Lesotho Wire

Daniel Kuatusah, a professional teacher at the Akatsi RC Basic School, has been jailed 12 years in hard labour for defiling a 13-year-old junior high school girl.

Kuatusah, 30, who taught Basic Design and Technology before his arrest, was sentenced by the Sogakope Circuit Court on Tuesday, March 26, charged with defilement of a child under age 16 years, according to the Criminal Offences Act 554 (11).

Chief Inspector Paul Aidoo, the prosecutor, told the court that the convict, a native of Woe but resident of Akatsi in the Volta Region, on February 27, 2020, at about 1500 hours, invited the victim through a witness and requested that she sent his notebook to his house.

The convict later called his girlfriend to give the victim her key to keep the books in her room, and he subsequently followed the victim to the house and forcibly had sexual intercourse with her in his girlfriend’s room, prosecution said.

The victim, who sustained vaginal injury, reported her ordeal to her grandmother with evidence of her t
orn underwear and blood-stained pants.

Chief Inspector Aidoo said the convict was subsequently arrested on February 28, 2020, after a complaint was lodged with the police by the victim’s grandmother.

During a police investigation, it came to light that the convict called his girlfriend and asked her to delete his contact numbers from her phone, which she obliged.

The prosecution stated that the convict, in a caution statement, denied knowing his girlfriend.

‘Witness was subsequently arrested, and she also corroborated the convict’s statement. The witness was granted bail but later confessed to the police that the convict was her boyfriend during an appearance at the police station the next morning’.

Chief Inspector Aidoo said the witness confirmed that the convict called her whilst at Akatsi main market trading and demanded the key to her room for relaxation, which she willingly sent to him.

During an appearance on Tuesday, the court, presided over by Mr Mac-Ali Junior, a Circuit Court judge, after a fu
ll trial, found the convict guilty and consequently convicted him.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Access Bank has partnered indigenous Shoe Manufacturer, Horseman Shoes, to empower over 500 shoemakers in the country.

A statement issued by the bank said that the empowerment of the artisans would be done through financial and non-financial aid, including workshops, SME engagement sessions, access to finance, and other tailored-made initiatives.

The partnership seeks to provide training and resources to empower local shoe artisans, particularly in Kumasi, Ashanti Region, to enable them to improve their skills and compete globally.

The collaboration would also address issues like empowering the shoemaking industry, fostering employment opportunities, and building capacity in their trade, while supporting the aspirations of children through the distribution of free shoes via its ‘The Sandal More for a Better Tomorrow’ initiative.

‘At Access Bank, we are firm believers in the power of collaboration to effect positive change in our communities. The Sandal More for a Better Tomorrow initiative epitomizes our
dedication to sustainability and community upliftment.

‘By expanding this initiative, we aim to This partnership not only underscores our commitment to the local shoemaking sector but also solidifies our position as the preferred financial partner for our stakeholders,’ the statement stated.

The bank further stated that the initiative would promote responsible consumption and production through recycling, to reduce environmental pollution and ‘unlock economic prospects’ within beneficiary communities in line with the sustainable Development Goal (SDG)12.

‘Promoting responsible consumption and production is paramount for building a sustainable future. Through this collaboration, Access Bank reaffirms its commitment to eco-friendly materials and sustainable practices, minimizing our environmental impact and nurturing a greener future for generations to come’, it said.

The bank pledged to support quality and inclusive education by continuing the provision of sandals to underprivileged children across Ghana i
n line with the SDG 4.

It extended its gratitude to Horseman Shoes for partnering it to promote sustainable development.

Source: Ghana News Agency

A Tarkwa circuit court has sentenced Albert Ankomah, a 24 -year-old small scale miner, to 10 years imprisonment in hard labour for stealing.  

Ankomah, popularly known as ‘Paa Yaw or Simple,’ broke into two homes and made away with mobile phones and other household items.  

He pleaded guilty after being charged with causing unlawful damage, unlawful entry and stealing.  

Superintendent Juliana Essel-Dadzie told the court that Hayford and Godfred Addo, the complainants, who worked as driver and banker, respectively, resided in the same house at Wassa Bawdie, while Ankomah lived at Dompim, both in the Wassa Amenfi East Municipality.  

