Security & crime

 

 

The Supreme Court of Ghana has delivered a damaging blow to Anas Aremeyaw Anas after ordering the journalist to appear in open court without his usual face mask to face Kwesi Nyantakyi.

The highest ruling body in Ghana ruled on Tuesday morning that the reluctant journalist must appear in court without any face mask covering to testify in the case with the former Ghana FA President.

Anas, who has been extremely reluctant to appear in court let alone without his mask, will now be publicly seen in court in his real flesh as he testifies in court.

This comes after the Supreme Court quashed an earlier ruling by a lower court giving permission to Anas to testify in camera.

The journalist, whose investigation led to Nyantakyi resigning several football posts, claimed his life would be in danger if he testifies in court.

The order of the High Court 2, Criminal Division granted permission to Anas Aremeyaw Anas to testify on camera in the case against Kwesi Nyantakyi.

But on appeal by lawyers of Nyantakyi, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the former football chief and asked Anas to appear in flesh to be cross-examined in open court by Nyantakyi.

By this decision of the Supreme Court Anas Amereyaw Anas must give evidence in open court.

Nyantakyi is fighting his case against the controversial journalist in a bid to clear his name.

The former Ghana FA capo is serving a global ban following the documentary.

Nyantakyi, who was rising to the very top of global football administration, had to step aside from his roles with Caf including as 1st vice-president, the most senior figure at the confederation after its former president, Ahmad.

Nyantakyi and other football officials from around the continent were secretly filmed by undercover reporters receiving cash gifts as part of a documentary by controversial Ghanaian investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas.

Source: ghanasoccernet

23rd October 2022
For Immediate Release

The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Saturday, 22nd October 2022, has as part of his three-day tour of the Eastern Region commissioned the Nsawam Skills Acquisition, Vocational and Reformation Camp Prison.

The edifice, comprises fully furnished 320-capacity dormitory blocks for the inmates, a skills training centre in carpentry, tailoring, a state-of-the- art ICT Lab, Administration block, a Chapel (which shall also serve as classroom), a Kitchen, a dining hall, laundry, inmates’ washrooms, seven (7) sentry posts, two (2) mechanized boreholes, offices, an infirmary, a visitors’ lounge, a shop, CCTV Installations, and other ancillary and recreational facilities.
Constructed by the Church of Pentecost, in furtherance of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) detailing the respective roles of the Ghana Prisons Service and The Church of Pentecost, this is the second to be commissioned, after the maiden one at Ejura was handed over to the Ghana Prisons Service a year ago.
Addressing the gathering, President Akufo-Addo stated that “this is an example of the collaboration between the Church of Pentecost and the government.

We saw it during the height of the COVID crisis, when the church made available its facilities in the Gomoa Fetteh area, and also organized food for the needy at the time. It shows the commitment of this church towards contributing to resolving the socio-economic problems of our nation.

All Ghanaians should therefore join me in saying a big ‘ayekoo’ to them.”
He indicated that “the church of Pentecost, by what it has done here today, has demonstrated exceptional leadership in its desire to maintain and grow a partnership with the state to address the problems of our nation. The second of such facilities that are being constructed by the Church of Pentecost, and there are 3 others as Apostle Nyamekye indicated in the pipeline, per my understanding, and at least 2 of them will be commissioned by the end of this year.”
He said, “I can say with confidence that this ceremony is the highlight of my 3-day working visit to the region. I say so because we’re witnessing today, a very important example of the collaboration that we seek in this country, between government and several stakeholders in our nation, civil society organisations, faith-based organisations and independent institutions in our nation.”
“Apostle, your leadership of the church has already been commended by the General secretary, I want to add my voice to that commendation, about the sterling work that you’re doing in the name of Christ and the Christian community in our country, it’s exceptional and we must recognise it.”
Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, said, the Ejura Prison camp project constructed last year is already yielding some dividends. Currently, thirty-six (36) inmates are being trained in different trades (Tailoring, Kente Weaving, Leatherworks, Carpentry, and Metalworks). A good number of the inmates have already been trained at the workshop and have since been discharged.
He said this vision of the Church “is hinged on a three-pronged approach, one of which is partnering with Government for the socio- economic development of the nation. As a church, we believe that we have not only been called to worship God but to also, serve God’s purpose within the society. It is from such a conviction that we are gathered here to commission this prison camp project,” he added.
Apostle Nyamekye noted that “prison overcrowding is one key contributing factor to poor prison conditions around the world. It is also arguably the biggest single problem facing prison systems. Such overcrowding and associated challenges prevent prisons from fulfilling their proper functions.”
The Ghana Prisons Service, he stated, is experiencing acute overcrowding in its holding facilities across the country. Available statistics at the time of crafting our vision 2023 strategic document in 2018, indicated an overcrowding rate of 50.43% (i.e., 50.43% beyond the normal capacity).”
“As of last Thursday, 20th October, 2022, there were a total of 14,957 inmates in our prisons, as against the maximum capacity of 9,850. Using the Nsawam medium security prisons as a case in point, Mr. President, this holding facility was built to hold a total of 850 prisoners, but currently, the facility is holding 3,187 prisoners. This represents over 275% above the required capacity.”

