The government’s “Big Push” initiative is set to kick-start the reconstruction of the Sunyani-Techiman-Wenchi-Wa-Hamile road corridor in the third quarter of this year.
Kwame Agbodza, Minister for Roads and Highways, made this announcement while embarking on a three-day inspection tour of the Bono, Bono East, Ahafo, and Western Regions.
To ensure the project’s timely completion, Agbodza has directed the Ghana Highways Authority to conduct engineering studies and designs for sections of the corridor not currently under construction.
“This entire corridor, all the way to Hamile, is part of the ‘Big Push’ initiative. It is one of the major projects we aim to award in June this year. Therefore, those involved in the studies and designs need to expedite their work. We don’t have enough time,” he emphasized.
The Minister highlighted the government’s commitment to prioritizing road infrastructure development, despite financial constraints. “No matter what we want to achieve—whether in farming, education, or healthcare—roads are critical. Our economic development cannot take shape if we do not address the challenges in the road sector,” he stressed.
During his tour, Agbodza inspected the 10.20km Terchire bypass, constructed by Newmont Ghana, and is expected to assess other ongoing road projects, including:
His visit included stops at Tendamba Junior High School and Wa Senior High School, where the boreholes were installed to supply water for the upkeep of football pitches in those areas.
Accompanied by the Chairman of the Regional Football Association and several executive committee members, Mr. Addo first inspected the borehole at Tendamba JHS before continuing to Wa Senior High School.
These projects are part of a broader effort to ensure sustainable water access for maintaining football fields, supporting the GFA’s mission to nurture grassroots football nationwide.
Mr. Addo reaffirmed theGFA’s commitmentto seeing the projects through to completion, emphasizing that investing in proper infrastructure is key to developing football at the local level.
The body of a male bus conductor has been retrieved by police in Wa, marking the latest grim discovery in what has become known as the ‘Wa Killings.’
The victim, identified as Richard Opoku, was found with his throat slit behind a trailer in the early hours of Monday, July 15. This brings the total number of unexplained killings in Wa to 17 within a relatively short period.
According to sources from JoyNews, Opoku had accompanied a trailer transporting salt to Wa with plans to unload the cargo upon arrival.
However, upon reaching Wa, the deceased and the driver were unable to offload the salt and drove to the residence of the salt owner. Opoku was invited to spend the night in a room at the owner’s house but chose to rest on the veranda before retiring to bed.
The following morning, traces of blood were discovered on the veranda, leading to the gruesome find of Opoku’s body behind the house. In response, police have initiated investigations and arrested the salt owner and the trailer driver for further questioning.
The Member of Parliament for Wa Central, Rashid Pelpuo, has called on security services to intensify efforts to locate and apprehend those responsible for these mysterious killings.
He expressed concern over the increasing lawlessness and the promotion of illegal activities, such as secret societies advertising wealth through dubious means on radio.
Pelpuo criticized the police for not investigating these illegal organizations, stating, “When the people go out to take the laws into their own hands, you can’t control them. It’s painful that you see these things happening but you don’t see the people. You can imagine people sitting on radio advertising that they have secret societies and they would be rich if they join.”
Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament for Bole, Yusif Sulemana, has also intensified calls for action against the ongoing serial killings in his constituency.
He urged the Interior Minister, Henry Quartey, to implement measures to end the Wa killings, highlighting the self-imposed curfew that has gripped the community due to fear of potential attacks.
“Last night, for instance, Mr Speaker, I decided to take a walk in the Bole Township and by 8:30 pm, almost everyone was asleep, self-imposed curfew. We cannot continue in this manner,” he stated.
The Member of Parliament for Wa Central, Dr. Rashid Pelpuo, has pledged a reward of GH¢100,000 to anyone or group providing information leading to the arrest of those behind the recent string of killings in Wa.
According to reports from citinewsroom.com, approximately 12 individuals, mostly private security guards, have fallen victim to unidentified assailants in the area.
During a media briefing in Wa, Dr. Pelpuo highlighted the pervasive fear and panic that these incidents have instilled in the Wa municipality, severely disrupting local business operations.
The MP expressed his dismay over the extended silence from the police regarding the progress of their investigations, emphasizing the detrimental impact this has had on the community.
Member of Parliament for Wa Central, Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo, has raised concerns about the lack of adequate equipment for security personnel, both in public and private sectors, to effectively combat crime in Ghana.
Pelpuo, who is also the Northern Caucus Leader in Parliament, highlighted that many security officers, particularly those who rely solely on physical strength, are vulnerable in their line of duty.
His comments come in the wake of two recorded incidents of violence in the Wa Municipality of the Upper West Region, prompting an investigation by the Ghana Police Service.
In a statement, the Police assured the public of ongoing efforts to arrest those involved and bring them to justice.
Speaking on the JoyNews AM Show, Pelpuo expressed worry over the lack of technical equipment and resources for law enforcement in Ghana compared to their counterparts in Western countries.
He emphasized the need for specially trained personnel to be dispatched to Wa to handle the investigation and apprehension of the criminals involved, citing the sophistication of the crimes.
Pelpuo stressed the importance of adequately equipping security personnel to enhance their effectiveness in combating crime and ensuring public safety.
He called for urgent measures to address the resource deficiencies within the Ghana Police Service to better equip them for the challenging task of investigating and apprehending criminals.
The Ghana Police Service has initiated an investigation into the mysterious deaths of two individuals in the Wa Municipality.
The incidents, which occurred on Tuesday, have sent shockwaves through the community, prompting authorities to assure residents of their safety.
The first incident was reported at the Wa East Education Service office, while the second occurred at the Wa Model JHS School. Both events have raised serious concerns among the local populace.
In a statement, the Police Service urged the public, particularly the residents of Wa, to remain calm as they work diligently to apprehend those responsible.
“We would like to assure the public, especially the residents of Wa, to remain calm as the Police work to get those involved arrested to face justice,” the statement read.
Upper West Regional Minister Stephen Yakubu provided additional details after visiting one of the crime scenes. He revealed that one of the victims was rendered unconscious by a blow from a stone before the assailants slit his throat.
“So far, nothing shows that a human part was taken but of course, further investigation will uncover more information,” Yakubu stated.
The minister emphasized the importance of maintaining calm and trust in the security services as they thoroughly investigate the matter.
“The Regional Security Council will go back and strategize, but we want to assure the Wa people that the security services will be patrolling and doing what they need to do to make sure everyone is safe,” he added.
Residents of Wa have been urged to cooperate with law enforcement officials and provide any information that could assist in the investigation.
The police have intensified patrols and are committed to ensuring the safety and security of all residents.
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has assured that the Wa-Kumasi highway will see significant improvements before the December 2024 general election.
He mentioned that he has been in discussions with the Minister of Roads and Highways to enhance the road by tarring and asphalting it.
“Before the end of this year, fingers crossed, the Sunyani (Kumasi) all the way to Wa, the road, we are going to see some major improvement in this major road. … and I want to see a dramatic improvement. Not only just coal tar, I want to see asphalt all the way,” Dr Bawumia stated.
The Vice President made this promise in Wa during a meeting with the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs as part of his campaign tour of the region.
This commitment came in response to a request from Naa Dikomwine Domalae, the President of the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs and the Paramount Chief of the Daffiama Traditional Area, who urged Dr. Bawumia to consider rehabilitating the Wa-Bamboi-Kumasi highway, currently in a deplorable state.
Naa Domalae highlighted that rehabilitating this road would greatly facilitate the movement of people and goods, thereby boosting commerce in the region.
Emphasizing his determination to see the project completed, Vice President Bawumia assured the esteemed chiefs and queen mothers that the road would be constructed before, not after, the 2024 general election.
“I do not want to say, vote for me and I will make it happen. I want it to be done so that you will see that it is done before we even get to the election. So, we are going to do it,” the NPP flagbearer stressed.
Additionally, the Chief appealed to Dr. Bawumia to expedite the construction of other critical roads in the region, such as the Sabuli-Hain-Tumu and Kajekperi-Tumu roads. The Vice President assured that these requests would be considered.
