Category: General

Mr Lord Delvin Essandoh, the lawyer for two prison warders accused of enabling the escape of a convicted Chinese prisoner, says his clients would not drag the Ghana Prison Service into disrepute.

Speaking to the GNA after the court session, Mr Essandoh claimed that the charge sheet contained errors and did not support the facts provided to the court.

According to him, his clients have pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them, because at the right time they would prove their innocence.

He said that he requested bail for his clients since they had fixed residences and would appear in court when required to do so.

Joseph Oteng and Sergeant Isaac Boateng Bonsu have been charged with conspiracy and aiding escape.

They have pleaded not guilty, and the court presided over by Mrs. Afia Owusua Appiah has granted them bail in the sum of GhC100,000 each, with two sureties to be justified.

The two prison officers appeared before an Accra Circuit Court on charges of assisting Wang Xiao, a Chinese con
victed prisoner at Nsawam Medium Prison, to escape last Monday.

The accused correctional officers allegedly told their superiors that after visiting the hospital, they were approached by a Toyota Vitz car, which then drove away with the convict.

However, CCTV footage from a hotel has exposed them.

The CCTV footage indicated that the accused persons escorted the Chinese convict to a hotel to meet his wife in a room.

The convict and his wife allegedly escaped by climbing down the room’s balcony while the officers waited in the hotel reception area.

They are to reappear on April 9, 2024.

The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Wisdom Alorwu, stated that the complainant was the third in command at the Nsawam Medium Security Prisons, and the accused were serving under his supervision.

The prosecution said on February 7, 2024, at around 0700 hours, the two officers were detailed to escort Wang Xiao, a Chinese national serving a one-year sentence at Nsawam Medium Security Prisons, to Korle-Bu Teaching Hospita
l for treatment.

The prosecutor said that after the convict was treated by a medical officer at the hospital’s Dental Department, the two accused agreed to accompany him to the Oceans Hotel in Korle Gonno to meet his wife for a discussion in exchange for a reward of GHC1,000, which they agreed to split.

According to Chief Inspector Alorwu, the accused removed the convict’s handcuffs and took him to the hotel reception. The second accused, Bonsu, informed the receptionist that they were there to see someone in one of the rooms.

The prosecution said the two accused sent the convict to the room, where they met his alleged wife, who offered them KFC rice and drink so she could ‘spends some time with the husband alone.’

Upon returning to the hotel room to contact the convict, the accused discovered that both the convict and his alleged wife had fled through the balcony.

The prosecutor said that after the convict fled, the accused proceeded to the Tema Station Hockey stadium to hide the handcuffs with a witnes
s in the case.

They immediately called their superiors in Nsawam and informed them that while escorting the convict from the hospital, they were unexpectedly stopped by a yellow and black unregistered Toyota Vitz taxi, and the inmate jumped into the taxi and fled.

The prosecutor said the accused were interrogated by their superiors at the Prisons National headquarters, who then submitted a formal complaint to the Police on February 13, 2024.

During investigations, the accused led police to the hotel.

A review of CCTV footage revealed that the convict and his wife jumped from the balcony of the first-floor building and fled while the accused were relaxing in the reception area after receiving meals from the convict’s wife.

The prosecutor said that it was only when the hotel staff alerted them to check on the prisoner that they realised he had escaped.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) has arrested four people allegedly involved in a ‘sophisticated mobile money and sim swap fraud scheme.’

EOCO has put the four accused, including a female, before an Accra Circuit Court for their actions, which have led to the loss of GHC113,947.57 cedis belonging to one of Ghana’s largest banks.

The accused are Richmond Donkor alias Chino, Celicia Asabere, Salifu Eshum, and Daniel Asomani Baawiah.

They have been charged with conspiracy to steal.

Donkor, the first accused, is facing additional charges of stealing and altering forged documents (ECOWAS Identity Card).

Asabere and Eshum are jointly facing charges of abetment of stealing.

Eshum is also being charged for altering a forged document, notably the ECOWAS ID card.

The accused persons pleaded guilty with explanation.

The court presided over Mr Isaac Addo upon hearing their respective explanations, entered a plea of not guilty on their behalf.

The prosecution, led by Mr Abu Issa of EOCO, asked the c
ourt to remand them so that EOCO could complete its investigations by arresting one Derrick Obeng, who is considered to be the mastermind of the crime.

The prosecution argued that remanding the accused would prevent them from interfering with the investigation.