PRESS STATEMENT
Bolgatanga- Friday 21/10/2022 :

The Doba-Kandiga Conflict Resolution Committee

(DK-CRC) having successfully engaged the feuding factions to the conflict for the third time, proposes that should the traditional authorities fail to resolve the land issue which has been the cause of the conflict leading to the death of tens of people and the loss of property and human dignity by the end of January 2023, the committee will facilitate the parties to adopt a Customary Arbitration approach to ensure that the matter is resolved in a rapid and amicable manner.

The committee having listened to repeated verbal statements, studied written statements and many documentations gathered from the past and presented by all the parties has come to a firm conclusion that all efforts by any interested peace maker will only reduce tensions and improve peaceful co-existence for a period but tackling the land issue and resolving it completely will inure to a lasting peace for the people of Doba and Kandiga.

The committee further appeals to the chiefs and people of Doba and Kandiga to continue to hold on to the current calm and peaceful co-existence amongst them.

The committee will continue to partner with any peace initiators who have special focus on the Doba and Kandiga area conflict to ensure that calm and peaceful co-existence return to the area to enable the innocent and vulnerable people go about their daily activities without fear or hindrance.

The committee also appeals to the Paramount Chiefs of the Navrongo and Mirigu Traditional Areas, Navro-Pio, Pe Asagpaare Aneakwoa Balinia Adda II and Naba Anosona Abisa Atasige III under whose respective traditional jurisdictions Doba and Kandiga fall respectively to hold firm the chiefs of Doba and Kandiga to control their subjects to allow peace a chance.

…signed…
WILLIAM ANAAM ATUGUBA JSC (RETIRED)
(CHAIRMAN OF THE DOBA-KANDIGA CONFLICT RESOLUTION COMMITTEE)

12th September 2022
For Immediate Release

The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has stated that the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has his full support to prosecute persons found to be engaging in illegal mining in the country.

Speaking at the 2022 Bar Conference of the Ghana Bar Association on Monday, 12th September 2022, President Akufo-Addo noted that since the onset of the 4th Republic, some 29 years ago, Ghana has witnessed the longest period of stability and economic growth in our sixty-five (65) years of nationhood.

According to the President, during this period of the 4th Republic, “we have witnessed sustained growths in the size of the economy; rising levels of per capita real incomes; systematic expansion of the private sector.”

He noted also that, in the period of the 4th Republic, we have “taken strong measures to try to protect our lands, water bodies and environment from the menace of environmental degradation and climate change; ensured that efforts to meet the most basic elements of social justice, i.e. education from kindergarten through to secondary school, and accessible healthcare to all our citizens, are ongoing.”

President Akufo-Addo, to this end, assured members of the Ghana Bar Association “of my full support to the Attorney General in his determination to prosecute Aisha Huang and her collaborators, who, apparently, insist on flouting our laws against galamsey and illegal mining.”

The President continued, “I expect, if they are found guilty, that the courts will apply the full vigour of the new amended Act 995, which has increased substantially the punishment for breaches of the law.”

Alternative Livelihood Programme
President Akufo-Addo has indicated, on occasion, that his government is not against small scale mining.

“On the contrary, the Government is in full support of responsible small-scale mining activities, as they provide an avenue for Ghanaians to participate in the mining industry, and contribute substantially to our gold exports,” he said, in October 2021, at the launch of the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme, a programme designed to help alleviate the hardships of those affected by Government’s efforts to sanitise the mining industry.

Available data shows that the small-scale mining industry accounts for some forty percent (40%) of our gold exports, and has played a critical role in making Ghana the leading producer of gold in Africa.

Small-scale mining, the President stressed, should, therefore, “be encouraged, and we will do all that is necessary to promote it for our collective benefit.”

