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13 family members behind bars, fined GH¢650,000 for contempt
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Thirteen members of a family in the Ashanti Region have been put behind bars after the Asante Mampong High Court fined each of them GH¢50,000 for contempt.
They were alleged to have defied a court injunction and gone ahead to conduct an Islamic marriage ceremony involving a woman who was still legally married to another man.
The ruling, delivered by Justice William Boampong after a two-year legal battle, brought to a dramatic end a domestic dispute that traversed both the traditional court of the Asantehemaa at Manhyia and the High Court, culminating in their imprisonment.
At the time of filing this report on Monday, the 13 family members were still behind bars for their inability to pay the fine.
At the centre of the storm is Hajia Alima Issah, the fourth wife of Alhaji Abass — a businessman widely known in the region as “Alhaji Abass Transport.” The couple share five children.
According to court records, Hajia Issah left the matrimonial home to visit her parents, and approximately one month later, her family facilitated her marriage to another man, notwithstanding her existing union with Alhaji Abass.
The family was served with a High Court injunction but the Court records showed that they proceeded with the ceremony and found them guilty of wilfully disobeying its lawful order.
Upon learning of the development, Alhaji Abass first took the matter to the traditional court of the Asantehemaa, which reportedly issued an injunction restraining Hajia Issah’s family from facilitating any new marriage.
Alhaji Abass then filed an application at the Asante Mampong High Court, which granted an injunction against the proposed marriage, a move that was served on the family members by officials of the court.
That notwithstanding, the family allegedly proceeded to supervise and conduct the Islamic marriage ceremony between Hajia Issah and her new husband.
The court subsequently cited 13 family members for contempt of court, accusing them of wilfully disobeying its lawful order.
Justice Boampong, delivering judgment on the matter, found all 13 respondents guilty and imposed a fine of GH¢50,000 on each. Those who failed to pay the fine faced a 30-day custodial sentence, to be served ahead of the hearing of the substantive case.
Three of the cited respondents did not appear before the court for the ruling, forcing Justice Boampong to issue a bench warrants for their arrest.
The 13 convicted family members were taken into custody following the ruling and remained behind bars at the time of filing the report, as relatives and associates reportedly moved around to raise the funds required to secure their release.
With each fine set at GH¢50,000, the aggregate sum owed by the group amounts to GH¢650,000.The substantive case, which concerns the validity of the competing marriages and the rights of the parties involved, is yet to be heard.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
The 29th Annual Dagaaba-Frafra Friendly Games have once again demonstrated that sports can be a powerful vehicle for cultural preservation, business networking, friendship and peaceful coexistence.
Held at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra last Saturday, the games brought together members of the two ethnic groups from across Ghana and abroad for a colourful celebration under the theme, “Unity in Diversity: The Dagaaba-Frafra Model for Peaceful Co-existence.”
The event, which has evolved from a friendly football match into a major annual gathering, featured football, volleyball, sack races, lime and spoon, tug-of-peace and a penalty shootout for senior citizens.
At the end of the competitions, the Frafra won four events, while the Dagaaba secured victories in five, with the men’s soccer match ending in a draw.
The Frafra triumphed in the men’s lime and spoon, men’s sack race, women’s sack race and women’s soccer, while the Dagaaba won the women’s lime and spoon, men’s volleyball, women’s volleyball, women’s tug-of-peace and the senior citizens’ penalty shootout.
However, the games extended far beyond the sporting arena. The stadium grounds and surrounding spaces became a vibrant marketplace, with patrons enjoying and purchasing a variety of traditional foods, drinks and cultural products.
Local delicacies, including TZ, tubaani, bambara beans, pork, guinea fowl, local fowls, dog meat and kosie, were sold alongside traditional alcoholic beverages. Traditional dresses and other culturally inspired items also attracted buyers, turning the gathering into an important platform for small businesses and vendors to make sales while promoting northern Ghanaian culture.
The cultural exchange continued long after the final sporting contests, as patrons remained at the venue to eat, drink, socialise, dance and party well into the night.
In her remarks, the Guest of Honour, Dr Matilda Aberese-Ako, said the gathering represented much more than competition, describing the Dagaaba-Frafra relationship as a historic bond that had evolved into a modern sporting tradition and an instrument for peace.
MTN Ghana has been the headline sponsor for the games for the past 10 years.
By Gordon Wellu
By Gordon Wellu
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MTN Ghana has undertaken a tree-planting exercise at the Chipa Forest Reserve as part of its commitment to protecting the planet and support the restoration of degraded sections of the forest.
The activity forms part of the company’s 2026 Sustainability Month celebration held under the theme “Small Actions: Big Impact,” and its 30th anniversary celebration.
It was held in partnership with the Forestry Commission (FC) and the Rainforest Alliance with MTN Ghana supporting the restoration of approximately two hectares of degraded forest through the planting of 1,666 trees.
Due to the current dry weather conditions, 833 trees were planted during the exercise, with the remaining 833 to be planted when the rain commences.
The exercise brought together MTN employee volunteers, officials from the Forestry Commission and representatives of the Rainforest Alliance, demonstrating the importance of collaboration in driving environmental sustainability.
Speaking at the event, the Acting General Manager for Sustainability and Shared Value at MTN Ghana, Georgina Asare Fiagbenu, emphasized the critical role trees play in sustaining life and protecting the environment.
“Trees are essential to human survival and healthy ecosystems. They absorb carbon dioxide, release oxygen, regulate temperatures, protect soil, support biodiversity and provide habitats for many species. They also conserve water, reduce erosion and help communities adapt to the effects of climate change,” she said.
The District Manager of the Tema-Ada Forest Services Division of the Forestry Commission, Linda Ansah, welcomed MTN Ghana’s support, describing it as a valuable contribution to efforts aimed at restoring degraded sections of the reserve.
The Country Director of the Rainforest Alliance, Nicholas Jengri, also welcomed the partnership and emphasised the importance of collective action in addressing environmental challenges.
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