He said on February 8, 2024, around 0200 hours, the first complainant woke up and detected that a thief had broken into his bedroom and stolen his IPhone 13 Promax, value GHS 9,000, his black backpack containing driver’s license and Ghana card valued GH S250, and cash amount of GHS700.

She said on the same day the second complainant placed his Tecno Pop 2 power mobile phone,
valued at GH S800, on charge on his veranda and retired to bed, but when he woke up around 0400 hours, the mobile phone had disappeared, in addition to two android chargers, value GHC100.00.  

The prosecutor said the complainants suspected Ankomah of being responsible and reported the theft to the Bawdie police.  

Later, at about 1830 hours, a witness in the case and some residents arrested Ankomah at Dompim, retrieved the Iphone 13 Promax from his room and handed him over to the Bawdie police.  

When the police conducted further checks on Ankomah’s room, they found one unserviceable and four serviceable mobile phones, and 32-inch Asano Television, Supt. Essel-Dadzie said.

Ankomah led the police to retrieve the stolen black backpack from a bush with the first complainant’s documents intact.  

While investigations were ongoing, the second complainant identified the Tecno Pop 2 power mobile phone from the exhibits at the police station.  

Mrs Hathia Ama Manu, the presiding judge, ordered the police to ret
urn the IPhone 13 pro max, Techno pop 2 mobile phones and the backpack to the complainants.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Very Reverend Alfred Agyenta, Bishop of the Navrongo Bolgatanga Diocese, Upper East Region, has expressed gratitude to the lay faithful and the religious for their prayers and support to ensure the growth of the parishes.

The Bishop celebrated Chrism Mass with the priests of the diocese to consecrate the sacred Chrism and bless the oils for use for the sick and spiritual needs of Catholics at the Sacred Heart Parish in Bolgatanga.

He gave a special tribute to prayer leaders and catechists who voluntarily kept the various communities in the absence of priests and prayed for God’s blessings on them to continue to find joy in the ministry.

The Chrism Mass is celebrated in the course of the Holy week to bless oils of catechumens, oil of the sick for the healing ministry and oil of Chrism administered by the priests.

It reminds the congregation of its unity in Christ through baptism.

Very Rev. Agyenta said: ‘For the religious men and women who work to promote the gospel of Christ in the areas of education
, health and social work and even silently being in their places, you show a particular dimension of the church…’

He commended the priests for their dedication to serving God and mankind and urged them to express solidarity and fraternity to one another and as men who had offered themselves for service to the church.

On behalf of the priests, Bishop Agyenta asked for forgiveness, especially in times when the priests had failed to be true shepherds and authentic witnesses of the gospel.

‘As pastures our hearts are open, and for any reason that the congregation has offended us, like parents, we have also forgiven you and hope to continue to work together,’ he added.

‘The lay people will want to see us as brothers and truly a brotherhood which will give them the inspiration.’

He urged them to take up the challenge to be happy in the communities in which they worked.

Source: Ghana News Agency

By Charity Nginyu

Recent developments in the investigation of the murder of Mballa Victorine in Nkolfoulou, Yaounde, have unveiled disturbing details.

The perpetrator, currently in custody since the discovery of the victim’s body, has confessed to authorities that his intention was to sexually assault her.

According to sources close to the family, the tragic incident unfolded as Victorine attempted to defend herself against her assailant. Fleeing from the scene, she was struck by a machete thrown at her by the perpetrator.

Despite her efforts to resist, the assailant continued the brutal assault, resulting in her untimely demise.

Referred to affectionately as Mama Victo, the victim was tragically killed by the very person she had hired to execute some tasks on her farm.

Mama Victo, reports say leaves behind a grieving family consisting of five children and a grieving widower.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Mr Charles Opoku, New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate (PC) for Assin North Constituency has presented 25 bags each of sugar and rice to Muslims in the constituency to support their month-long Ramadan fast.

The gesture, which was not his first time, was also to help deepen the bond between him and the Muslim community.

Mr Opoku presenting the items, urged the Muslim community to pray for him and the NPP to win the December 7 polls.

Alhaji Inusa Ibrahim, Assin North Chief Imam, who received the items expressed gratitude to the PC and promised to distribute the items fairly.

The Imam prayed for Allah to assist the PC in accomplishing all his programs, policies, and projects in the community.

Source: Ghana News Agency