Mr Divine Effah Carrey, counsel for Donkor, the first accused person, sought bail for his client, claiming that Donkor was gainfully employed and had a fixed place of abode.

Donkor’s charges, according to his defence counsel, were bailable.

The court after listening to submissions from the prosecution and defence counsel, exercised its discretion in favour of the prosecution.

It remanded the accused persons based on the gravity of the offence and to prevent further interference.

The accused persons are expected to reappear on March 27, 2024.

The prosecution argued that on February 14, 2024, the EOCO received complaints from a bank that an amount of GHC113,947,57 had been stolen from six of its customers’ bank accounts through a sophisticated mob
ile money and sim swap fraud scheme.

According to the prosecution, the individuals suspected of running the mobile money and sim exchange fraud were arrested by police in Kasoa on March 2, 2024, following a tip.

The prosecutor told the court that preliminary investigations revealed that the accused persons operated in such a way that, with the assistance of some unscrupulous individuals within Vodafone, AT (Airtel Tigo), and the bank in question, mobile phone numbers associated with specific bank accounts were swapped without the knowledge of the actual account holders.

It stated that swapping allowed the accused to take control of the account holders’ banking channels (mobile application and USSD), allowing them to move funds from the victims’ accounts to various bank accounts and mobile money accounts.

According to preliminary investigations, Donkor and Asabere altered the same EOCWAS ID Card GHA 001091841-0 in the name of one William Agyei Kwarteng.

They then used the altered ID card to swap the phone
number attributed to the bank account number 2030200665017 belonging to William Agyei Kwarteng and transferred a total of GHC33,850 from the said account to bank account numbers 2030438618518 and 2100438618512 belonging to Asabere.

The prosecution said Asabere withdrew the funds immediately after the accounts were credited.

It said that Donkor and Eshum also sent GHC5,000 to Vodafone cash number 050933002, which belonged to Eshum’s brother, Razak Salifu.

The prosecution said the bank account numbers, 140017171276519 and 2030171276510 belonging to one Comfort Asamoah -Adu were also taken over, resulting in a total transfer of GHC10,341.2 from those accounts to MTN mobile number 0535385917 belonging to Eshum.

Additionally, the bank account number 2030171273319 belonging to one Patrick Kwadwo Yeboah was also taken over and an amount of GHC10,000 was transferred to mobile phone number 0535385917 belonging to Eshum.

Finally, the prosecution said preliminary investigations indicated that in an elaborate social
engineering scheme, Bawiah attempted to steal an unspecified amount of money belonging to one Muhibatu Abdul- Bassit through her AT (Airtel Tigo) cash number 0267029019.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Achimota Circuit Court has remanded into Police custody a 23-year-old man for breaking into a shop at East Legon, Accra.

Eric Ganyo, a trader, has allegedly identified himself in CCTV footage after the incident at the shop, the Police have said.

Ganyo has been charged with causing unlawful damamge, unlawful entry and five counts of stealing.

He pleaded not guilty before the court presided over by Mr Isaac Addo.

Ganyo is expected to reappear on March 21, 2024.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Stephen Ahiale said the complainant Kwame Achemapong Asirifi was the owner of MASCOT Apple products shop East Legon and lived at East Legon, Accra.

The prosecution said the accused person lived at Sowutuom, Accra.

On December 27, 2023, the prosecution said at about 10:05 hours, the complainant went to his shop and detected that someone hds broken into his shop and made away with a 55 inch LG Television valued at GHC13,000, Echo Dot Speaker valued at GHC700, Apple airpod Pro valued at GHC2,900, two Sumsu
ng Galaxy bud valued at GHC3,800 and two fire stick tablets valued at GHC4,000.

The prosecutor said investigations conducted at the shop revealed that on December 27, 2023, at about 3:25 hours, the CCTV cameras at the Shop captured a male adult wearing blue jeans and blue long sleeves shirt broke the padlocks and burglar-prooof metal gate of the complainant’s shop, entered and stole the items.

The prosecution said the police were, therefore, on the lookout for the accused person.

On January 16, 2024, information was received from the Legon Police Station that the accused person had been arrested at the East Legon Police Station.

The prosecution told the court that the accused person was later handed over to the Accra Regional Police Headquarters for allegedly breaking into apple shops at different locations in Accra and stealing apple products.

The accused person was handed over to the Police at Legon for investigations.

The prosecution said Ganyo was shown the CCTV footage and he confirmed he was the s
ame individual captured in the footage.

The court heard that the accused person admitted the offence and said that he had sold all the items to his accomplice at Ablekuma, but failed to lead the police to the said accomplice.