He also highlighted the importance of the Tumu-Chuchulga road as another critical stretch that required immediate attention.
“So, there are quite a few roads, even though we have done some roads, there are some critical roads that we need to get done in the region,” Dr Bawumia indicated.
During a visit to the Upper West Region, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia highlighted the achievements of the current NPP-led government, citing the completion of 531 projects in the region. He expressed his commitment to further developing the region if elected President in the upcoming December 7, 2024, general elections. One of his proposed interventions includes the development of the Kambaa Irrigation project in the Nandom Municipality.
Dr. Bawumia appealed to the Chiefs for their support and prayers in his quest to implement his development agenda for the region. Paramount Chief Naa Alhaji Seidu Tungbani Salimbile II urged both Dr. Bawumia and former President John Mahama to refrain from engaging in politics of insults and instead focus on issues-based campaigns to maintain peace and unity in the country.
In a meeting with the Christian clergy, Dan Botwe, Senior Campaign Aide to Dr. Bawumia, emphasized the need for the clergy’s guidance to help the electorate make an informed choice in the upcoming election. He stated that Dr. Bawumia had committed himself to being an instrument for the transformation and development of the country and should be supported as the best option to lead Ghana.
Apostle George Apasera, General Overseer of the Christ Frontiers Mission in Wa, appealed to Dr. Bawumia to separate the National Cathedral project from politics and allow the Christian community to lead its construction, as it would benefit both them and the country.
During his tour, Dr. Bawumia also interacted with traders at the Wa central market and engaged with the youth in Wa.
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is set to inaugurate Zoomlion Ghana’s waste recycling plant in Kperisi, Wa Municipality, on Monday, May 20, 2024, as part of his visit to the Upper West Region.
This inauguration will enable the plant to commence operations, aiming to enhance solid waste management in the region, particularly in Wa, which is struggling with solid waste issues.
The plant, established through a public-private partnership (PPP) between the government and the Jospong Group, will handle waste reception, sorting, and processing for the municipality and surrounding areas.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo previously broke ground for the construction of this solid waste treatment plant in Kperisi, expected to generate over 200 direct and indirect jobs upon completion.
Dr. Bawumia, who is also the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate, will pay a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief of the Wala Traditional Area and meet with the Muslim clergy in Wa, followed by a meeting with party members on Sunday, May 19, 2024.
The Vice President and NPP flag-bearer will also engage with the Christian clergy, the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs, and the youth on Monday, May 20, 2024.
On Sunday, February 11, the Wa Municipal Fire Station’s firefighters, led by STNO II Kwaku, demonstrated exceptional teamwork and swift action in containing a fire outbreak at a two-bedroom apartment owned by a Superintendent of the Ghana Prisons Service in Wa, Upper West Region.
Their prompt response not only prevented the fire from spreading to adjacent rooms but also highlighted the dedication of both the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) and the Regional Command of Prisons to protecting lives and property.
As investigations into the cause of the fire continue, Upper West Regional Minister Hon. Dr. Hafiz Bin Salih visited the scene to show governmental support and the significance of collaboration in ensuring community safety and resilience.
Approximately 100 members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Wa, Northern Region, have formally pledged allegiance to the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
During the induction ceremony organized to welcome the new members, Hanna Louisa Bissiw, a member of the National Women’s Organizer of the NDC, expressed that these individuals have made a significant choice for themselves and future generations.
Dr Bissiw asserted that the NPP prioritizes personal gains over the country’s growth, unlike the opposition party.
“Mahama started the Free education system, don’t let anyone deceive you that the NPP did. The NPP came to destroy what the NPP started. Work to bring more NPP members to the NPP. The NPP is in for personal gains and not the growth of the country. Induction of I00 unfaithful members of the NPP,” she stated.
Highlighting the NDC’s commitment to inclusivity, she emphasized that whenever the NDC assumes power, it creates opportunities for various segments of society, including those who attended school, those who did not, market women, and the youth.
“The NDC is a party of opportunities where the needs of the society are catered for. There’s an opportunity for every woman in the NDC, we are family, we love, we support each other. When the NDC comes to power we create opportunities for everyone, for those who went to school, those who did not, for the market women, the girl and boy child and for everyone,” she added.
Bissiw debunked claims suggesting that the NPP initiated the Free Education system, crediting former President Mahama for its inception.
She urged the newly inducted members to encourage their peers to join the NDC, emphasizing the party’s dedication to providing opportunities for all.
A group of young individuals from Wa in the Upper West Region took action against a self-proclaimed fetish priest, commonly known as Nana Godspower, accused of swindling numerous people in and around Wa over the years.
The incident unfolded when Nana Godspower allegedly accepted GHS 5,000 from an individual, promising to double the amount but failing to deliver. In response to this, angered youths stormed his residence.
Upon reaching his location, they physically assaulted him with multiple ear-damaging slaps, compelling him to open his shrine.
Nana Godspower was then instructed to gather all his deities, which were subsequently set on fire by the enraged group.
Some youths from Wa in the Upper West Region stormed the shrine of a self-proclaimed fetish priest, popularly known as Nana Godspower, who has been duping several people in and around Wa for years.
In a recent verdict, the Wa circuit court has sentenced two individuals, Ibrahim Kassim, 30, and Salifu Dauda, 28, to a total prison term of 33 years.
The accused faced charges of robbing their victims at gunpoint, confiscating all personal belongings, including mobile phones and money.
Ibrahim Kassim, a 10-year veteran of the Nsawam Medium Prison for robbery, pleaded guilty but was given a minimum sentence of 15 years with hard labor.
Salisu Dauda, a 28-year-old smock weaver, faced similar charges and received a minimum sentence of 18 years with hard labor.
The police, led by Wa Divisional Commander ACP Albert, reported that the two assailants committed the robberies in October and November 2023, employing weapons such as cutlasses and shotguns. Notably, one victim turned out to be Salisu Dauda’s girlfriend, leading to a unique twist in the case.
Upon reporting the incident, Salisu assisted in apprehending the suspect, only to engage in further criminal activities himself.
After the trial, Presiding Judge Jonathan Avugu commended the police for their commendable job in arresting the criminals.
A 22-year-old man has been apprehended by the Upper West regional police CID for allegedly sexually assaulting a 4-year-old girl in Wa.
The incident took place on Saturday afternoon within an unfinished building situated in the Banmaarayiri community.
According to the child’s mother, she had sent her daughter to attend Arabic classes that Saturday morning. However, when the child did not return as expected, the mother grew concerned and began searching for her.
She discovered her daughter at the uncompleted building, where she witnessed the 22-year-old man, who was partially dressed, in a compromising situation with the child.
In response, the mother raised an alarm, and concerned neighbors swiftly intervened, managing to apprehend the suspect.
The police were alerted and subsequently took the suspect into custody. The young girl was promptly transported to the Wa Municipal Hospital for a medical examination.
The police have initiated an investigation into the incident.
The Wa High Court jury members in the Upper West region have initiated an indefinite strike due to unpaid sitting and attendance allowances.
According to their statement to the press, they have been carrying out their duties without remuneration for almost two years. Despite several petitions to the government, their pleas for the release of the allowances have gone unanswered, leaving them with no other recourse but to take this drastic action.
The jury members expressed disappointment that their concerns were not addressed when they initially began their strike on Monday.
As a sign of their protest, they refused to participate in criminal hearings at the Wa High Court on that day.
The jurors have made it clear that they will continue their strike until they receive their long-overdue payments.
Adding to their frustration, reports have emerged that some juries in other parts of the country have already been paid, making the situation even more unjust in their eyes. As a result, the members of the Wa High Court jury are determined to stand their ground until their arrears are settled.
Members of the Wa High Court jury in the Upper West region have declared an indefinite strike due to their unpaid sitting and attendance allowances by government.
They expressed their frustration at a media press briefing, stating that they have been working without pay for nearly two years, and their appeals to the government for the release of allowances have been unsuccessful.
The jury members began unfolding their strike action plans last Monday when they boycotted criminal proceedings at the Wa High Court, hoping that the government would address their concerns.
