Local News Archives - Page 14 of 85 -

UDS student stabbed to death on campus

A pharmacy student at the University for Development Studies (UDS) in Dungu, Mohammed Zakiu Wunpini, has been tragically stabbed to death. Zakiu, who was preparing to enter his third year of study, was found dead on the evening of September 25, 2024. His body, bearing multiple stab wounds, was found in an uncompleted building located between the Citadel Hostel and Kumbung Hostel on the UDS campus. Initial reports indicate that Zakiu’s motorcycle and phone are missing, raising suspicions that he may have been attacked and robbed. It was confirmed that he had gone out to watch a football match with a friend that evening, but he did not return. In response to the incident, university authorities, including the Vice Dean, Dean of Students, and the head of Security, held an emergency meeting and later visited the regional police office on Friday to get updates on the ongoing investigation. The campus has been thrown into a state of shock and grief as students and staff await further details surrounding the tragic death of their colleague. His final funeral rites will take place today, September 30, 2024, at Gumani around Oasis Restaurant. myjoyonline

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Man Beheads Ex-Wife, Commits Suicide

A MAN in his mid 60’s has allegedly beheaded his ex-wife, by name Emelia, after which he committed suicide at Taabuom, in the Atwima Kwawonma Constituency, in the Ashanti Region. The former couple is blessed with a nine year old child but their marriage, unfortunately, hit the rocks recently, which led to their separation, sources indicate. According to reports, Emelia, who after leaving Chief is now living at Ohwim, near Kumasi, had visited her cassava farm at Taabuom to work on Saturday, September 28, 2024. Unknown to her, Chief had secretly followed her to the farm. Chief was said to have violently attacked Emelia, severed her head in a bizarre fashion and fled the scene. After committing the heinous crime, Chief reportedly called his sister on phone and confessed to her adding that he was about to commit suicide. Chief then switched off his phone and was not seen again until a certain man saw him (Chief) lying unconscious with foam in his mouth the next day (Sunday). Chief, who was suspected to have drunk poison, was rushed to hospital but he gave up the ghost whilst being attended to by medical staff. Later on in the day, during a search in the cassava farm, the lifeless body of Emelia, who is said to be in her mid 50’s, was seen lying in the farm. The disturbing case has been reported to the police who have started their investigations. DGNJoe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi

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Former Ghana defender Samuel Inkoom pleads for time to refund $8,000 in fraud case

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Former Ghana international Samuel Inkoom has requested the Kwabenya Circuit Court to grant him until October 31 to repay US$8,000 he allegedly swindled from two complainants. Inkoom, who won the U-20 World Cup in 2009 and represented Ghana at the 2010 World Cup, appeared in court for the second time, facing charges of defrauding by false pretenses. In court, Inkoom explained that he has put his properties up for sale to raise the funds needed for the refund. His plea was granted by presiding Judge Ms. Mavis Bedjrah. The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Gershon Togo Achondo, detailed the case against Inkoom, stating that complainants Doris Dankwa and her fiancee, Seth Osei Addai, initially sought his help to facilitate their relocation from Dubai to the USA. Inkoom reportedly claimed to have a company capable of securing visas for their travel and asked each complainant for US$4,000, which was paid through Dankwa’s father, John Dadzie. However, after receiving a total of US$8,000, Inkoom failed to provide the promised visas, ignoring numerous attempts to contact him. The police subsequently invited him multiple times, but he did not respond, leading to his summons to court via mobile phone. The case has drawn significant attention as the former football star seeks to resolve the allegations against him. ghsoccernet/ghanaweb

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Widow files writ to access matrimonial home following husband’s death

