A tragic shooting in Kukpalgu, located in the Tatale-Sanguli District of the Northern Region, has left a pregnant woman dead and two others injured.
The victims were reportedly returning from a prayer meeting when unknown gunmen ambushed and opened fire on them.
Reports that the pregnant woman was hit in the stomach and died instantly. The other two victims sustained serious injuries—one was shot in the hand, while the other suffered a gunshot wound that pierced through her back and exited her chest.
They were initially treated at a herbal facility in Gbande before being transferred to the Tamale Teaching Hospital for further care.
While the motive for the attack remains unclear, suspicions among residents point to recent political tensions. Some believe the shooting may be tied to the appointment of a non-Dagomba as District Chief Executive (DCE), a decision that has sparked frustration among locals who had hoped for a native appointee.
The publication of the latest list of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) has already stirred unrest in parts of the region, with Zabzugu emerging as one of the flashpoints. This recent violence has deepened fears in the community, already shaken by past incidents.
Just three months ago, on February 20, 2025, a deadly clash between hunters and farmers in the area claimed one life and injured several others. Despite efforts by community leaders and mediators to restore calm, the latest attack has reignited anxieties.
In response, residents are calling on the District Security Committee (DISEC) and the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) to launch a thorough investigation and take concrete steps to address the root causes of the recurring violence.
Many are now pleading for a long-term solution to prevent the region from sliding further into instability.
Ghana is presently working to avert a food crisis amidst a prolonged dry spell that has adversely affected eight regions in the Northern part of Ghana.
These regions, Bono, Bono East, Oti, Northern, North East, Savannah, Upper East, and Upper West, contribute about 62% of the country’s grain production.
Due to the absence of irrigation to ensure continuous crop production, the government has placed an embargo on the export of grains to ensure the domestic demand is met.
Many citizens are now questioning the relevance of government’s flagship programme, One Village One Dam, which they believe, if it had been effective, would have averted the current crisis the country has found itself.
The government spent GH₵201,113,875.00 of the petroleum revenue to construct 285 dams under the flagship programme, One Village One Dam policy, research findings have revealed.
The research was conducted by the Northern Patriots in Research and Advocacy (NORPRA), a Convener of Northern Coalition of Civil Society Organisations with funding support from the Africa Center for Energy Policy (ACEP) as part of expenditure and performance tracking of the dams.
The findings titled; “Ghana’s Oil Money on Dried Dams” was made known to stakeholders in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region.”
The research’s purpose was to ascertain whether the dams constructed in the five regions of the north under the 1V1D policy were supporting all year-round irrigation activities as intended and the amount spent on them.
The research showed that averagely, government spent GH₵670,350.00 on each dam, an amount far higher than the GH₵250,000.00 stated by the government and noted in the contract award letters.
It also uncovered that GH₵10,064,250.00 of the Annual Budget Funding Amount was spent on paying consultancy services for construction supervision of the dams while payment for construction of some dams exceeded the contract sums.
Mr Bismarck Adongo Ayorogo, the Executive Director, NORPRA, who presented the findings, noted that although many of the dams were completed, they were not serving the intended purpose of supporting farmers to engage in dry season farming.
Mr Ayorogo noted that all the dams visited had dried up and farmers could not practice irrigation farming.
“The community members who participated in the focused group discussions and backed with community scorecards said the dams did not contribute to anything and when we visited the dams, almost all the dams were dried up, no single dam was functioning or having water and there was no dry season farming around any of the dams,” he said.
The findings also established that no audit report on the 1V1D projects was found, even though the government had stated in the 2018 Budget Statement and Economic Policies that the Audit Service was increasing its audit coverage on 1V1D to ascertain value for money.
It also revealed that the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA) with institutional capacity of dam construction did not lead in the design, construction, and supervision of the 1V1D projects and the community members were also not involved or consulted and that contributed to the poor implementation of the policy.
The findings therefore recommended that there be an audit into the 1V1D dams while review the policy and including the GIDA and Ministry of Food and Agriculture to ensure that dams were properly constructed to meet the objects of the increasing food security, reducing poverty, and creating jobs.
The government through the then Ministry of Special Development Initiatives in 2018 constructed earth dams as part of the pro-poor policies under the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP) to address regional imbalances, increase food security and jobs creation.
Mr Ayorogo expressed disappointment at the failed policy and called for attention to be paid towards revamping existing dams that were already supporting farmers to practice dry season farming.
