News
2 jailed for human trafficking
An Accra Circuit Court presided over by Ms Christina Cann has sentenced Ibrahim Keita, a 31-year-old Mali national and Baba Isaah, a 31-year-old Ghanaian to six and five years in prison respectively in hard labour for conspiracy to commit crime.
Ibrahim Keita, the first accused was further sentenced to six years in hard labour for human trafficking.
The presiding judge said the sentences of Ibrahim Keita were to run concurrently.
Delivering her ruling, the judge, Ms Cann indicated that the offence was premeditated and considering the inhuman treatment meted out to the victims and the increasing incidence of human trafficking, there was the need to apply the law in order to curb the practice.
Presenting the facts to the court, Detective Chief Inspector Agatha Abena Asantewaa, said in April, 2020, the Agona Swedru Police Divisional Criminal Investigation Division had intelligence report that the two convicted persons had conspired to sell one Maxime Sassou, a 20-year-old Beninoi.
She told the court that the convicts had initially wanted to sell the victim at GHC 150.000 but later increased the price to GHC 160.000 due to the depreciation of the Cedi.
The prosecutor said having settled on the price to transact the business, Ibrahim Keita lured the victim into Ghana on June 26, 2020, on the pretext that he had secured a job for him to clean, even at the time the land borders were closed as a result of the outbreak of COVID-19.
She said when the victim arrived in the country, the convicts persons arranged with the buyer to receive the money at Swedru in exchange of the victim. In the process, they were arrested when the purported buyer introduced himself as a policeman.
The prosecution witness said investigations revealed that Ibrahim Keita travelled to Benin and met with the victim who was assisting the aunt to operate a restaurant and discussed with him about his intention to double his money but the victim could not assist him.
Later, Keita befriended Baba Isaah at Agona Nyarkrom in 2019 and discussed with intention to double his money which the second convict tried all means to assist him but was not successful.
Chief Inspector Asantewaa told the court that since he was in dire need of money, Ibrahim Keita contrived another plan to sell a human which the second convict agreed to the plan.
By Raymond Kyekye
The Government of Ghana has approved plans to establish a new teacher training college at Ezinlibo in the Jomoro Municipality of the Western Region.
The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, announced the decision during a meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National Gas Company.
He explained that the government, through the Ministry of Education and in collaboration with the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, has a strong case to support the project.
According to him, the new college will help expand access to tertiary education, especially in the Western Region.
He added that the project will be carried out in partnership with Ghana Gas as part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility efforts to support education in the area.
The minister stressed that the approval is a policy decision, with plans to establish the college in 2027. He noted, however, that the timeline will depend on the availability of funds from the Ghana Education Trust Fund.
He said the initiative is part of the government’s broader plan to improve teacher education and ensure more trained teachers are available across the country.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana Gas, Judith Adjoa Blay, said the meeting followed a proposal by the Nzema Academia and Educationalist Association.
She noted that the discussions focused on the policy direction and overall plan for the project.
She further explained that there will be a technical meeting to outline the scope of work and key requirements needed to begin implementation.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Ashanti North Regional Police Command has arrested eight suspected highway robbers in a special intelligence-led operation following a robbery attack on the Mampong–Ejura Highway.
In a press release dated March 31, 2026, and signed by the Ashanti North Regional Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police Felix Apedo, the police said the suspects were linked to a robbery incident that occurred on March 26, 2026, at the Aframso Bridge.
According to the statement, six armed men attacked a driver, Appiah Joseph, who was transporting 14 passengers in a Ssangyong minibus from Kumasi to Atebubu. The attackers reportedly robbed the victims of cash and mobile phones.
The police explained that after the incident, they gathered intelligence and mounted surveillance on the suspects.
Acting on the information, a special operations team, in collaboration with personnel from the NOD Surveillance Unit in Accra, moved to Amakwa Dadey Hotel at Ejura on March 30, 2026.
The statement noted that upon arrival, the officers found the suspects allegedly sharing money believed to be proceeds from the robbery. Eight suspects were subsequently arrested.
They were identified as Amidu Sajo, Ibrahim Sule, Karim Hadu, Malik Jibrilla, Yusifa Asakoko, Umaru Issifu, Damani Yamba, and Ibrahim Iddrisu, also known as “Bule.”
The police further stated that Iddrisu, who was on the wanted list for previous robbery cases, attempted to escape during the operation. While being pursued, he reportedly attacked an officer with a cutlass and tried to seize a service weapon.
In the process, he sustained gunshot wounds to his left leg and arm.
He was rushed to the Mampong Government Hospital and later referred to the Jamasi Pope John Paul Hospital, where he was pronounced dead while receiving treatment.
Police said several items were retrieved during the operation, including two rounds of AK-47 ammunition, three cutlasses, an amount of GHC 15,717.00, eight mobile phones, a talisman, an ID card, and a side bag.
The remaining suspects are currently in police custody and are assisting with investigations.
The command indicated that the operation is ongoing to arrest other suspects and retrieve additional weapons.
It added that the body of the deceased has been deposited at the Mampong Government Hospital morgue for preservation and further action.
The Ashanti North Regional Police Command assured the public of its commitment to fighting highway robbery and ensuring safety, and urged residents to continue cooperating with the police.
By: Jacob Aggrey