He stated, however, that “what we cannot do, and will not allow to happen, is to permit mining activities to threaten the environment which sustains our lives and the lives and livelihoods of generations unborn. We owe a sacred duty to preserve the environment, even as we reap the benefits of our natural resources. Small scale mining can, and must, only be done responsibly.”

 

 

VIVO ENERGY (SHELL GHANA), this morning, August 31, 2022, made a presentation of 500 litres of fuel, to the Ashanti Regional Security Council.

The gesture by the energy giant is to support the REGSEC’s resolve to enhance security in the region.

A Communication Specialist, Shirley Tony Kum, in making the presentation on behalf of VIVO ENERGY, explained that they hurriedly came to the aid of REGSEC, owing to the long-standing relationship that exists between the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council and her company.

Again, she indicated that the progress of every organisation was largely dependent on the security of the environment, hence the gesture.

“We are actually supporting this because we believe proper and enhanced security remains key in every development and that we are committed to supporting any action that will improve the security of the environment through which our business also thrives,” Shirley Tony Kum noted.

She said the company will continue to offer its support to the Coordinating Council and ensure that the two work together for the good of the region.

The Ashanti Regional Minister and Chairman of the Regional Security Council, Simon Osei-Mensah, was full of appreciation to SHELL GHANA for their quick response to their request for support.

According to him, the donation has come at a time the Security Council is gearing up to redouble its security efforts in the region.

The Ashanti Regional branch of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has observed with grave concern a situatıon where the Police Administration appears to have adopted what can be described as a ‘centralized communication system’ which ın our view has the potential to affect the time-testded Police-Media relations in the region.

The Association is finding it difficult to understand why the regional Police Command ın recent times appears to be avoiding media interviews on news items where the police in the region iş expected to provide clarifcations on urgent situations of public interest but rather chooses to refer the media to the headquarters in Accra.

Is it not surprising, why media houses in the region cannot access information of an incident in the region from the regional command?.

A point must be made by GJA that “our job is not just to be called upon to cover parades and” WASSA” at your instance”.

The fact remains that journalists have an essential duty to inform the public on the issues of security and other safety matters.

It is a fact that both journalists and the police share the common object of providing service to the  Public, even though from different perspectives.

While the police work to keep peace and provide safety for the public, the media work to provide information, in fact, accurate information, to the public including the police and other security forces.

Therefore, the situation where a media house cannot access information from the Regional Command, but would have  to wait for someone from Accra to respond to the issues, which in many instances is not forthcoming, should be of great worry to us and as a result calls for a second thought by the Police Administration.

İt is therefore our submission that İf nothing iş done to correct the state of affairs, such can easily give rise to speculations and twisting of facts, which would not be in the best interest of the people both institutions are serving.

İt is the position of GJA Ashanti that the police iş chatting a path of creating a strained relationship between the two institutions with the introducion of centralised communication system where journalists ın the region are referred to contact the headquarters in Accra for clarifications on news items ın Kumasi and its environs and that şame needs to be rectified.

This position of ours is reinforced by our strong desire to avoid instances of speculative reporting which can be inimical to the progress of democratic growth and development.

Sgd.
Hope King
Ashanti Regional Chairman,
GJA.

CC:
ALL MEDIA HOUSES

14th August 2022
For Immediate Release

The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, says his government, since assuming office in 2017, has been delivering on its promise to retool and re-equip the Ghana Armed Forces, thereby helping the Force to realise its mandate of protecting the territorial integrity of the nation.

According to President Akufo-Addo, in view of the contemporary, emerging and future threats in West Africa, addressing security issues cannot be business as usual.

“Government has, thus, approved the expansion of the Armed Forces to cater for these threats. The strategic expansion and modernisation of the Armed Forces, in line with the threat analysis and the acquisition of the requisite equipment, logistics, infrastructure development and increase in manpower, are being pursued vigorously,” he said.

Speaking at the Military Academy Graduation parade for Regular Career Course 61, on Friday, 12th August 2022, President Akufo-Addo indicated that Government is reconstructing and upgrading the Ghana Military Academy to bring it at par with other reputable Military Academies across the world.

He noted that the first phase of the construction works of the Military Academy is almost complete, with the renovated Officer Cadets’ Mess, the Academy Parade Square, the three hundred and twenty-seating capacity two-storey classroom block, and the magnificent administration block also completed.