Meanwhile, Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr Bryan Acheampong, has clarified that the ongoing drought affecting parts of the country should not be viewed as a failure of the government’s ‘One Village, One Dam’ (1V1D) policy.
In his remarks, the Minister emphasized that the 1V1D initiative was not designed to address the broader irrigation challenges that farmers are currently facing.
“In the situation we find ourselves, what we need is irrigation. All the 574 dams were to hold rainwater and they have been extremely effective and never a failure,” he added.
He further clarified, “With the irrigation, it will require us to pump water from a big water source into a big canal or dam to hold the water.”
Members of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in NorthernGhana have presented a petition to the Auditor-General, urging an audit of all One Village One Dam (1V1D) projects in the region.
Executive Director of the Northern Patriots in Research and Advocacy (NORPRA), Bismark Adongo Ayorogo conveyed the petition on behalf of the CSOs and the beneficiary communities.
The petition, copied to the Ghana News Agency, seeks to promote transparency and accountability in the management of public resources and to ensure value for money in these projects.
“We are invoking your constitutional mandate of auditing all public accounts to conduct an audit on all the 1V1D projects in Northern Ghana.”
The petition highlights a policy statement from the 2018 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government, which promised increased audit coverage on new policies like the 1V1D initiative to ascertain value for money.
“However, we have since not sighted any audit report from your Service on these 1V1D projects.”
The 1V1D projects, funded by Ghana’s oil revenue through the Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA), aims to promote double cropping annually, boost agricultural productivity, enhance food security, and reduce the food import bill, as outlined in the 2017 and 2018 Budget statements.
The petitioners emphasized the importance of an audit to uphold good governance, transparency, accountability, and probity in Ghana’s public financial management.
The Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMA) has issued a warning to residents of the Northern and Oti regions, cautioning them to brace for severe rainstorms in the upcoming weeks.
The advisory follows an incident in Accra where one person was injured and eight vehicles were damaged by uprooted trees during heavy rains accompanied by strong winds on Monday.
Felicity Ahafianyo, Chief Weather Forecaster at the Ghana Meteorological Agency, emphasized the importance of exercising caution to ensure safety during this period of intense rainfall.
She highlighted the likelihood of stronger wind storms across the country, particularly affecting the Northern, Oti, Savannah, Upper East, and Upper West regions.
“For wind storms, we will still be expecting more and it may not be in the same area but every other part of the country so, we must prepare for it especially our brothers in the north, those in Oti region, Savannah, Upper East and Upper West. It is likely that the winds will be stronger than what we have experienced lately,” she said.
The warning comes in the wake of multiple incidents of trees falling during heavy rainfall in Accra. At the Landing Restaurant car park, a tree fell on a vehicle, causing injury to one person who received treatment at the Airport Clinic.
Along the Italian Embassy stretch, a falling tree endangered both a motorbike and a 4-wheel drive vehicle, leaving one individual critically injured.
In the Eastern Region, students of Okurase Presbyterian Basic School in the Upper West Akyem Municipality narrowly escaped disaster as rainstorms tore off the roofs of several classrooms during teaching hours. Affected classrooms included KG 1 and JHS 1, 2, and 3.
Authorities have urged residents to stay vigilant and stay informed about weather updates to safeguard their well-being.
Popular Ghanaian actor Stephen Atangah, known publicly as Don Little, has confidently asserted that men from the Northern Region of Ghana excel in sexual performance.
Citing himself as a point of reference, Don Little disclosed that he is a beneficiary of a Northern Lineage thanks to the prowess of his father.
He disclosed, in an interview on Accra FM, intriguing details about his family.
Speaking on the subject of his family, Don Little asserted that he has seven siblings, an achievement he attributed only to the Northern Lineage.
“My father is a Northerner, but he is no more. He gave birth to seven children, and you know that Northerners are very good when it comes to sexual intercourse.”
He further disclosed that he is the eldest of seven siblings, despite others doubting his age.
According to Don Little, it is wrong to draw comparisons between himself and Yaw Dabo.
“I cannot tell who is older between Yaw Dabo and me because I don’t know his age. But I am not a small boy at all. I am the eldest of seven children,” he said.
Don Little is a Ghanaian actor and comedian.
He is known for his unique voice and small stature, which has made him stand out in the Ghanaian entertainment industry.
Don Little began his acting career in 2008, but his breakthrough came in 2017 when he was cast in the popular Ghanaian TV series, “Efiewura.”