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A widow is asking the Accra High Court to stop a family head from denying her access to her late husband’s home following his death. In a writ filed by Dianah Asafu Adjei, the widow and plaintiff, against Abusuapayin Osei Tutu of Daaban, Kumasi, she is requesting the court’s assistance to allow her to participate in the funeral rites of her late husband, Engineer Elvis Asafu Adjei Boamah, also known as Osei Kwame Asaf. The widow is also requesting the court to order Abusuapayin Osei Tutu, the defendant, to leave her matrimonial home and grant her uninterrupted access, as a surviving spouse married to the deceased for over 50 years. Madam Adjei is seeking a permanent injunction to prevent the defendant from interfering with her occupation of the home, performing her widow rites, and treating her in a way that may undermine her interests as the deceased’s widow. She is additionally requesting the court to award damages for trespass and wrongful conduct, as well as costs, including legal fees. The widow expressed concern that the defendant may go ahead with organising the final funeral rites for her late husband on or around September 29, 2024. Madam Adjei contended that the defendant could also obstruct her from performing the widowhood rites for her late husband and deny her the “right to a share in the estate of the deceased,” which is the basis for her application. In her statement of case and supporting affidavit, she stated that the defendant “has thrown her out” of her matrimonial home in Adjiriganor, East Legon. Additionally, Madam Adjei said that the defendant had informed her that “he does not need her at the funeral rites of the deceased.” Madam Adjei asserted that the defendant was preventing her from performing widowhood rites because “she was not married to the deceased at the time of his death.” She argued that not being allowed to carry out these rites would cause her irreparable harm, as it would prevent her from accessing the estate of the deceased, a portion of which she believes is her right under the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana. Madam Adjei stated that she would provide the court with relevant evidence to show that at the time of her husband’s death, “we had been married for over 50 years without any interruption,” and that the defendant/respondent is merely an intruder who must be legally restrained. GNA

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Two dismissed officers, civilian sentenced to 30 years for robbery

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Two former security officers and a civilian have each been sentenced to 30 years in prison for robbery by an Accra Circuit Court. The convicted individuals are Michael Baffour, a dismissed soldier and driver; Isaac Amejor, a dismissed police officer and driver; and Saddick Muntakilu, an unemployed civilian. They were found guilty of robbing a nurse of her iPhone 11 Pro Max and cash totaling GHC 40,700. The incident occurred on March 2, 2023, in Adjiriganor, Greater Accra Region, after the complainant had withdrawn money from the bank. The accused were charged with conspiracy to commit robbery and robbery, to which they pleaded not guilty. However, the court, presided over by Evelyn Asamoah, found them guilty and sentenced each to 30 years on both charges, with the sentences to run concurrently. In delivering the sentence, the trial judge noted the prevalence of crimes committed by some security officers. She stated that such behavior threatened the peace and security of the country. Additionally, the court considered the premeditated nature of the offence and the lack of remorse shown by the accused, leading to the decision for a deterrent sentence. The prosecution, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Emmanuel Haligah, urged the court to consider the severity of the offense, the premeditation involved in the crime, and the suffering endured by the victim, as well as the prevalence of such offences. ASP Haligah called for a retributive punishment to deter similar actions by security personnel, who are trained to protect citizens but instead engage in criminal behavior. Mr. Raphael Kofi Bonin, representing Muntakilu, requested that the court impose a minimum sentence aimed at reforming the accused. The prosecution’s case states that on March 2, 2023, the complainant withdrew GHC 40,700 from the Ghana Commercial Bank’s Adjiriganor branch for a housing project. The prosecution stated that the complainant boarded a commercial vehicle to Ashaley Botwe School Junction. Upon reaching a section of New Road near Ability Microfinance, the three accused, except for Muntakilu, who were dressed in uniform, forcibly removed her from the vehicle and compelled her into their taxi. The court was informed that the accused drove the complainant to a location near the University of Ghana Medical Centre. According to the prosecution, the complainant began calling for help, but the accused threatened to kill her if she continued. The prosecution said that the complainant was handcuffed from behind, and the accused used a taser to shock her before stealing her bag, which contained GHC 40,700 and an iPhone 11 Pro Max valued at GHC 9,500. After the robbery, the accused abandoned her in the bushes while still handcuffed and fled the scene. The prosecution said that the complainant managed to escape from the bush, where some coconut sellers helped her reach the Legon Police Station, where a report was filed, and the handcuffs were removed. On March 14, 2023, she petitioned the Director General of the CID for assistance. The accused were arrested on March 28, 2023, at their hideout along the Tema Motorway stretch. A search of the accused revealed a military uniform belonging to Baffour and a police uniform belonging to Amejor. Investigations confirmed that Baffour was a discharged military officer, Amejor was a dismissed police officer, and Muntakilu was unemployed. In April 2023, an identification parade was conducted, during which the complainant identified all three accused as her robbers. The prosecution said that the accused admitted to the offence in their caution statements, witnessed by an independent observer. GNA

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11 more Democracy Hub Protestors remanded by court, bringing total arraigned to 53