Indeed, the three-storey two hundred and forty-six (246)-room officer cadets’ hostel, the two-bedroom sixteen apartments officer accommodation for platoon commanders, the two-bedroom-four apartments half compound for senior non-commissioned instructors, and the boundary fence wall are virtually complete, with installation of fittings, painting, external works/landscaping and connection for water and electricity expected to be finished by the end of this month.

In terms of manpower expansion, President Akufo-Addo indicated that the Armed Forces has recruited and trained some three thousand (3,000) soldiers between 2017 and 2020.

“It has, since 2021, embarked on accelerated nationwide recruitment and training to churn out a minimum of four thousand (4,000) officers and soldiers annually until 2024, in order to beef up the strength of our Armed Forces to optimal levels. Thus, a minimum of two thousand (2,000) recruits are trained in recruit training schools of the three (3) Services every six months, whilst the strength of officer cadets enlisted in recent times has been increased exponentially since 2020,” the President said.

He continued, “In addition to the construction of the eight hundred and thirty-two (832) accommodation units for the Armed Forces, initiated under the Military Housing Phase One Project in July 2019, which are currently at various levels of completion, I cut the sod a few months ago for the Military Housing Phase 2 Project, which will add three hundred and twenty (320) additional units to the Phase 1 accommodation units.”

President Akufo-Addo noted that there is massive infrastructure development in the vicinity of the Burma Camp Military Cemetery to provide warehouses, offices and barracks accommodation for Base Ordnance Depot, the School of Ordnance, the Armed Forces Central Band and the Armed Forces Music School.

To enhance operational capability, combat efficiency and logistics capacity of the Armed Forces, the President noted that measures have been put in place in furtherance of restructuring and retooling.

“To this end, additional bases, specialised units and brigades have been created, with the acquisition of requisite equipment, to enhance operations particularly along our northern frontiers. As you are aware, this expansion has already seen the creation and establishment of the Army Special Operations Brigade, Armoured Brigade, Signal Brigade, and two (2) Mechanised Battalions, which are deployed in the Upper West and Upper East Regions,” the President said.

He noted that construction and equipping of fifteen (15) Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) across our northern frontiers for the Armed Forces for the Northern Border Project are on track. These FOBs include FOB Dollar Power, FOB Hamile, FOB Tumu, FOB Navrongo, FOBBawku, FOB Nalerigu, FOB Bunkpurugu, FOB Saboba, FOB Bimbilla, FOB Damongo, FOB Bole, FOB Jirapa, Forward Logistics Base at Wa, Forward Logistics Base at Bolgatanga and Main Logistics Base at Tamale.

In addition to this, President Akufo-Addo indicated that a number of combat vehicles, equipment and weaponry, comprising about one hundred and sixty three (163) Armoured Personnel Carriers and other combat vehicles, trucks and general vehicles, surveillance and communication equipment, including optical and critical mass of night vision equipment, as well as weapons, ammunitions and body armour, have been acquired to enhance intelligence acquisition, offer better protection, improve mobility and fire power for troops on internal security operations, including those deployed to our northern frontiers as well as international peace support operations.

To the navy, President Akufo-Addo noted that Government has purchased Offshore Patrol Vessels and Fast Patrol Boats to enhance counter piracy and other maritime threat operations, and protect the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

“Towards enhancing the capability of the Navy, I recently commissioned four (4) fast patrol boats, named VOLTA, PRA, ANKOBRA and DENSU, to protect our maritime resources, especially our offshore Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facilities,” he added.

In the same vein, President Akufo-Addo noted that plans are in the offing to procure, for the Air Force, six (6) L-39 Ground Fighter Aircrafts, two (2) additional Ground Power Units, assorted aircrafts comprising Casa C2A5 Maritime Patrol Aircrafts, Mi-71SH Military Airlift Helicopters, VIP Transport Helicopters (H-225) and four (4) H-125 Reconnaissance Light Attack helicopters, to support the operations of the Special Forces.

Reiterating Government’s commitment to improve the healthcare and medical delivery capacity of the Armed Forces, he indicated that the 37 Military Hospital, which also serves as the National Disaster Management Hospital, has been prioritised for massive retooling, prior to the commencement of the next phase of the 37 Military Hospital expansion project.

Similarly, the five hundred-bed military hospital at Afari, in the Atwima Nwabiagya District of the Ashanti Region, will be ready for inauguration by December of this year.

“The expansion and upgrade of medical reception stations in all the Garrisons to District Hospital status are also on course.