The prosecution said the accused person claimed he did not know the house of his accomplice.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Management of the Melcom Group of companies, has opened an ultra-modern shop at Sefwi-Dwenase.

This makes it the second Melcom shops to be opened in the Western North Region with the first shop being at Bibiani.

Mr Ahmed Saeed, the Branch Manager told the Ghana News Agency after the launch that the company had embarked on a series of transformation, to get closer to the public.

He said the company was now operating more in rural communities rather than the cities to get closer to the people especially, for convenience and best of customer satisfaction.

Mr Saeed assured residents and customers of the best of customer care and good business directions among others to achieve better standards.

‘This new facility has all that we sell in other branches across the country and customers can be rest assured of the best experience,’ he said.

Nana Elluo Panin III, the Chief of Nsuansua on behalf of the Wiawso Traditional Council, promised the company of their readiness to ensure they were provided with a safe
environment to operate.

Nana Ofori Ahenkan II, the Chief of Bonzian and Kontihene for Wiawso Traditional Council, advised the employees to work hard and avoid stealing.

The traditional ruler also appealed to the company to take good care of its workers so that they would give their best.

Source: Ghana News Agency

By Eratus Ndueh

Millions of Muslim faithful in Cameroon have begun observing the Holy month of Ramadan all over the national territory. The month of Ramadan is of immense significance to Muslims all over the world. It is a period of intense spiritual devotion and self-reflection.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and it’s considered the holiest month for Muslims as it commemorates the revelation of the Quran, Islam’s holy book.

‘Ramadan is the month in which one of the five pillars of Islam in fasting is usually accomplished. it was during the month of Ramadan that the Quran was revealed to prophet Mohammad,’ explained Aladji Mohammed Aboubakar the chief Imam of the Buea Central Mosque.

Also, ‘fasting has been prescribed by Allah during Ramadan. it’s essential and significant as it embodies all aspects of the Muslim person.’ He added.

It is more broadly interpreted as the obligation to refrain between dawn and dusk from food, drink, sexual activity, and all forms of immoral behavio
r, including impure or unkind thoughts.

Moreover, the month of Ramadan is a unique moment as it comes with a lot of benefits. One of them is the possibility of getting his/her sins forgiven by Allah.

‘The month of Ramadan comes with lots of enthusiasm, people are highly spiritual as they expect to have their sins forgiven. During this period we will have some exceptional prayers which are observed only in the month of Ramadan. Imams always lead the prayers and those who are knowledgeable in the recitation of the Quran know as nightly prayers,’ expounded the chief Imam of Buea.

Apart from prayers, the month of Ramadan is also rich in lesson sharing as it teaches Muslims to follow the footsteps of the prophet Mohammad who taught and practiced generosity.

According to the Imam, after the sunset prayer, Muslims gather in their homes or mosques to break their fast with a meal called if?ar that is often shared with friends and extended families. The if?ar usually begins with dates, as was the custom of Muhammad
.

At the end of the Ramadan fast Muslims celebrate what is known as Eid al-Fitr, the ‘Feast of Fast-Breaking,’ which is one of the two major religious holidays of the Muslim calendar.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

The Keta Municipal Assembly would inaugurate its seven zonal councils over the next few days.

The three-day inauguration exercise is expected to come off on Wednesday, March 13, Thursday, March 14 and Monday, March 18, 2024.

Mr. Innocent Komla Gavua, Municipal Coordinating Director, Keta Municipal Assembly, made the announcement Monday, during the sitting of the Assembly to elect its Presiding Member (PM).

Dzelukope, Keta and Anlo-Afiadenyigba zonal councils will be inaugurated on Wednesday, March 13 at the PWD yard, Assembly Hall and Anlo-Afiadenyigba Market Square respectively.

Tsiame-Asadame, Atiavi and Wego area (Wenyago, Agorvinu, Sasieme, Hagodzi) zonal councils will be done on Thursday, March 14 at the Asadame office, Atiavi community centre and Abor lorry station respectively, while that of Anyako zonal council will be done on Monday, March 18 at the forecourt of the market office.

The inauguration exercise forms part of the structures of the local governance process as stipulated in the Local Go
vernance Act 936 Part 1 (2)

A zonal council is established with a population of not less than 3,000 people.

It consists of not more than five persons elected from among the members of the relevant municipal assembly with not more than 10 representatives from unit committees and not more than five persons ordinarily resident in the zone.

Source: Ghana News Agency