Three days after the boycott, the group, comprising about 25 members, gathered at the forecourt of the Wa High Court to declare their indefinite strike in protest of the non-payment of their 21 months’ allowances.
The jury’s role is critical in Ghana’s legal system, particularly in criminal cases, where they serve as impartial fact-finders, community representatives, and determinants of guilt or innocence, safeguarding against potential abuse of power by the government.
The absence of the jury has led to adjournments in court proceedings, causing disappointment among lawyers and accused persons who came to defend their cases.
The principal state attorney at the Upper West office of the Attorney General Department, Saeed Abdul Shakur, expressed concern about the dire consequences of the strike on justice delivery in the region and appealed to the government to address the concerns of the jury.
The Ghana Police Service has provided an assurance that it will soon release the full findings of the investigations into the shooting and killing of a 20-year-old man by a police officer in Wa, the capital of the Upper West region.
During a visit to the family of the deceased on Friday, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo Dampare, expressed his condolences and pledged to make the investigation results public.
Accompanied by other high-ranking police officials, the IGP granted the family until mid-June of this year to disclose the outcome of the investigations.
The victim, identified as Abubakari Shahid, was an Arabic student who was allegedly shot and killed by the police on March 9.
The police suspected him of being an armed robber, a claim that was fiercely rejected by aggrieved family members.
They staged protests at the Upper West Regional Police Headquarters and the Regional Coordinating Council, demanding an apology and a thorough investigation into the incident.
Responding promptly, the IGP dispatched a delegation to console the bereaved family and assure them that the matter was being thoroughly investigated. The visit by IGP Dampare occurred nearly three months after the tragic incident took place.
The commitment by the Ghana Police Service to disclose the investigation findings is an important step toward transparency and accountability.
It is hoped that the release of the results will provide clarity and closure for the grieving family and contribute to maintaining trust between the police and the community.
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.
The member of parliament for Wa Central, Rashid Pelpuo, has urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr. George Akuffo Dampare to launch a comprehensive investigation into the assassination of a middle-aged man by an anti-robbery team in Wa.
The family of the dead has given up on their demand that the police apologize unconditionally for incorrectly classifying the deceased as an armed robber after meeting with IGP.
According to the family, the victim, Abubakari Shahid, was a law-abiding citizen who never engaged in any robbery, contrary to what the police claim.
In an interview with Citi News, the Wa Central legislator stated that the police must refrain from attacking his constituents.
“We are very sad about what has happened. I want to urge the police through the IGP to call on his people to avoid shooting at our people, apologize to the family for labelling their relative as an armed robber and do the necessary thing.”
Many are not convinced by explanations given by the anti-robbery unit of the Upper West Regional Police Command for the killing of the resident of Dondoli, a suburb of Wa.
The deceased, Abubakar Shahban is reported to have been killed by the police anti-robbery taskforce over his alleged connection to a robbery gang that has been operating within Wa and its environs.
Family of the deceased said he left home on March 8 at about 8:00 pm to visit a friend but did not return until they were informed of his murder on March 9.
Some residents of Wa on Friday besieged the Regional Coordinating Council and demanded the release of the remains of the deceased and demanded he is cleared of the robbery allegations.
The family, at a press conference on Monday [March 13], threatened to take legal action should the police fail to apologize to them for killing and tagging Abubakar Shahid as a robber.
But a spokesperson for the family, Mohammed Tamim, in a Citi News interview said they have decided to remain calm, trusting that investigations will exonerate their late brother.
There is chaos in Wa Municipality in the Upper West Region as a result of an alleged killing of a young man in his early 20s by the Police.
Abubakar Shaahid from Dondoli, a suburb in the municipality was reportedly shot and killed by the Police around 8:pm Wednesday, March 8, 2023, on suspicion of being part of a robbery gang terrorising residents.
His family members have however refuted the claims by the Police describing Shaahid as a good boy with no history of criminal act.
Calling for justice for their ward, they have vowed to implore all legitimate means to clear his name from the allegations by the Police anti-robbery taskforce.
According to the spokesperson of the family, Muhammed Tamim, the deceased was on his way to meet a family friend at Tanbileju between 7-8:pm last Wednesday night.
He said on his way there, the friend called to inform the deceased to return home since he had heard gunshots in the suburb. But by that time, according to Tamim, the deceased had already been shot and therefore informed the friend that he was shot by the Police.
Muhammed Tamim said that when they went to the police, the officers said they stopped the deceased on his motorbike but that he immidiately alighted from the motorbike and started running away.
According to him, the police labeled the deceased as a suspect from a robbery gang.
Abubakar Tamim narrated that: “Last night at about 7-8:pm, I had a call from a man at Tanbileju who we call Maalam Umar. He’s our family friend and Shaahid (the deceased) usually visited the man to help him with his work. The man is there (at Tanbileju) but has a room in town so the deceased usually ferries him to town (to pass the night). So he was as usual on his way to go and take the man when he was shot dead by the Police. So how do I get to know he was shot by the Police?”
“The man (Maalam Umar) called to tell me that the deceased was coming to take him but because he, Maalam Umar, was hearing gunshots in the area he called to tell the deceased not to come anymore due to the gunshots, only for the deceased to inform the Maalam that he had already been hit by a bullet. So I tried calling Shaahid, the deceased, but he couldn’t answer the call. So I called the Assembly Member of the area to make enquiries about the issue. He told me he saw some officers at a checkpoint around the area but they denied involvement in the operations but mentioned the anti-robbery taskforce and asked him to go to the CID office. According to their narration, the Police said that they stopped the deceased who was riding a motorbike but that after stopping, he abandoned the bike and started running away. But for me, I said how can you stop a person, he stops and then leaves his motorbike and starts running away? And then you shot his stomach. When somebody is running away from you, is it not his back that you can shoot, but not his stomach?”
According to the spokesperson, the familywants justice for their loved one to clear his name who they say had no criminality record at all as being purported by the Police.
The family wants independent investigations into the case to bring out the truth and allow the law to take its cause.
Attempts to get official response from the police have proven difficult as no officer was prepared to go on record even though they are aware of the case except pledging to journalists to release a statement which is yet to come to the fore over 72hours after the incident occurred.
However, very reliable sources in the service who spoke to GhanaWeb on condition of anonymity confirmed the young man was indeed gunned down by their officers but insisted he was an armed robber.
The body of the deceased has since been buried after it was released to the family on Friday, March 10.
According to theMinistry of Interior, three private security guards who went missing after recent killings in Wa in the Upper West Region have not yet been found.
About 10 private security men were killed by unknown assailants in Wa last year which led to the arrest of 27 suspects in connection with the incidents.
Providing an update on the floor of Parliament on the current state of investigations into the serial killings, the Minister of Interior, Ambrose Dery said efforts are underway to arrest the other perpetrators of the heinous act.
Giving a breakdown of the progress of investigations so far, Mr. Dery said, “following the disappearance of five-night security guards who were kidnapped by assailants in different locations and subsequently murdered within the Wa Municipality, a special investigation led to the arrest of 27 suspects, and out of the number arrested, 8 suspects have been discharged on the Attorney General’s advice, 15 suspects are on court bail awaiting the Attorney General’s report.”
He also added that “the police are yet to identify and locate three other missing security guards. The three were reported missing between September and October 2022 and no arrest has been made in respect of the three missing guards. The police have intensified education campaigns in the area to sensitize the residents concerning serial killings and kidnappers.”
“Police intelligence is also working around the clock for clues that will lead to the arrest of the perpetrators,” he further disclosed.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says the demise of His Eminence Cardinal Richard Kuuia Baawobr has created a big vacuum in the country.
He said his impact on the social and spiritual lives of the people in Ghana, especially the Catholic community cannot be measured.
“Our nation has lost one of its finest citizens, one who will be difficult to replace”, President Akufo-Addo said in Wa on Thursday during the final funeral rites of the late Cardinal Richard Kuuia Baawobr, the then Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Wa.
“The news of the death of Cardinal Kuuia Baawobr brought considerable sadness not only to me and to the Catholic Church in Wa but also to all well-meaning Ghanaians”, he added.