He has also appeared in several other Ghanaian movies and TV series, including “Slay Queens,” “Double Cross,” and “Adventures of Don.”
Former president John Dramani Mahama has described the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party as the better manager of Ghana’s economy, as the state is in near collapse under the Akufo-Addo-led administration.
According to him, poverty has worsened due to extreme inflation and price volatility.
These deteriorations were discovered during his visits to the Savanna, Northern, and Upper West Regions.
In a Facebook post, he said the country is near collapse.
“I am back to Accra from a trip to the Savanna, Northern, and Upper West Regions – and poverty has worsened due to extreme inflation & price volatility. The economy is in a near state of collapse; clearly, the NDC has been a better manager of the economy!” he said
High-risk commercial drivers and motorcyclists are to be given refresher training in defensive driving across the country to help reduce road accidents that result in the loss of lives and property.
The training, which would cover 1,500 drivers and motorcycle riders is a collaboration between Vivo Energy Ghana and the National Road Safety Authority.
It is scheduled to commence next week in Greater Accra, Ashanti, Bono East, Northern, Central and Western.
The Managing Director of Vivo Energy Ghana (VEGH), Mr Kader Maiga announced these when he launched the company’s 2022 ‘Stop, Think and Drive’ Road Safety Campaign yesterday, at the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange, popularly known as Circle Dubai.
He said drivers would be monitored and evaluated to assess the impact of the campaign.
Mr Maiga said provisional statistics from the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) and the Ghana Police Service, indicate that more than 2,924 people were killed in road traffic accidents in 2021.
“This is an issue that must concern everyone and for that reason the energy company, with road transport safety as a key priority area is committed to support government curb this menace on the roads through its‘Stop, Think and Drive Programme,” he said.
He noted that, although almost 90 per cent of all accidents were due to human errors, it could be prevented through better “driver training and continuous professional development on safe driving practices.”
“We are happy to launch this campaign through a partnership with the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), the statutory regulatory body for road safety in Ghana to lead and supervise the project to ensure it meets all standards and requirements.
“Other relevant stakeholder institutions in the campaign include the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority(DVLA), the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Directorate (MTTD), and the various Transport Unions,” he added.
Mr Maiga urged all drivers and motorcyclists to make the most out of these refresher trainings to better equip them to contribute towards making the roads safer.
“Improving safety on our roads is a collective responsibility, let’s get involved,” he advised.
On his part, the Head of Regulation, Inspection, and Compliance at NRSA, Mr Kwame Kodua Atuahene, encouraged drivers to get involved in such trainings because soon many drivers would not be allowed to operate commercial vehicles without any training.
On behalf of all the transporters for VEGH, J. K. Horgle Transport Limited, J. K. Ahiadome Transport Limited and S.O Frimpong Transport Company Limited,a representative, Mr Randy Obeng-Frimpong pledged their support towards the impactful initiative as well as their continuous partnership with VEGH.
As part of the celebration at the Neoplan Station in Circle, eye testing, licence renewal services, road worthy certificates and insurances were brought to the door steps of drivers
Executive Director for Jatikay Centre for Human Security and Peace Building, Adib Saani, has urged Ghana’s security apparatus to look into possibilities of terrorist and jihadist groups in the West African sub-region raising funds in Ghana.
According to him, there is a high possibility that the terrorist groups are already engaging in illegal mining activities (galamsey) as well as the sale of cattle in the northern parts of Ghana to raise funds to finance their activities.
In an interview with GhanaWeb, Adib, a security analyst, added that the re-arrest of a prominent Fulani Imam, Sheikh Dukere, who was reported to be the emergency contact of five terrorists killed in Burkina Faso, indicates that there might be terrorists who have passed through Ghana or are currently living in the country.
“His (Sheikh Dukere’s) arrest is significant because it tells us a lot about the presence of alleged militants in Ghana. The probability that they are in Ghana is extremely high.
“The possibility that there is a sleeper cell in Ghana recruiting Ghanaians is also very high. And the possibility that they are organizing or planning something against our interest in Ghana is very high.
“And we also need to look at the sale of cattle. It is a potentially huge source of income for militants. The terrorists bring in cattle which they steal from neighbouring countries and export to Ghana to be sold by their agents, who then send back the monies realised to these militants.
“We also need to look at the gold mines, especially in the north. It is a source of revenue for these terrorist groups. The possibility that terrorists have infiltrated the mining sites is very high,” he said.