I want to add, furthermore, that adequate provisions have been made for other sister security services, including the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Prisons Service, Ghana National Fire Service and the Ghana Immigration Service, to receive new healthcare equipment for their smooth operations,” the President added.

Hon.Kojo Oppong Nkrumah-Information Minister

SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE GHANA JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION, ALBERT KWABENA DWUMFOUR, AT A PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE DECISION OF THE ADA TRADITIONAL COUNCIL TO BAN RADIO ADA FROM COVERING THIS YEAR’S ASAFOTUFIAMI, HELD AT THE GHANA INTERNATIONAL PRESS CENTRE, ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2022

Members of the National Executive of the GJA,

Colleagues in the media,

Invited guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning to you all.

On behalf of the National Executive of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), I wish to express profound gratitude to you for responding to our invitation at a very short notice. This is the first press conference we are addressing since the new administration took office one-and-half months ago. We believe you will continue to rally behind the programmes and activities of the GJA for the good of the Association.

Colleagues in the media, you may recall that in my Inaugural Address, on June 30, 2022, I underlined the commitment of the Dwumfour Administration to defend press freedom at all time. In that regard, I indicated our intention to establish a fund called the ‘Journalists Support Fund’ to address press freedom and welfare matters.

This morning, we have invited you here to address an issue that touches the heart of press freedom, and which needs urgent attention. This has to do with the decision of the Ada Traditional Council to ban Radio Ada from covering this year’s Asafotufiami, the festival of the chiefs and people of the Ada Traditional Area. Upon hearing the news, I directed the General Secretary and the National Organising Secretary to go to Ada to gather firsthand information on the matter to better inform our intervention. The GJA delegation interacted with staff of Radio Ada and persons close to the Ada Traditional Council. And so we have a good appreciation of the issues at stake to inform our address.

Ban On Coverage of Asafotufiami

Ladies and gentlemen of the media, it is instructive to note that since its establishment 24 years ago, Radio Ada has covered Asafotufiami every year. It is always accorded prominent place and space to mount its outside broadcast equipment at the festival grounds. But this year, for the first time in its history, Radio Ada was denied its status at the celebration of Asafotufiami.

The blacklisting of the radio station started with the Ada Traditional Council not inviting Radio Ada for the coverage of the official launch of the festival at Treasure Island, Ada, on June 30, 2022. On July 14, 2022, the management of the radio station wrote to the ‘Ada Asafotufiami Planning Committee 2022’ to draw its attention to what it believed to be the “inadvertent omission to the regular protocol of the planning committee”.

The management followed up on its letter with a delegation to meet the Ada Traditional Council on August 1, 2022, to further discuss the matter. According to officials of the radio station, the outcome of the meeting with the Ada Traditional Council was positive.

However, the Ada Traditional Council followed up with a letter to the radio station dated August 1, 2022, delivering the Council’s decision to place restrictions on Radio Ada as follows:

“Radio Ada will not be allowed to mount a stage at Ada Asafotufiami Park

Neneme will not grant interviews to journalists from Radio Ada.

Noah Dameh, Serwah Warri and Amanor Dzeagu who happen to be hosts of programmes with unrefined language towards Neneme are not to be seen at the park in Radio Ada paraphernalia.”

Indeed, in our fact-finding mission, persons close to the Ada Traditional Council expressed deep concern about the use of “insulting” and “disrespectful” language by programme hosts of Radio Ada against Neneme.

They cited the regular practice of the reporters mentioning the names of Neneme without according them their titles and also inciting the people to hoot at Neneme and call them names during a demonstration.

Colleagues in the media, whilst appreciating the concerns of Neneme as indicated above, especially what they described as “unrefined language” used to address them by programme hosts of the radio station, the GJA believes the imposition of restrictions on the radio station and its reporters is unjustifiable. In fact, it is an affront to press freedom as guaranteed in Article 21(1)(a) and (f) of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana and Article 19 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights.

With all due respect, the Ada Traditional Council does not have the right or powers to impose such restrictions on Radio Ada and its staff.

We also consider the barring of the three reporters of Radio Ada from wearing the paraphernalia of the radio station and particularly the mention of their names, a threat to their lives and that of their family. We should be mindful of how such public disclosure of names of journalists had led to the killing of such journalists and we should refrain from msuch actions.