President Akufo-Addo said the news of the elevation of Cardinal Baawobr to a cardinal brought great joy not only to the catholic community in Ghana and the people of the Upper West Region but also to the government and the nation at large.
He said to show solidarity for his elevation, the government sent a presidential delegation comprising high-ranking government officials to Rome to witness his investiture rights and to express Ghana’s appreciation for his elevation.
“The death of the cardinal is a matter of deep regret to me, it is a matter of deep regret for our country, and it is a matter of deep regret for the church”, he said.
The President expressed his condolence to the church of Wa, the universal catholic church, and all the people of Wa who had suffered a great loss due to the departure of a “faithful servant.”
Most Reverend Henryk Mieczylaw Jagodzinski, Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, prayed that God may grant Cardinal Baawobr eternal rest.
He said: “Cardinal Richard fell asleep in the Lord after a life spent entirely for the church … with the meekness and serenity of the saints.”
He eulogized the late Cardinal as someone whose “figure has had great importance in the life of the church in Ghana, in Africa, and the universal church.”
He said under the guidance of the late Cardinal Baawobr, the Diocese of Wa carried out an intense work articulated on evangelization in the sacrament, evangelization in human promotion, and evangelization in ministries.
“The death of our brother in Christ saddens us, but it is also an encouragement for all of us to continue with humility and simplicity in faithful service to the gospel.
Let us ask the Virgin Mary and all the Angels and Saints to accompany him to the divinity encounter with the Lord”, he said.
Cardinal Baawobr died on Sunday, November 27, 2022, in Rome after he was made a Cardinal by the Holy Father, Pope Francis on August 27, 2022.
Cabinet ministers, Council of State Members, Members of Parliament, the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Minister of Interior, and Regional Ministers among others accompanied President Akufo-Addo to the funeral.
Also present at the funeral were representatives from the Missionaries of Africa (M.Afr.), the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference and priests from other countries, the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs, and the Muslim community in Wa among others to pay their last respect to the late Cardinal Baawobr.
The cardinal’s funeral was characterised by solemnness amidst the liturgies, and the Homily by the Very Reverend Farther Stanley Lubungo, Superior General of the M.Afr.
The funeral has been described as one of the best organised and well patronised, which drew mourners from across the country, especially the five northern regions.
President Akufo-Addo donated an amount of GHȻ100,000.00 to support the funeral rites of the late Cardinal while the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament donated GHȻ50,000.00 on behalf of the Speaker of Parliament.
Credit Unions across the country have been called upon to help improve the financial health and wellbeing of members.
They could do that by working harder to create value for members of the credit unions and to provide financial services to members in the form of reduced interest rates and reward members with high dividends when realised.
Mr Dramani Natomah Adams, the Upper West Chapter Executive Committee Board Chairman of the Credit Unions Association, said this during the region’s celebrations to mark this year’s International Credit Union Day held in Wa.
He said credit unions were member-owned and not for the core objective of making profits and therefore, it was important for managers of credit unions to deliver the needed financial capital, which in effect would be geared towards poverty reduction and enhanced the livelihoods of all members.
“If credit unions are not able to contribute to member’s poverty reduction, financial independence, then, we as a credit union movement would have been failing in our core mandate”, he said.
The Day is set aside to reflect on the Credit Union Movement, Its achievements, recognised the board works and share experiences of members.
It was on the theme: “Empower your future financials with a credit union”.
In Africa, the first co-operative credit union was formed in Ghana precisely Jirapa in the Upper West Region in September 1955.
The Reverend John Mc Nulty, an Irish Canadian Priest of the Jirapa Diocese established the St. Joseph Cooperative Credit Union.
The Upper West Regional Minister says the security agencies in the region are not leaving any stone unturned in their bid to arrest the perpetrators of suspected ritual murders in the Wa municipality.
Dr Hafiz Bin Salih said they are closing in on the prime suspects, adding that they will soon be arrested and made to face justice.
Speaking at the 45th-anniversary launch of the T.I. Ahmadiyya Muslim Basic School in Wa over the weekend, Dr Bin Salih stated that all necessary actions would be taken to bring the culprits to book.
Currently, 18 suspects have been arrested.
“In spite of the recent happenings in the Municipality [and] the unfortunate situation that occurred, the security agencies are on top of the issues. Believe me, sooner than later we would catch the perpetrators of this act.
“We are picking feed… once we are satisfied with what we have gathered, the needed action shall be taken,” he stressed.
The Upper West Region has recorded numerous cases of violence, robbery and mob action, among others.
This worrying trend has raised concerns among many residents and non-residents alike.
Following these circumstances, the Regional Security Council announced new strategies and measures to help deal with the situation.
It said the number of murder cases and the disappearance of people have put it on high alert to engage stakeholders over how to end it as soon as possible.
“While investigations on these worrying incidents are ongoing, the Upper West Regional Security Council has authorised increased cooperation and collaboration among the intelligence agencies and seeks to deepen engagement with inhabitants within the municipality in line with contemporary security practices.
“Hence, we are calling on all people to be more observant and vigilant and to draw the attention of the police, other security agencies and local community leaders immediate they observe anything out of the ordinary,” the statement signed by the Regional Minister, Dr Hafiz Salih, directed.
Disincentive for investors
A security analyst, Adib Saani, has warned that the recent insecurity situation in the Upper West region of Ghana could be a disincentive for investors who may be interested in investing in the region.
The expert has, therefore, cautioned government to take immediate measures to ensure that there is lasting peace, security and stability in the Upper West Region.
He noted that major players in the mining industry, in particular, who have already invested heavily in the region, as well as those who may be planning to invest in the region, may be discouraged if the situation persists.
“Government intervention is much required now to resolve this issue,” he said.
According to a principal state attorney at the Upper West regional office of the Attorney General’s Department, Saeed Abdu-Shakur, while eight of the suspects have been granted bail by the Wa circuit court, 10 are still on remand.
On Tuesday, the police in Wa recovered another male adult buried in a shallow grave at Bamahu, a suburb of Wa.
A statement issued by the Upper West regional police command said the yet to be identified body was uncovered by the special purpose intelligence and investigation team as part of their surveillance on Monday, September 19, 2022.
This brings the number of murdered victims to eleven in the last five months.
Meanwhile, the police have announced a GH¢100,000 reward for information that will lead to the arrest of any individual or group involved in the killings in Wa.
The police have also assured the residents of their safety as investigations are underway to apprehend the perpetrators.
The recent news of the murders that have taken place inWa and Mankessim, like those that have once flooded news headlines in Ghana before, have given rise to a lot of questions about the security situation in thecountry.
Unsettled as they are, these cases have also brought to bear the fact that there have been quite too many instances like that where people have either died or been killed through mysterious means.
In an attempt to chronicle some of the cases of murders (ritual murders) that have heralded news headlines in the country, particularly in 2022, GhanaWeb has put together this list of some of the most gruesome killings that happened in various parts of the country.
Wa killings, Upper West:
Residents of the Wa Municipality in the Upper West Region have been living in fear with a risingspate of murders targeting private security officers.
The number of victims is inching towards a dozen, with the most recent having been discovered on Tuesday, September 20, 2022.
In five months, ten lives have been lost in bizarre circumstances to ‘serial killers’ in the region.
Last Friday, September 16, 2022, some residents showed up in their numbers at the Wa Technical Institute to protest the security situation there.
Out of the ten people who have lost their lives, only three bodies have so far been found.
The police have since ramped up efforts to arrest the situation and to assure the population of adequate security, with the Inspector-General of Police, COP Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, visiting the region.
According to additional details, in the case of the latest victim, his eyes and tongue had been removed. The day after, Tuesday, September 19, another body was exhumed with his kidney, heart, and private parts missing.
Bole, Savannah:
In January 2022, the body of a middle-aged man was found in an uncompleted building at Mempeasem in Bole.
On February 6, 2022, the decomposing body of a man was found in an uncompleted building.
In both cases, the men were found with only their elbows visible while the rest of their bodies were in the ground.