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Eleven more Democracy Hub Protestors have been remanded into police custody by an Accra Circuit Court. The Eleven protestors in the presence of their respective lawyers, have pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit crime, unlawful assembly , causing unlawful damage, offensive conduct conducive to breach of peace, assault on public officer and defacement of public notice. Oliver Barker-Vormawor, the Convenor and Funny Otoo, another protestor, currently on admission at the hospital, could not appear before the court, the court was told. Prosecution is expected to respond to the bail application put in by the defence counsels on Thursday September 26, 2024. The court is expected to deliver its ruling on the bail applications. Earlier, Justice Srem Sai, Counsel of three of the accused persons, told the Court presided over by Mr Kwabena Koduah Obiri Yeboah, that lawyers of the accused person had not had any conference with their clients and that the accused persons had not been served with the charge sheet and the facts. The case was therefore stood down for 30 minutes for lawyers to have a conference with the protestors before their charges are read to them in court. So far 53 protestors have been arraigned. A team of lawyers took turns to pray for bail for the accused persons, saying the accused persons had sureties to execute their bail and have fixed places of abode. Defence lawyers contended that their clients were nowhere near the scene yet the Police had picked them up and put them before court. State prosecutors informed the Court that Oliver Barker-Vormewor and Funny Otoo were admitted at the Ghana Police Hospital hence they could not appear before the court. The prosecution’s case is that the accused persons herein are part of a group of protestors. On July 9, 2024 the Police Service received a notice from a group known as “Democracy Hub* informing them of their intention to hold a protest dubbed “Wetaya “Reoccupysulorbthouse Demonstration.“ Prosecution said by that letter, the group requested the Police to provide them with security and protection for the intended demonstration. The Court heard that the group indicated that they intended to protest at the Revolutionary Square, opposite the Jubilee House. Prosecution said after several meetings with the Police, the group was advised by the Police to propose an alternative venue as the chosen venue was a security zone and likely to affect public order and lead to violence or endanger public defence. The Prosecution said by an order of the High Court dated 18″ September, 2024, the group was prohibited from embarking on the intended demonstration at the Revolutionary square. It said the Police thus communicated to the convener of the group and suggested seven different locations to be used for the protest in the interest of public order. The group however rejected the proposed venues and elected to protest at the 37 roundabout which was rejected by the Police. On September 21, 2024 the group embarked on their protest and gathered around the 37 roundabout, insisting to proceed to the revolutionary square. The Police mounted barricades around the 37 roundabouts in a bid to maintain security and order. The barricades restrained the demonstrators from proceeding to the Revolutionary square. Prosecution said the demonstration suddenly turned chaotic as the accused persons resorted to blocking the major roads with stones and vehicles, delaying access at the roundabout. “This caused serious traffic within the Liberation Road, the El walk stadium, the Kawukudi road and Its environs This also caused significant traffic delays,inconvenience and annoyance for commuters. Prosecution said the accused persons also pulled down billboards and burnt electoral posters and flags of political parties. Again, the suspects forcefully pushed down the police barricade that was used to secure the area, obstructing the effort of the Police to maintain peace and security. On September 22, 2024, the accused persons again brought in vehicles to block the major roads. The Police quickly moved in to remove the said vehicles for easy flow of traffic for commuters. The accused persons however fiercely resisted the attempt by the Police to tow away the vehicles, the Prosecution said. The first accused person (Barker-Vormawor) in particular was seen forcefully entering the Police towing van and without authorization, turned off the engine and removed the ignition key to the towing van. The prosecutors said, that action demobilized the Police to tow away the vehicle that the accused persons had used to block the public roads. The first accused person thereafter bolted.

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Remove global legal regulatory barriers – Godfred Dame urges members of IBA