According to a Joy News report, Sheikh Osman Dukere was arrested for the second time in Ghana by National Security, together with 12 of his followers on Saturday, October 1, 2022.
Although the reason for his arrest has not been disclosed, the Imam was arrested in 2019 with 20 of his disciples when he was accused of having links with a jihadist group in Burkina Faso.
The first arrest was made after the security operatives in Burkina Faso informed the National Security of Ghana that Imam Dukuri was the emergency contact of 5 jihadists it had killed in a gunfight.
Northern Regional Minister Shani Alhassan Sayibu says eight hospitals under Agenda 111 in the Northern Region are expected to be completed by December 2023.
He said the Region which is also benefiting from the construction of a psychiatric hospital, the first of its kind in the five regions of the Northern part will also be done at the same time.
The Minister said this when he addressed stakeholders at the maiden Northern Regional Coordinating Council meeting for 2022.
The council meeting is the highest decision-making body in the region, which meets periodically to review the progress of the various activities, projects and programmes in the region.
Alhaji Shani said construction works have started in most of the districts whilst others are yet to commence.
He named the beneficiary districts and municipalities under the Agenda 111 projects as Mion, Wulensi, Kpandai, Saboba, Kumbungu, Nanton, Savelugu and Sagnarigu.
On security, the Minister commended the various security agencies for their proactive interventions which he said have contributed to reducing crime and insecurity in the region.
“We experienced some incidences earlier in the year, relating to some robberies in Tamale and some parts of the region.
“The response of our security agencies especially in Tamale has contributed to dealing with crime to the barest minimum. The current police visibility in town and traffic intersections has been quite effective,” he said.
Alhaji Shani urged the citizenry to support security in the fight against crime.
“We expect the cooperation and support of the entire citizenry to maintain law and order throughout the region,” he added.
He also cautioned those who engaged in negative activities such as wrongful parking, petty trading and among others around the Tamale interchange to desist from those activities.
“The Metropolitan Assembly should fashion out measures to ensure sanity at all times around the interchange”.
He also urged residents to inculcate the habit of monitoring activities of everyone and report suspicious behaviour and activities so that the police can deal with crimes like kidnapping, killing, armed robbery, rituals and occultism among other vices in the region.
“It is also imperative that we give attention to looming threats of violent extremism which has engulfed our neighbouring countries and especially, Burkina Faso.”
In education, the Minister urged the various assemblies to pay attention to the current and yet-to-be-written examinations adding that the students should be motivated to give in their best.
Alhaji Shani also talked of roads being constructed in the region to improve transportation and economic activities.
The UK is set to see its hottest day on record, with temperatures on Tuesday expected to reach up to 42C (107.6F).
A high of 38.1C was reached in Suffolk on Monday, just short of the UK record of 38.7C set in 2019. Wales recorded its hottest day on record with 37.1C.
The Met Office has issued a red extreme heat warning covering much of central, northern, and south-east England.
Provisional figures showed the UK experienced the warmest night on record from Monday into Tuesday.
Temperatures did not fall below 25C in places, exceeding the previous highest daily minimum record of 23.9C recorded in Brighton on 3 August 1990, the Met Office said.
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Follow live updates as extreme heat grips UK
Emley Moor in west Yorkshire could have broken the record, where 25.9C was recorded overnight, according to the Met Office.
Scotland could see its highest day on record, surpassing the 32.9C set at Greycrook in the Scottish Borders in August 2003.
The hottest places in Scotland yesterday were Aboyne in Aberdeenshire and Leuchars in Fife, both with highs of 31.3C.
As temperatures rapidly rise, already reaching 37C in some areas, emergency responses have been issued across the UK:
A man died after being pulled from the sea on the Isle of Wight
At least four other people are believed to have drowned after attempting to escape the heat in rivers and lakes
Network Rail issued a “do-not-travel” warning for Tuesday, affecting services travelling through the “red zone”
The Supreme Court moved hearings online, while the British Museum confirmed it would shut early at 15:00 BST
The extreme warning, indicating a threat to life, is in place in an area stretching between London, Manchester and York.
Thermometers were reading 37.3C in the village of Charlwood, Surrey, at 11:00 on Tuesday. Kew Gardens soared to 36.9C, with Heathrow Airport rising to 36.6C.
There was a markedly cooler outlook for Penzance, Cornwall, where thundery storms hit the popular holiday destination and were projected to last until midday.
But by 16:00, Lincoln, Cambridge and Huntingdon could see 40C – and areas in the A1/M1 corridor may surpass this.