Mankessim, Central Region:
A chief and a pastor confessed to killing and burying an aspiring nurse at Mankessim in September 2022.
The duo is said to have dug a pit in the chief’s house, which is under construction, and buried the lady there.
The pastor, Michael Darko Amponsah, who turned out to be the fiancé of the deceased’s sister, was arrested at Cape Coast and he immediately confessed to the crime.
He then led the police to the house of his accomplice, Nana Onyaa Clark, a local chief, where the body was retrieved.
Along with her body, the police also retrieved her bag, her shoes, and other belongings.
Cape Coast, Central Region:
In May 2022, a level 300 Marketing student of the Cape Coast Technical University (CCTU), Nana Ama Clark, was found dead at the Ola Estate near the Ola College of Education.
Her body was found on the roadside at Ola Estate near the Ola College of Education, Cape Coast, with her private part cut off, and bruises on her body.
At Beposo, near Kuntunase, also in the same region, four persons were arrested for murdering a 23-year-old man in January 2022.
The suspects are reported to have tied the deceased with a rope and hit him with clubs until he became unconscious and subsequently died.
Adukrom, Eastern Region:
Between August 30 and September 1, 2022, three teenage Junior High School girls were found dead at Okrakwodwo along the Adukrom-Koforidua Highway in the Okere District.
It is alleged that they left their homes to visit some young men in another community around 11:30 pm before they met their untimely deaths.
At Odumase Krobo on September 12, 2022, a 60-year-old physically-challenged man was murdered and set ablaze in an arson attack.
He was allegedly clubbed before a makeshift structure he was sleeping in, was set ablaze by the arsonist(s) in a protracted land dispute.
Zakoli, Northern Region:
At Zakoli in April 2022, more than eight people were killed and several missing after an attack on a village of Fulani herders.
The town, near Yendi, is said to have been surrounded by gunmen at about 1 pm.
A woman, who survived the attack because she was told she was a woman, said the gunmen separated the women and children to one side and killed only the men.
She explained that most of the men were shot at close range while the attackers burnt down the entire settlement and left others with machete injuries. Dozens of livestock were killed and looted with motorcycles and other properties.
Bono Region:
In August 2022, angry youth of Adoe, a farming community in the Sunyani West Municipality, descended on Fulani herdsmen and killed nearly 100 cattle.
On March 31, 2022, a 20-year-old ‘pragyia’ rider was allegedly murdered by unknown assailants.
The deceased, a student of Chiraa Senior High School, was allegedly hired by some three men to take them to Bodamnii Nkwanta.
The deceased was killed on the way while he was transporting the passengers to their destination.
On July 8, 2022, at Prenkoase, a suburb of Sunyani in the Bono Region, a man believed to be between 25-30 years, was found lying in a pool of blood on the side of the road.
Ashanti Region:
In September 2022, at Konongo, three suspects were arrested over the murder of a 15-year-old girl.
The body of the deceased, identified as Regina Sarfo, was found dumped in a bush at Ahenbrom, a suburb of Konongo on September 8, 2022.
At Benebene, near Fianko, two people were arrested for allegedly murdering a final-year student of the Tweneboah Kodua SHS.
The deceased, who operated a motorcycle business at Odaho during school holidays, was allegedly attacked at Benebene near Fianko.
At Konongo in the Asante Akyem area, in May 2022, some ‘sakawa boys’ allegedly murdered a 22-year-old girl.
Body parts were removed before her body was dumped in a river.
Western North Region:
In July 2022 at Sefwi Bekwai, three people were arrested in connection with the murder of a 27-year-old woman at Sefwi Bekwai Atwumah.
The deceased, Martha Tetteh, a resident of Kumasi in the Ashanti Region, had travelled to Sefwi Bekwai on Monday, June 27, 2022, to allegedly consult a spiritualist.
Her headless body was later found in an uncompleted building at Sefwi Bekwai.
Volta Region:
On June 16, 2022, at Kpetoe in the Agortime Ziope District, a man was killed and his body was found without its head.
The deceased, identified as Apetor Yesu, was a homeowner and was allegedly approached by the suspect for accommodation after he was left stranded in Kpetoe.
It was reported that after escorting the suspect out of the house, however, Apetor Yesu never returned.
Also at Kpetoe in June 2022, the police arrested John Adonu, a welder, for his suspected involvement in the killing of an 85-year-old man, Joseph Tawiah Darko.
The 85-year-old deceased had earlier been reported to have gone missing on June 14, 2022, after he left the house a day earlier.
His decapitated body was discovered under a tree on his farm on June 15, 2022.
Greater Accra Region:
While this is not a case of murder or a killing, in June 2022, at Amasaman, a Ghanaian returnee was arrested after he was captured on video trying to use his 11-year-old daughter for money rituals.
Unfortunately for him, the traditional priest he sent the girl to gave him out, explaining that he was not a fetish priest who demands human sacrifices.
At Abeka on September 7, 2022, a newly-married woman was allegedly murdered in cold blood.
The woman, identified as Muniratu Moro, who entered the marriage as a second wife, was found lifeless in a pool of blood.
It was discovered too that there was a cut on her throat and her thigh.
“She was killed in her room and then dragged into her rival’s room, the way she died was not natural and we need to know how she was murdered,” the brother of the deceased, Mohammed Samba said.
These are but a few of the cases available to GhanaWeb as of the time of going to press but there are many more that are not captured here.
There have been reports of an alleged intrusion at the Wa School for the Blind by an unknown man amid the recent kidnappings and serial killings in the Upper West Region.
The incident allegedly occurred when one student went behind the girls dormitory to get water, which was confirmed by school officials.
According to headmaster of the school, Sylvester Bayor, “between the hours of 7:30 and 8:00pm in the evening, one girl went behind the girl’s dorm to fetch water and saw a man dressed in black with his face covered with a mask. She quickly turned back and blew the alarm.”
Mr Bayorsaid this generated fear among the students, who ran to their teachers and school security at the main gate to seek cover, thinking the man could be one of the murderers behind the recent killings in the area.
Serial killings in Wa
Recent kidnappings and serial killings in Wa have generated fear and worry among residents. On Friday, September 16, 2022, residents woke up to the news of another missing private security guard, bringing the number to seven in the last five months.
The latest incident was recorded on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, when the lifeless body of a young adult (yet to be identified) was found.
Further reports indicate that the Wa School for the Deaf is located close to the spot where the latest dead body was discovered. This, according to school authorities, has heightened the fears of students.
Mr Bayor noted that the lack of street lights in and around the school makes matters worse.
He noted that the school at night is often plunged into darkness as a result, and this puts the school at a higher risk of being attacked.
He further noted that, despite various calls to government and other stakeholders for help, the school is yet to receive any help in that regard.
Lead suspected busted
Meanwhile, the key suspect believed to be orchestrating these killings has been arrested.
The man identified as Kankani Adongo and believed to be in his mid-forties was arrested on 19th September 2022 at Bamahu, a suburb of Wa.
His arrest was possible due to an extensive collaboration between the police and community search parties to find people involved in this act, the Police announced.
The suspect is in custody and will be arraigned before the court to face justice.
Also, about 305 police officers have been deployed to beef up security in the area. Additionally, police authorities have also placed a ¢100,000 bounty on persons who can volunteer credible information that will lead to the arrest and prosecution of other perpetrators behind the recent killings.
The IGP has also been in the area to ascertain the matter.
In what is believed to be a string of ritual killings that have struck Wa, the capital of the Upper West Regional, four dead have been found, and a thorough search is still on for three missing people.
At Bamahu, a Wa suburb, a suspect named Kankani Adongo was detained last Tuesday.
Latest body
The last of the four bodies, which was in an early stage of decomposition, was discovered last Monday in an uncompleted building near the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) on the Wa-Kumasi road.
Last Sunday, the third body was found in a shallow grave.
A statement issued by the police said the Special Purpose Police Intelligence and Investigation teams working with members of the Wa community said on September 18, 2022, the body was discovered in a shallow grave at Bamahu, a suburb of Wa.
The deceased was identified by family members as Seidu Baga, who was reported missing on September 16, 2022.
