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Man goes blind after assault, weeps in court room during judgement
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A 78-year-old man who has become blind following an attack on him at a cemetery at Teshie in Accra without any provocation, wept in acc High Court (Criminal Court ‘3’) on the day the court was about to pronounce judgement on his attackers.
Nii Ashiboi Mensah popularly called Nii Santo within the Teshie Community, was slashed on his neck in 2014, by Mr. Joseph Ashikwei Tigany, who has been sentenced to 25 years in prison by Her Ladyship, Mrs. Justice Mary M.E. Nsenkyire.
The court again jailed Daniel Ashitei, Philip Boye and Nii Armah 15 years each for finding them guilty of conspiracy to commit crime but considered the advanced age of nii Agoe Kaatso who is about 83 years, and sentenced him to one month imprisonment also on the same charge of conspiracy.
Mr. Santo, who had harboured some pain for the seven years that the case was pending in court, could no longer control his emotions and wept when the judge was recapitulating (recap) the brief facts of the case as presented by the sate prosecution.
She said that the victim, Nii Ashiboi Mensah popularly called Nii Santo was a retired driver and lived at Teshie Camp 2, while the five convicts were also drivers but resided at Teshie Bush Road.
She said that the acting Dzaasetse of Lanshie Quarter by name Nii Jerry died and during preparations for his funeral, a faction belonging to the same Lanshie Quarter and headed by a man called Nii Kwabotwe was not in agreement that the deceased (Nii Jerry) should be buried at the Lanshie Royal Mausoleum at Teshie.
According to prosecution this brought a misunderstanding between the two factions on April 24, 2014, which the Municipal Security Committee (MUSEC) of LEKMA held a meeting with them (factions) to settle the matter.
Prosecution claimed that during the meeting, Nii Agoe Kaatso (then 5th Accused) threatened to cut the head of the victim if he stepped foot at the cemetery to dig a grave for the burial of Nii Jerry.
The facts continued that on April 25, 2014, Nii Santo (victim) who had sent some young men to go and dig a grave at the Royal Mausoleum, got a phone call from one of them (young men) to the effect that some people from the Nii Kwabotwe faction had come to attack them at the cemetery.
Upon the receipt of this information, the victim rushed to the place (Royal Mausoleum) and met Nii Armah Agbeko (then 4th Accused) standing on the cemetery wall.
Ms Craig (Prosecutor) said that the victim engaged him (Agbeko) in a conversation to impress upon his brothers to stop fighting the men he (victim) had sent.
She said that while the victim was still talking with Nii Armah Agbeko, they heard shouts from the cemetery compelling the two of them to rush to the place to see what was amiss.
Prosecution said that when the victim entered the cemetery, he saw Joseph Ashikwei Tigany (then 1st Accused), Daniel Ashitei (then 2nd Accused), Philip Boye (then 3rd Accused) with others struggling with the young men he had sent to dig the grave.
Ms Craig said that as the victim proceeded to the place the young men were struggling, he was met mid-way by Daniel Ashitei who held his hands together, and Joseph Ashikwei Tigany emerged from his (victim’s) left hand side and slashed his neck with a knife whilst Philip Boye and Nii Armah Agbeko looked on saying “today you are going to die”.
“Nii Santo was not the only person who sustained injuries; two other men who were part of the digging also sustained injuries as one had his forehead slashed and the other his hand.
“The victim, Nii Santo, was rushed to the hospital and had to be resuscitated after which he was rushed to the theatre to have the injury to the neck sutured.
“The doctor who attended to the victim issued him with a medical report which stated among other things that the wound inflicted on the victim’s neck by the 1st accused (Joseph Ashikwei Tigany) was life threatening,” prosecution concluded.
Passing sentence, Mrs Justice Mary Nsenkyire said, “The jurors having returned a verdict of guilty on all counts, I hereby convict all the accused persons with the offence of conspiracy to commit crime to wit causing harm with the use of offensive weapon. But the first accused has been sentenced to 25 years imprisonment for causing harm.”
By Castro Zangina-Tong
African leaders have been urged to strengthen political commitment and domestic investment to end preventable maternal deaths and AIDS by 2030.
The call comes as African health ministers and policymakers meet in Accra to deliberate on health financing, health security and universal health coverage across the continent.
Mr Edouard Bizimana, Burundi’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and Development Cooperation, made the call on Tuesday at the opening of the African Union’s (AU) 25th Extraordinary Summit on Health in Accra.
He said Africa needed increased domestic investment to build resilient health systems as it continued to grapple with infectious diseases and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Mr Bizimana, who is also Chairperson of the AU Executive Council, said although Africa accounted for nearly 17 per cent of the world’s population, it bore 24 per cent of the global disease burden while having less than three per cent of the global health workforce and only one per cent of global health expenditure.
“Despite maternal mortality declining by nearly 40 per cent since 2000, Africa still accounts for about 70 per cent of maternal deaths globally, while almost two-thirds of people living with HIV reside on the continent,” he said.
Mr Bizimana said the growing burden of NCDs was placing additional pressure on already stretched health systems.
“These figures are not merely statistics. They represent painful human realities, preventable losses and unacceptable inequalities, they remind us that health is not an expense it is a strategic investment and a prerequisite for our sovereignty and development. “he said.
Mr Bizimana said recent global health emergencies had exposed Africa’s vulnerability and underscored the need to expand local production of medicines and vaccines, strengthen the health workforce and improve emergency preparedness.
“Our citizens expect resilient health systems where every mother can give birth safely, every child has access to essential healthcare and every African enjoys quality health services regardless of where they live,” he said.
The two-day summit, being held ahead of the 20th Extraordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government, has brought together health ministers, policymakers and health stakeholders to identify solutions to Africa’s health financing and security challenges.
Madam Florence Samizi, Tanzania’s Deputy Health Minister, called for stronger collaboration among AU Member States to accelerate progress towards universal health coverage.
The summit is being held on the theme: “Advancing Justice, Equality and Universal Health Coverage: Ending AIDS, Tuberculosis, Improving Maternal Health, Addressing Endemic Non-Communicable and Neglected Tropical Diseases in Africa.”
The meeting is expected to adopt the Accra Declaration, a roadmap to strengthen Africa’s health systems and advance health sovereignty by 2030. -GNA
Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana’s Department of Political Science, Dr. Joshua Jebuntie Zaato says the imprisonment of the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, will have little meaning unless it leads to a broader crackdown on illegal mining.
In a post on his Facebook page on the July 21, 2026, Dr. Zaato said the judgment should mark the beginning of efforts to completely eradicate galamsey and hold all those involved accountable, regardless of their political affiliation.
He said the country must work towards restoring polluted rivers, protecting forests and ensuring that people implicated in illegal mining activities are prosecuted.
According to him, those the President has publicly acknowledged to be involved in galamsey should face prosecution.
He called for the prosecution of district chief executives (DCEs), members of Parliament (MPs) and senior political party officials who have been accused of engaging in or supporting illegal mining.
Dr. Zaato further urged the government to take decisive action to end the destruction of the country’s forests caused by galamsey.
He maintained that the imprisonment of Chairman Wontumi would only have a lasting impact if it results in a comprehensive and impartial fight against illegal mining across the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