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The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has highlighted the need for global leaders, particularly regulators of the legal profession around the world to take a second look at rules regulating the practice of law across borders given the circumstances of the world finds itself in. Mr. Dame made these and other remarks in his keynote address as the guest of honour at the African Regional Forum held as part of the International Bar Association’s (IBA’s) annual conference in Mexico City, Mexico recently. Founded in 1947, the International Bar Association is the foremost international bar association of international legal practitioners, bar associations, and law societies. The membership comprises over 80,000 individual international lawyers from the world’s leading law firms, 190 law bar associations, and law societies in over 170 countries. The annual conference of the International Bar Association opened on Sunday, 15 September 2024 with remarks from former Mexican President, Ernesto Zedilo. Ghana’s Attorney-General observed that “a virtualised world”, which the global community now is, implies that “law practice generally has assumed cross-border characteristics. The local jurisdiction in which law is practised is open to the world. African lawyers thus have to be world-class, working as part of an open global community to resolve modern-day disputes, many of which have cross-border elements.” Reflecting on the nature of legal practice around the continent and the world and the effect of globalisation on law practice, the Attorney-General had this to say. “If our practice is essentially and unavoidably international or cross-border, then there must be a rethink of the legal framework regulating the practice of lawyers in our respective domestic settings. We must remove the barriers of licensing regimes that constrain the capacity of lawyers to appear in jurisdictions other than where they were trained to practise, if our practice is indeed, international. Mr Dame however said he was realistic in this call and that he was aware that countries may have different legal systems, different systems for training of lawyers, different licensing regimes, and different standards for scrutinising and assessing compliance with rules of professional conduct and ethics. However, in his view, “international legal practice has shown the way. Nations appear before regional courts, international tribunals, and arbitration panels constituted to adjudicate cases following law. The lawyers representing them do not require specific licensing to appear before such panels. Therefore, it can be done. We can begin with a common understanding to provide for state counsel or lawyers who are constitutionally and statutorily empowered in their respective countries to represent nations in disputes, to be able to, without the inhibition of the requirement for a licence to practise, appear freely in domestic courts of other countries when disputes involving the nation occurs”. Godfred Yeboah Dame further stated that “for instance, it is incongruous for state counsel to be able to appear before an arbitration panel seated in London or Nairobi without the requirement of a specific licence but the same state counsel cannot appear before the London High Court or the Nairobi High Court to defend his nation in proceedings to enforce the award resulting from the arbitration after the conclusion of the arbitration proceedings, simply because the state counsel is not qualified to practise in either London or Nairobi, as the case may be. “We ought to begin the process of removing the regulatory barriers to the appearance of lawyers qualified in other jurisdictions in such proceedings. Such an exception will become the fulcrum for the development of a blueprint for a gradual harmonisation of legal training standards and ethics and the removal of regulatory barriers,” Godfred Dame said. Impact of AfCFTA Ghana’s Attorney-General and Minister for Justice also spoke about the impact of the integration of the African continent on law practice. He observed that the African Continental Free Trade Area, expected to connect 1.3 billion people, create a $3.4 trillion economic bloc, and above all boost commerce within the African continent, is envisioned as the largest free zone since the establishment of the World Trade Organization in 1994. “The African lawyer’s role in the resolution of disputes has been heightened by the setting up of AfCTA. Whereas countries have their own courts of first instance and appellate structures, the AfCFTA also has an established dispute settlement mechanism to hear trade disputes brought by aggrieved State parties.” Godfred Dame noted that the setting up of the AfCFTA Dispute Settlement Body tends to raise questions bordering on conflicts with the statutorily recognised structures for dispute resolution in individual countries as well as questions bordering on the sovereignty of nations. He stated that the political endorsement by African states of the Dispute Settlement Body will ensure that the rulings of panels and the Appellate Body of AfCFTA will become part of the legal acquis of African legal systems to bring legal security, certainty and predictability, and transparency. Godfred Dame further observed that in addition to the firm political will of African states, the authority of the AfCFTA’s dispute resolution mechanisms can only be established through the cooperation of lawyers around the continent. “I urge you all to support the AfCFTA in its work, particularly, in ensuring that the dispute settlement body launched 3 years ago succeeds. Respectfully, there must be a deliberate effort to train the African lawyer in the benefits, complexities, and requirements for dispute adjudication in the regional integration body. African lawyers have to be voices in promoting the benefits of regional integration and the global multilateral trading system,” Dame stated. Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM

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CDD condemns police for arrest of Democracy Hub protesters; says it abused due process

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The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has expressed strong condemnation regarding the remand of 28 protesters from the Democracy Hub into police custody, along with 11 others who were sent to prison. This decision came after the Accra Circuit Court’s ruling on Tuesday, September 24, where the demonstrators faced charges of conspiracy to commit a crime, specifically unlawful assembly. In a press statement released on Thursday, September 26, the CDD described the remand as a significant abuse of power, asserting that the police could have managed the situation with greater restraint and respect for the protesters’ rights. The organization criticised the police for their unnecessary use of force and brutality against citizens who were simply exercising their civic rights to protest. Additionally, they took issue with the police’s decision to publicly release the full list of those arrested, arguing that such actions further undermine the integrity of the demonstration. The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) strongly condemns the unlawful tactics employed by the Ghana Police in the recent arrest and detention of some 40 citizens exercising their constitutional right to protest over the weekend. These individuals were demonstrating against critical national issues, including the rising incidence of state capture, widespread corruption, and the unchecked illegal smallscale mining (galamsey) that is devastating the country’s water bodies. Alarmingly, the police also arrested ordinary bystanders who were merely going about their daily activities. “CDD-Ghana is particularly concerned about the Ghana Police Service’s repeated use of excessive and illegal control tactics, especially when dealing with young protesters. These actions undermine both the letter and the spirit of Article 14 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana,” an excerpt of the statement said.