The bodies had been deposited at the Upper West Regional Hospital morgue by the Special Purpose Intelligence and Investigation team dispatched by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo Dampare, to the municipality, in the aftermath of demonstrations by residents calling for police action over the killings.
The police said a pathologist from the Police Hospital was heading to Wa as part of the investigations.
Police presence
The presence of the special police team had raised hopes among residents for the arrest of the perpetrators of the heinous crimes.
The Police High Command had announced a GH¢100,000 reward for anyone who would come with tangible information leading to the arrest of the suspects.
Visits
Meanwhile, the IGP had ended a three-day duty tour of the region, which took him to all the districts to acquaint himself with the police preparedness to combat crime.
The Minister for the Interior, Ambrose Dery, had also been to Wa where he met leaders of the Wala Traditional Council and gave an assurance of thorough investigations to bring the perpetrators to book.
Wa Central Member of Parliament, Rashid Pelpuo, has disclosed that the latest killings that had bedeviled the Upper West Regional capital was ritualistic in nature.
Whiles lamenting the growing distress that the killings was having on his constituents, Pelpuo said there was the need for police to step up intelligence to curb the situation.
He said perpetrators are after their victims for ritual purposes. “They are very ritualistic from what we have seen so far,” he said in an interview on Accra-based Citi FM on Tuesday, September 20, 2022.
“In the case of today’s killing, the body was cut open, heart and kidneys removed, testes are also taken. I don’t know what they do with it, it is very terrible, terrible,” he added.
Lead suspect arrested after multiple incidents of murder in Wa
Probe into recent serial killings in the Wa Municipality of the Upper West Region appears to have received a major boost after Police apprehended a prime suspect on Monday, September 19.
The arrest of Kankani Adongo was said to have taken place through the collaboration of the locals and the Police at Bamahu, a community in the municipality.
The locals who reportedly spotted the suspect, apprehended him and then took him to the palace of the Paramount Chief of the Wala Traditional Area who in turn informed the Police about the arrest of the suspect.
Head of the Public Affairs unit of the Regional Police Command, Chief Inspector Gideon Ohene Boateng in a statement on Monday said: “The Police have arrested one person believed to be the prime suspect behind the Wa murder case.
“Suspect Kankani Adongo, was arrested on 19th September, 2022 at Bamahu, a suburb of Wa after extensive collaboration between the Police and community search parties.
“Suspect is in custody and will be arraigned before the court to face justice,” the statement read in part.
Suspect allegedly eats body parts of victims
According to security and safety analyst, Dr Adam Bonaa, who says he has gathered intelligence to the effect that the suspect ate body parts of some of his victims.
“My intelligence suggests the suspect was behaving in a cannibalistic way. When he was arrested, it was found out that he had eaten some body parts of the people he allegedly killed. This is a very disturbing development if you ask me,” Dr Bonaa is quoted in a report by kasapafmonline.com.
The analyst alluded that such tendencies by the suspect may result from mental health issues.
The arrest follows recent pattern of security officers of some schools disappearing overnight.
Adongo was said to have been found with some clothes belonging to some of the missing persons in his possession.
The Police had a hectic time in their attempt to take the suspect to the Police station due to the resistance of the crowd that had amassed outside the palace who wanted him handed over for instant justice.
Residents of Wa Municipality in the Upper West Region have been living in fear with a rising spate of murders targeting private security officers.
The number of victims is inching towards a dozen, with the most recent having been discovered on Tuesday, September 20.
In five months, ten lives have been lost in bizarre circumstances to ‘serial killers‘ in the region.
Last Friday, some residents showed up in their numbers at the Technical Institute to protest the security situation in Wa.
Out of the ten people that have lost their lives, only three bodies have been found.
The police have ramped up efforts to arrest the situation and to assure the population of adequate security, which effort has seen the Inspector-General of Police, visit the region.
Body of latest victim discovered
The most recent victim of the killings was found near the Wa Senior High School according to a September 20 statement issued by the Upper West Regional Police Command.
According to the details, the yet-to-be-identified body was discovered by the special purpose intelligence and investigation team during surveillance on Monday, 19th September 2022.
This comes after one other body was uncovered by police at Bahamu during police surveillance on the same day.
The body has since been retrieved and deposited at the Regional Hospital morgue awaiting autopsy by a pathologist from the police hospital and a team of experts in Accra.
Police place GHC100,000 bounty on killers
The police has meanwhile placed a 100K bounty for information on the killings.
In a statement, the police said, “We continue to urge anyone with credible information that will lead to the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators to come forward and share with the Police. In line with this, a reward of GHC100,000 has been set aside for anyone who provides information in that regard”.
The police has however assured that they are working hard to bring the perpetrators to book.
“The police continue to maintain law, order and security in the Wa municipality and surrounding communities,” the statement issued on Monday, September 19, 2022 said.
“We wish to assure residents of the Wa municipality and its environs that the special intelligence and investigation teams will continue to work around the clock with assistance from the affected communities to bring the perpetrators to face justice. Operations and combat teams have also saturated the area to ensure the safety and security of all,” the statement added.
Wa Central MP concerned
Wa Central Member of Parliament, Rashid Pelpuo, has disclosed that the latest killings that had bedeviled the Upper West Regional capital was ritualistic in nature.
Whiles lamenting the growing distress that the killings was having on his constituents, Pelpuo said there was the need for police to step up intelligence to curb the situation.
He said perpetrators are after their victims for ritual purposes. “They are very ritualistic from what we have seen so far,” he said in an interview on Accra-based Citi FM on Tuesday, September 20, 2022.
“In the case of today’s killing, the body was cut open, heart and kidneys removed, testes are also taken. I don’t know what they do with it, it is very terrible, terrible,” he added.
Police confirm arrest of prime suspect with help of locals
Probe into the killings received a major boost after Police apprehended a prime suspect on Monday, September 19.
The arrest of Kankani Adongo was said to have taken place through the collaboration of the locals and the Police at Bamahu, a community in the municipality.
The locals who reportedly spotted the suspect, apprehended him and then took him to the palace of the Paramount Chief of the Wala Traditional Area who in turn informed the Police about the arrest of the suspect.
Head of the Public Affairs unit of the Regional Police Command, Chief Inspector Gideon Ohene Boateng in a statement on Monday said: “The Police have arrested one person believed to be the prime suspect behind the Wa murder case.
“Suspect Kankani Adongo, was arrested on 19th September, 2022 at Bamahu, a suburb of Wa after extensive collaboration between the Police and community search parties.
“Suspect is in custody and will be arraigned before the court to face justice,” the statement read in part.
IGP visits Wa
The Inspector-General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, on Monday, September 19 stormed the region to get first-hand information on the developments.
Speaking to the press afterwards, the police chief reiterated the Service’s commitment in safeguarding the peace of the area adding that, the investigations were being carried out alongside other security agencies.
“We want to assure you that we’ll do all what we can to ensure that Wa Municipality and its environs is peaceful for all of you. The Police as the lead internal security agency, is committed, very committed in working with the other security agencies that we’re already working with on the ground because the REGSEC includes all the security agencies on the ground and they’re the people who have been working on it until we also brought people from outside to come and support them. So all the security agencies are already part of the work we are doing.”
Interior Minister calls for calm, cooperation
Hon. Ambrose Dery, the Interior Minister and Member of Parliament for Nandom, while assuring that the security agencies were in control of the situation admonished the locals to limit their contribution of the investigations on providing relevant information to the Police rather than seeking to usurp the authority of the officers.
“The security agencies, the Ghana Police is in control of the situation. They, led by the IGP will investigate whatever has happened in the past and all. What I’m assuring the Wa Naa is that, the security agencies so far are up to the task and we believe we’ll support them to do their work. It’s in their domain of investigating crime.
“But I did make it clear that in all these matters, the policy is for the rule of law to be enforced. If you have any information, you surrender and give it to the security agencies to use.
“You do not resort to self-help or you usurp the role of the security agencies. That we have asked the Chief to thank the community for their passion to help, for the information that they have been giving and continue to give.
