.
On Friday, December 2, 2012, all 16 regions of the nation participated in this year’s National Farmers Day celebrations, which also took place in Koforidua, the capital of the Eastern Regional Region.
Farmers were recognised at the ceremonies with awards for their steadfast efforts over the years to advance agriculture in the nation.
The former President urged President Akufo-Addo to prioritise agriculture in his message of praise for the farmers.
“I celebrate all farmers on this auspicious occasion for their priceless efforts that feed us and keep our industries running.
“With Ghana’s economy at the brink of collapse, as proven by Rating Agencies through their unending downgrades, and the hardship it has brought to many homes, this is the time for government to begin to take farmers and farming related businesses serious,” Mr. Mahama stated in a Facebook post on December 2, 2022.
According to him “this is the surest way we can reduce imports, strengthen the struggling cedi and save Ghana’s economy.
“I urge the government to prioritise agribusiness and support with favourable financing for farmers and all actors in the agricultural value chain.”
Meanwhile, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto has said there is food security in the country due to the policy interventions by the Akufo-Addo-led government.
He also commended the efforts of farmers to consolidate the country’s food security situation.
Addressing farmers in the Eastern region, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto assured of the Akufo-Addo administration’s support for the agriculture sector.
“From my field visits so far my assessment is that the ongoing harvest will be good this year and our food security situation as a nation remains strong. Farmers and fishers whom we celebrate today have built this security by responding very favourably provided by the government under the flagship Planting for Food and Jobs programme.”
He added: “In the past five years – 2017 to 2021, the government of Nana Akufo-Addo has provided nearly GHC2.5 billion in subsidies on improved seeds and fertilizers alone.”
Ghana has not imported maize for past five years due to the government’s continuous support to the sector, the deputy agriculture minister Yaw Frimpong Addo, has said.
Addo said over the period, the government has put in a lot to boost production of maize.
Appearing on The Asaase Breakfast Show on Tuesday (29 November) in Koforidua ahead of this year’s National Farmers’ Day celebration, Addo said the government is committed to ensuring food sufficiency in the country.
“Our duty as a ministry was to increase production which to a large extent we have succeeded. Since 2017, we haven’t imported a grain of maize into this country,” he said.
“There are several stages in agriculture that an investor can add value. For us, it’s the private sector that has to be encouraged to support us.
“There’s a close collaboration between the ministry and the researchers. There’s a lot of variety that we’re giving farmers to increase yields,” Addo said.
This year, the celebrations at the regional level have been restored as a cost-cutting strategy to ease the financial burden on the 16 regional coordinating councils, which hitherto bore the cost of travel expenses, accommodation and lodging of regional award winners and other accompanying officials to participate in the celebration at the national level.
There will be five regional award categories per region, namely: Regional Best Farmer; Regional Best Livestock Farmer; Regional Best Crop Farmer; Regional Best Fisher and Regional Best Agricultural Extension Agent.
The district award categories have been revised from six to three per district, namely: District Best Farmer; District Best Livestock Farmer and District Best Crop Farmer.
The districts that have the financial wherewithal to cater for additional award categories are, however, advised to do so at their own expense.
The Koforidua Area Head of The Church of Pentecost Apostle Mike Kwame Etrue is hopeful that Ghana’s economy will bounce back strongly after the 3-day fasting and prayers by the Church.
According to Apostle Mike Etrue, Ghana will never plunge into disastrous economic crises and political instability like Sri Lanka, saying, the country’s economy is going to be restored unto the path of prosperity.
“In times of despair, there is only one hope. our hope is in the Lord. He will never fail our nation Ghana. Ghana will prosper. Ghana will succeed. Ghana will continue to be blessed. Ghana will move from grace to grace. Once we have petitioned God, fasted, and prayed God will surely answer our prayers and Ghana will enjoy peace. Ghana will be victorious out of this economic crises” Apostle Mike Etrue stated.
He continued “Ghana will never be like Sri Lanka Ghana will never be shaken. Ghana’s economy will not collapse. Ghana will stand tall. The table will turn and Ghana will enjoy peace.”
He said this at Central Terbenacle in Koforidua during Sunday service to climax the three-day fasting and prayers instituted by the Executive Council of the Church for divine intervention in Ghana’s economic crises.
Apostle Mike Etrue said the fasting and prayers had nothing to do with politics but in fulfillment of divine responsibility that in times of adversity and despondency, God is the only hope to change situation.
“We are not doing politics. We want to save Ghana.”
Using Ezra 8:21-23 as main text, Apostle Etrue said, Ezra, camped the Israelites for three-days to proclaim a fast in order to humble themselves before God and to pray for His protection and leading during a perilous journey.
Prayer was said for the manifold wisdom of God for the President, Ministers, CEOs, MMDCEs, and parliamentarians among others to manage the affairs of the country well.
“God should intervene in the IMF negotiation. The nation will surely change. God should grant President, MPs, and Ministers wisdom to manage the economy.”