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PNC flag bearer Bernard Mornah sues EC over disqualification

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The flag bearer of the Peoples National Convention (PNC), Bernard Mornah, has sued the Electoral Commission (EC) for disqualifying him from the 2024 presidential election. In an application filed at the Accra High Court on Tuesday [Sept 24, 2024], Mr Mornah is seeking, among other reliefs, an order restraining the EC from embarking on any activity relating to the Presidential election until he is declared as “duly nominated candidate and allowed to contest the elections” Again, he is seeking an order of certiorari quashing the EC’s decision to disqualify him from contesting as a Presidential Candidate in the 2024 presidential election, and an order of mandamus compelling the Chairperson of the EC, Jean Mensa, to declare him as duly nominated to contest the elections. He is further seeking a declaration from the court that the EC, as an administrative body, acted arbitrarily, unfairly and capriciously in disqualifying, and therefore it breached Article 23 of the 1992 Constitution, and also breached his fundamental human rights as protected by the Constitution. Grounds The judicial review application by Mr Mornah, was filed by his lawyer, Professor Raymond Atuguba, who is also the Dean of the University of Ghana Law School. It is premised on the grounds that the EC acted illegally, breached the rules of natural justice and also committed procedural impropriety in disqualifying him from contesting the elections. It is the contention of the applicant that the EC failed to give him a hearing or an opportunity to remedy the alleged mistakes leading to his disqualification. Such an act, he averred, is against due process and his fundamental human rights as stipulated by the 1992 Constitution, and the Public Elections Regulations, 2020 (C.I. 127) Apart from the EC, which has been named as the first respondent in the application, the Returning Officer for the 2024 Presidential Polls, who happened to be the Chairperson of the EC has also been named as the second respondent. Background On September 20, 2024 the EC cleared 13 aspirants to contest the 2024 Presidential election, and disqualified 11. Notable among the 11 aspirants who have been disqualified were Mr Mornah, Janet Nabla, an independent aspirant and Kofi Asamoah Siaw of the Progressive Peoples Party (PPP). Explaining the reasons for the disqualifications last Friday, the chairperson of the EC, Mrs Jean Mensa explained that for Bernard Mornah of PNC, he had incomplete particulars of supporters for his nomination. She said he also used registered voters in a particular district to support his nomination in other districts. His form also contained varying signatures of some supporters, and in some cases the same signatures for different supporters and that is why the EC decided to disqualify him, she said. graphic

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39 Democracy Hub protestors remanded, cases adjourned to October 8th and 11th

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Some 39 protestors have been remanded into custody by the court in Accra over the demonstration by a pressure group, Democracy Hub. Ten out of the protesters arrested during the #OccupyJulorbiHouse demonstration were the first to be remanded after appearing in court today. The entire group, numbering about 39, was transported in different buses under heavy security presence. In court, the demonstrators were charged with conspiracy to commit crime, namely; unlawful assembly. JoyNews’ Correspondent Kenneth Gyasi indicated that the first batch of 12 pleaded not guilty. Ten of the accused persons whose cases were just heard have been remanded into police custody. Their case has been adjourned to October 8, 2024. The next batch of 9 accused persons pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit crime, namely unlawful assembly, causing unlawful damage, and offensive conduct due to breach of peace. They have also been remanded to reappear on October 8. One of them is a fresh graduate undertaking his National Service. Next up was the third batch of 11 protestors as the 19 remanded so far are being sent back to their police cells. This group of 11 has been remanded into Prison custody with their case adjourned to October 8 as well. Another group of 9 in a different courtroom has been remanded into police custody with their case adjourned to October 11. Meanwhile, a bench warrant has been issued for one person who failed to show up in court. Convenor for the #FixTheCountry group, Oliver Barker-Vormawor is expected to appear in court on Wednesday. The arrests occurred over the three-day protest at the 37 Roundabout, where the demonstrators were voicing concerns over issues such as illegal small-scale mining (galamsey) and economic mismanagement. On Sunday, September 22, another major scuffle broke out between the Democracy Hub protesters and the Ghana Police Service during the second day of the protest. Lawyer and social media influencer Ama Governor was part of the arrested persons. As she is escorted to the courtroom, she is heard shouting, “emancipate yourselves from mental slavery.” myjoyonline

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