“They would leave the real work to the Police. Only give them the information, don’t attack anybody, because if you attack anybody, you yourself will be a subject of investigations,” the minister warned.
The recent strange killings of security personnel in the Upper West Regional Capital, Wa, is alleged to be ritual killings, according to Peter Lanchene Toobu, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Wa West.
The MP added that the killings had to be ritualistic because all the victims had body parts are taken, especially their internal and sensory organs, in an interview with Neat FM that GhanaWeb was listening to.
Lanchene Toobu added that the regional capital has so far recorded at least five such ritual killings.
“What is happening in Wa now is that people keep going missing daily, people are being killed, dead bodies are being found in shallow graves. This is what is happening in Wa now but we don’t know where the killings are done, we only find the bodies.
“Also, the victims that have been found so far have some part of their bodies cut off which in police terms is referred to as ritual killing. Some of the victims have their genitals cut off, their eyes removed and their chest and abdomen dissected. They are being killed for ritual purposes,” he said in Twi.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service has arrested one suspect who is alleged to be involved in the series of murders of security men in Wa.
According to the police, the suspect, Kankani Adongo, is allegedly involved in at least the recent murder of a 58-year-old security man.
In a post shared on Facebook, Monday, the police said that Adongo was arrested with the help of some community search parties.
“The Police have arrested one person believed to be the prime suspect behind the Wa murder case.
“Suspect Kankani Adongo was arrested on 19th September 2022 at Bamahu, a suburb of Wa after extensive collaboration between the Police and community search parties.
“(The) suspect is in custody and will be arraigned before the court to face justice,” parts of the post shared by the police read.
“My intelligence suggests the suspect was behaving in a cannibalistic way. When he was arrested, it was found out that he had eaten some body parts of the people he allegedly killed. This is a very disturbing development if you ask me,” Dr Bonaa is quoted in a report by kasapafmonline.com.
The analyst alluded that such tendencies by the suspect may result from mental health issues.
The arrest of Adongo Kankani comes on the back of a recent pattern of security officers of some schools disappearing overnight.
Lead suspect arrested after multiple incidents of murder in Wa
Probe into recent serial killings in the Wa Municipality of the Upper West Region appears to have received a major boost after Police apprehended a prime suspect on Monday, September 19.
The arrest of Kankani Adongo was said to have taken place through the collaboration of the locals and the Police at Bamahu, a community in the municipality.
The locals who reportedly spotted the suspect apprehended him and then took him to the palace of the Paramount Chief of the Wala Traditional Area who in turn informed the Police about the arrest of the suspect.
Head of the Public Affairs unit of the Regional Police Command, Chief Inspector Gideon Ohene Boateng in a statement on Monday said: “The Police have arrested one person believed to be the prime suspect behind the Wa murder case.
“Suspect Kankani Adongo was arrested on 19th September 2022 at Bamahu, a suburb of Wa after extensive collaboration between the Police and community search parties.
“Suspect is in custody and will be arraigned before the court to face justice,” the statement read in part.
Adongo was said to have been found with some clothes belonging to some of the missing persons in his possession.
The Police had a hectic time in their attempt to take the suspect to the Police station due to the resistance of the crowd that had amassed outside the palace who wanted him handed over for instant justice.
Some eyewitnesses said they were subjected to some beatings at the hands of the Police in order to be able to whisk the suspect away, a move they were also trying to thwart.
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare who stormed the region today to address the Press, reiterated the Police’s commitment to safeguarding the peace of the area adding that, the investigations were being carried out alongside other security agencies.
“We want to assure you that we’ll do all that we can to ensure that Wa Municipality and its environs is peaceful for all of you. The Police as the lead internal security agency is committed, very committed to working with the other security agencies that we’re already working with on the ground because the REGSEC includes all the security agencies on the ground and they’re the people who have been working on it until we also brought people from outside to come and support them. So all the security agencies are already part of the work we are doing.”
Hon. Ambrose Dery, the Interior Minister and Member of Parliament for Nandom, while assuring that the security agencies were in control of the situation admonished the locals to limit their contribution to the investigations by providing relevant information to the Police rather than seeking to usurp the authority of the officers.
“The security agencies, the Ghana Police is in control of the situation. They, led by the IGP will investigate whatever has happened in the past and all. What I’m assuring the Wa Naa is that the security agencies so far are up to the task and we believe we’ll support them to do their work. It’s in their domain of investigating crime.
“But I did make it clear that in all these matters, the policy is for the rule of law to be enforced. If you have any information, you surrender it and give it to the security agencies to use.
“You do not resort to self-help or you usurp the role of the security agencies. That we have asked the Chief to thank the communityfor their passion to help, and for the information that they have been giving and continue to give.
“They would leave the real work to the Police. Only give them the information, don’t attack anybody, because if you attack anybody, you yourself will be a subject of investigations,” the minister warned.
For anyone who gives information that results in thearrest of persons connected to the recent killings and disappearances of people in the Wa in the Upper West region, the Ghana Police Service has offered a reward of GHC100,000.00.
Since the murders of private security officers, Wa residents have spent the last five months in fear.
Ten lives have been lost in strange circumstances by “serial killers” in the area in the last five months.
Last Friday, some residents showed up in their numbers at the Technical Institute to protest the security situation in Wa.
Only three bodies have been found out of the ten people who have lost their lives. In a statement, the police said, “We continue to urge anyone with credible information that will lead to the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators to come forward and share with the Police. In line with this, a reward of GHC100,000 has been set aside for anyone who provides information in that regard”.
On Monday, the police released a statement assuring the residents they are working hard to bring the perpetrators to book.
“The police continue to maintain law, order, and security in the Wa municipality and surrounding communities,” the statement issued on Monday, September 19, 2022 said.
“We wish to assure residents of the Wa municipality and its environs that the special intelligence and investigation teams will continue to work around the clock with assistance from the affected communities to bring the perpetrators to face justice. Operations and combat teams have also saturated the area to ensure safety and security,” the statement added.
Through the Ministry of the Interior, the government has sent its condolences to the bereaved families of those killed in Wa and reaffirmed its commitment to putting an end to the threat through the security agencies’ unrelenting efforts.
The Interior Minister,Mr. Ambrose Dery, has said, “I want to convey my condolences to those families who have lost their loved ones and that our thoughts are with them on behalf of the President and the people of Ghana.
The Minister stated that the police were in charge of the issue and that investigations into the incidents were ongoing. The Minister further stated that the offenders would be found and brought before the law.
Mr Dery, who said this when he called on the Paramount Chief of the Wala Traditional Area, Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo IV, on Monday during his visit to the region said, “I am assuring the Wa Naa and his people that the security agencies are so far up to the task.”
While commending the people of Wa for their support to the police service in the municipality, the minister admonished them not to usurp the role of the police by meting out instant justice to suspects saying, “Let no one take the law into his own hands, let the rule of law reign.”
He appealed to the people in the municipality to surrender vital information to the appropriate security agencies towards fighting the menace of serial killings and missing of people in Wa.
Mr Dery also gave the assurance that his outfit, and for that matter the government, was committed to strengthening the human resource and logistical capacity of the security agencies to help improve the security situation in the region, especially the Wa Municipality.
Naa Pelpuo IV acknowledged the assurances by the minister and expressed hope that the assurance would not be a mere rhetoric.
“What we will ask for is that the assurance will really happen. It will not be one of the cases, where we will term it as just Ghanaians being noted for giving strong wordings and statements when issues of this nature arise,” he said.
“Over the past few weeks, the people of Wa have not known peace and it is really unfortunate that the people will be going through such,” the chief indicated, and prayed that the minister’s visit and interventions would yield positive results.
Naa Pelpuo observed that the expectations of the people in the traditional area were that the police would apprehend the perpetrators of this heinous crime against innocent lives and made to face the full rigours of the law.
Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) is also in Wa to assess the situation and to see how best they would come together to solve the mystery killings.
The main suspect in the killing case at Wa in the Upper West Region has been apprehended, according to the police.
The suspect, identified as Kankani Adongo, was arrested today, Monday, September 19, 2022, at Bamahu, a suburb of Wa.