We believe one major significance of festivals is to use the occasion to foster peace, unity and oneness of purpose among the people to promote the development of the community. We also recognize the concept of community radio as being the rallying force for the promotion of the culture and socio-economic development of the host communities.

NMC Complaint

Colleagues in the media, we understand the Ada Traditional Council has filed a complaint at the National Media Commission (NMC) against Radio Ada for professional misconduct. We commend the Traditional Council for taking such steps because that is one of the appropriate forums to seek redress on such matters.

3

However, the Ada Traditional Council violated the rules on complaint settlement of the NMC per the imposition of restrictions on the radio station and its reporters. Section 13(2) of the National Media Commission Act, 1993 (Act 449) provides: “A person who has lodged a complaint with the Commission shall, unless he withdraws the complaint, exhaust all avenues available for settling the issue by the Commission before a recourse to the courts”.

Since the complaint by the Ada Traditional Council is still pending, and has not been withdrawn, the Council violated the NMC rules of engagement for complaint settlement by constituting itself into a traditional court to punish the radio station and its staff.

Way Forward

On the way forward, the GJA calls on the Ada Traditional Council not to take the law into their own hands and that it should endeavor to use the due process of law to address its concerns. The Council must also refrain from actions that have the tendency to endanger the lives of the radio station and its staff.

We also advise Radio Ada and its staff to refrain from using insulting or unacceptable language in the discharge of their duties. They should endeavor to exhibit high professional standards at all times.

We, however, encourage them to continue to discharge their constitutional mandate as provided in Article 162(5) of the 1992 Constitution to hold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people of Ghana. They must continue to play the watchdog role of the media in the interest of the people.

We wish to encourage both the Ada Traditional Council and the management of Radio Ada to find amicable ways of resolving their differences. We urge them to consider each other as partners in development and work together to promote development in the area. The GJA is interested in seeing peace restored between the Ada Traditional Council and Radio Ada.

Colleagues in the media, we have discussed the case of Ada Radio with the leadership of the Ghana Police Service who have assured us of full protection for the staff of Radio Ada to enable them go about their normal duties. We believe calm will soon return to Ada so that development will also find space in the land through the vent provided by the media.

Colleagues in the media, may you indulge me to use this opportunity to wish Seth Kwaku Mensah Akroboto, a reporter of Ke FM in the Oti Region, speedy recovery. KMA, as he is popularly called, was among seven people who were involved in a gas explosion incident at Kpassa in the Nkwanta North District. Two of the victims are reported dead. But our brother and colleague is currently receiving treatment at the Burns Unit of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. May God be his Healer.

We also wish to take the opportunity again to express our deepest condolences to Bernard Koku Avle who lost his wife a week ago.

Thank you for your kind attention.

 

The Ejisu District Court in Ashanti presided over by Mr. Kwaku Baah Frempong has granted bail sum of 250 thousand Cedis with three sureties to the Queenmother of Hwereso, near Ejisu in the Ashanti Region, Nana Yaa Mansah for allegedly defrauding by false pretence.

In addition, she is to report herself to the Ejisu Divisional Police CID between 9am and 3pm every Monday. Two other accused persons who are the sons of the Queen mother, Nana Akwasi and Stephen Gyimah were not present in court and a Bench Warrant has been issued for their arrest.

The complainant of the case, is a business woman, one Mary Armah. Briefing the Court on the facts of the case, the Prosecuting Officer, Chief Inspector Victoria Afaribea Mensah, explained that in 2018, Nana Yaa Mansah and her two sons conspired and succeeded in collecting 200 thousand Cedis from Mary Armah under the pretext of allocating to her five and a half acres of land for building purposes at Donaso in the Ejisu municipality.

According to Chief Inspector Victoria Afaribea Mensah, after collecting the amount, they led her to a parcel of land at Donaso which they claimed was part of the Stool Land.

When the complainant started developing the land, she was stopped by officials from the Free Zones Authority as it was a portion of the Boankra Inland Port area acquired by the Government.

The complainant then went to the Queen mother to demanded a refund of her money or be given an unencumbered land but this did not yield any fruitful result. The complainant on the 5th of May this year, made a formal complaint to the Ejisu Divisional CID.

Chief Inspector Victoria Afaribea Mensah said checks by the Ejisu Divisional CID at the Ashanti Regional Lands Commission proved that, the parcel of land sold to the complainant falls within the enclave of the Free Zones Authority.

The case has been adjourned to the 16th of this month to be withdrawn to a higher Court since the amount involved is huge.

Story by GBC