This was after extensive collaboration between the police and community searchparties.
“The suspect is in custody and will be arraigned before the court to face justice”, the police added in a brief statement.
Police have already assured that they will continue to maintain law and order in the Wa Municipality and surrounding communities after a string of killings.
Police have special purpose police intelligence and investigation teams working with members of the community.
10 private security men have been killed by unknown assailants in Wa within the last nine months with the latest incident happening last Friday.
This angered youth in the area, who protested the incessant killings.
The Minister for the Interior, Ambrose Dery has been meeting with leaders of the Waala traditional area and has assured of thorough investigations into the matter.
On Sunday, a body was found in a shallow grave at Bamahu, a suburb of Wa.
“The body was later identified by family members of the deceased as Seidu Baga who was reported missing on 16th September 2022,” police noted in the statement.
The body was subsequently exhumed and conveyed to the Regional Hospital, Wa for autopsy and investigation.
Police have also said they are providing clinical psychologists to offer psycho-social support to the family.
IGP heads to Wa
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare is in Wa, the Upper West regional capital, following the killing of private security personnel in the area.
He together with some members of the Police Management Board and the Upper West Regional Police Command also paid a courtesy call on the Overlord of the Wa Traditional Area, Wa Naa Seidu Fuseini Pelpuo IV.
Earlier, the IGP and some members of the Police Management Board and the Regional Police Command embarked on a security tour in the municipality.
The maiden visit of the IGP to the area is to update the service on the new security measures put in place to bring peace in Wa and the Upper West region at large.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, is in Wa of the Upper West Region today, September 19, 2022.
Mr Dampare’s visit comes in response to the most recent purported claims of murders and disappearances in Wa.
The IGP was accompanied with other top officers, additionally, his visit comes after police in Wa’s “Napogi-ba Kolee” expansion uncovered a body buried in a shallow grave.
The deceased identified as Seidu Dakpuli is the latest security personnel who went missing two days ago.
Some body parts are said to be missing after the exercise.
This comes days after angry youth in the area massed up on the streets and burnt tyres protesting the unexplained killings.
The IGP’s visit is expected to boost Police morale and also assure the citizenry of the readiness of the law enforcement agency to protect them.
Apart from the IGP’s presence, the Police administration has also assured the people of the Wa and its environs that it has taken cognizance of their security concerns and has, therefore, put in place measures to support the Regional Police Command to beef up security to ensure the safety of all persons in the Metropolis.
In this regard, special purpose investigation and intelligence teams as well as additional police visibility and crime combat teams have been deployed to Wa under the leadership of the Director-General of Operations.
The Police reiterated its pledge to the public that they will continue to work towards ensuring the safety and security of all persons across the country.
Three hundred and five Policemen have arrived in Wa to beef up security in the municipality following the alleged killing or abduction of residents including private security personnel.
Nine persons have allegedly been killed since February this year, with seven of them being private security men.
On Friday, irate youth in Wa stormed the Wa Naa’s palace and later occupied the main Wa traffic light, blocking movement of vehicles for over an hour.
On Friday morning, September 16, 2022 residents woke up to the news of another missing privatesecurity guard, bringing the number to 7 in the last five months.
The recent suspected murder happened near the Wa Technical Institute and is the second to have occurred this week.
Traces of blood were found on the floor near the duty post of the victim. Residents suspect both missing persons have been killed and their bodies hidden.
Police investigations are underway.
Meanwhile, the youth are on rampage and protesting the sudden missing of persons in the area. They stormed Wa Naa’s palace demanding to be given permission to search houses of foreigners.
JoyNews understands that overlord of Wa has summoned all sub-chiefs under his jurisdiction to look into the matter and possibly get the Regional Security Council to impose curfew in the community.
The Wa Municipality of the Upper West Region is gradually becoming an unsafe place to live in particularly at night due to the recent killings being recorded in the hitherto peaceful town.
Even before the Wa Police Command could unravel the mystery behind some two murders recorded in this year alone, another person was found dead and buried near his workplace on Sunday, July 31, 2022.
Mumuni Jaatuwa alias Kekala who is a night security man from Kpaguri, a suburb in the Wa Municipality was said to have left for work on Friday, July 29, after evening prayers but did not return home the following day.
As a result, a search party was activated and combed around the municipality on Saturday without success.
However, according to Buurinaa, a relative of the deceased, on Sunday after a failed search the previous day, the relatives decided to go back to the deceased’s working place for further search.
He said upon checking one of the uncompleted rooms at the premises, they noticed a portion of the room that appeared weeded with weeds spread over it. This raised their suspicion to call on the Police to the scene. The police dug to reveal the body of the deceased with his stomach cut open, revealing his intestines.
“On Friday, we performed the evening prayer together with him before he left for work. The following day, from morning to evening he didn’t return. Due to that we informed one another and began a search for him. We first went to his farm but we didn’t see him. Secondly, we went to his workplace but there was no trace of him either. We also went to check the Police station thinking that maybe he might have fallen foul of the law but he was not there. Also, we thought that maybe an accident can let him end at the hospital so we went and checked all the wards at the hospital to no avail. We left there around midnight on Saturday.
“So we decided that we’d continue our search for him on Sunday. The following day, we decided to go to his workplace again to check the uncompleted rooms on the premises. So upon entering one of the rooms, we saw that a part of the room appeared to have been dug and refilled, with the weeds on top of it. That heightened our suspicion and made us go back to inform the Police.
“The Police dug the place only to reveal his body with his stomach cut open and his intestines out. But as to what has been removed from the stomach, we can’t tell. So they (the hospital authorities and Police) promised to do what is expected of them and will release the body to us tomorrow Monday for burial,” the relative recounted.
Another relative, Simon Abu also stated that: “He is the youngest brother of my grandfather and I know he’s a night watchman (security) and I know where he works. I was at my farm when the incident happened. I went to see the Police Commander and he pledged to release the body to us tomorrow for burial. The deceased was a good man who rarely had issues with anyone and loved joking with everyone. God will take care of his killers. We leave everything in the hands of God.”
C/Inspector Gideon Ohene Boateng, Head of the Public Affairs unit of the Police Command confirmed the incident in an interview on Monday, August 1, and indicated the Police were doing everything possible to bring the perpetrators to book.
Asked why it was taking the Police too long to solve the recent murders, the Chief Inspector said:
“It’s very much pathetic as I early on said. It’s alarming, yes. But when the Police are investigating a case, in some incidences, a case may be finished with its investigations within two or three days. Others take about a year or two and others even ten years. It depends on the intelligence that we gather and to get the actual perpetrator in order not to lose the case in court. That’s why most, if Police hastily sends a case to court without gathering vital information that’ll let us win a case, at times you see that Police go court to flop.”
He appealed to the general public to be forthcoming with vital information to enable the Police to fight crime effectively.
The Upper West Regional Minister, Hafiz Bin Salih has confirmed that a 42-year-old Ghanaian who visited the United Kingdom and Spain and returned to Ghana through Egypt has tested positive for the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The Minister made the revelation at a press briefing in Wa Friday afternoon, March 27, 2020.
According to Graphic Online’s Upper West Regional reporter, Emmanuel Modey, the patient is a male who started showing symptoms about eight days ago joined public transport from Accra to Wa.
Speaking at the press briefing the Upper West Regional Director of Health, Dr Osei Kufour Afreh said the patient started showing signs 8 days ago and a test on Friday came out positive for Coronavirus.
Announcing the case at the media briefing, the Upper West Regional Minister, Hafiz Bin Salih said, the victim was said to have landed in Accra and travelled to Wa on board a public transport where he isolated himself later after reporting himself to the health authorities.
The Minister said, the victim’s blood sample was tested at the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (KCCR) in the Ashanti Region and it was found to be positive.
He said, efforts are being made to trace all the people he contacted from Accra to Wa for further action to be taken.
He assured the public that everything will be done to contain the disease from spreading since it was an imported one.
Whilst allaying the fears of the public and urged calm and not panic, the Regional Minister also urged all those who came into contact with the victim to come forward to be tested for their own safety.
