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Let us collaborate to strengthen security in Ghana- Muntaka urges Christian Religious Leaders
The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak has called for strengthening of security in the country through collaboration.
He highlighted the crucial role of collaboration between the government and religious leaders in promoting peace, social cohesion and security across Ghana.
In an engagement with the Christian Religious Leaders in Kumasi, Muntaka Mubarak acknowledged that maintenance of Peace and security in the country is a collective responsibility hence the need for engagement with key stakeholders to share ideas to promote peace and security.
‘Your influence in fostering peace and unity is invaluable. I urge you to continue preaching messages of love, forgiveness and hope from your pulpits. Together, we can create a Kumasi and indeed a Ghana that is safer, healthier and more secure for all,’ he stated.
The Minister acknowledged the growing concern of drug abuse in the country, which threatens communities and endangers youth. He urged Christian leaders to continue preaching messages of love, forgiveness, and hope, while also supporting initiatives that offer treatment and rehabilitation to those in need.
He sought partnership in bolstering the Ghana Prisons Service and Ghana National Fire Service to enable them address challenges like overcrowding and inadequate infrastructure.
Muntaka Mubarak commended Christian bodies for their support, particularly the Church of Pentecost, which has built modern facilities to equip inmates with trades like farming and tailoring.
The Minister reaffirmed his commitment to collaborating with Christian leaders, ensuring an open-door policy to foster peace and understanding.
This partnership aims to promote social cohesion and security, recognizing the vital role religious leaders play in maintaining harmony within communities.
The meeting was attended by the Ashanti Region representatives of the Christian Council, the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, the Catholic Archdiocese and the National Association of Christian and Charismatic Churches amongst others.
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has appealed to regional Queenmothers Association to support efforts to achieve 30 per cent women’s representation in leadership by the close of 2026, noting that women remain significantly underrepresented in elected positions.
The ministry said queenmothers had a critical role to play in identifying, mentoring and grooming the next generation of women leaders.
Speaking at an engagement with regional paramount queenmothers, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection and Member of Parliament (MP) of the Krowor Constituency, in the Greater Accra Region, said the ministry required active collaboration from queenmothers to encourage more women to contest elections.
Dr Lartey noted that negative stereotyping and the persistent association of female politicians with promiscuity continued to discourage many competent women from seeking leadership roles.
“The attacks, insults and shaming push many capable women out of the race before they even start,” she mentioned.
She urged queenmothers to provide direct support to young women in their communities who aspire leadership positions.
According to her, such support should include mentoring, coaching and guiding women through the processes of declaring interest, campaigning and navigating political party structures.
Dr Lartey encouraged women to remain persistent in pursuing leadership opportunities despite setbacks.
“Leadership is not always won on the first try. They should not give up if they do not succeed at first,” She added.
Responding on behalf of the association, Nana Otubea II, President of the All Regional QueenMothers Association and Paramount Queenmother of the Nkonya Traditional Council, described the call as laudable and pledged the association’s support towards achieving the 30 per cent target.
She commended Dr Lartey and the ministry for their efforts in advancing the welfare and empowerment of women.
Nana Otubea II also praised Parliament for passing the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024, describing it as a landmark legislation that would deepen Ghana’s democratic governance architecture.
She said the law would help improve female representation in leadership by mandating progressive targets and promoting gender parity in public life and decision-making.
Nana Otubea II urged that the full implementation of the Affirmative Action Act should include the integration of queenmothers into the National House of Chiefs, describing their exclusion as inconsistent with the principles of equity and inclusion.
She further stated that queenmothers play central roles in dispute resolution, chief nomination, community development and women’s mobilisation, yet are sidelined when national chieftaincy policies are formulated.
She called for legal and administrative reforms to permit the election of paramount queenmothers to the National House of Chiefs, suggesting that at least one queenmother from each region be represented. – GNA
A pastor and two others, who allegedly attempted to bury a five-month-old baby alive at a refuse dump at Abofrem near Bibiani in the Western North Region, have been remanded into lawful custody by the Bibiani District Court.
The accused are Richmond Frimpong, also known as Prophet, 36, a pastor; Beatrice Agyapongmaa, 23, a hairdresser and mother of the baby; and Emmanuel Appiah.
An accomplice, Donkor, a 53-year-old farmer, is at large.
Frimpong and Agyapongmaa have been charged with conspiracy to commit crime, to wit attempted murder. Frimpong faces an additional charge of attempted murder.
Appiah and Donkor have been charged with abetment of crime, to wit attempted murder.
The court, presided over by Mr Lord Delvin Essandoh, did not take their pleas and refused a bail application by counsel for the accused persons.
Chief Inspector B.O. Agyemang, leading the prosecution, told the court that the baby, currently in the custody of Agyapongmaa’s grandmother, remained at risk and prayed the court to place the child in a care home.
The court, in the interest of justice and the welfare of the child, ordered the Social Welfare Office to conduct a social enquiry and submit a report within five days.
The case has been adjourned to May 5, 2026.
Prosecution said the complainant, Winfred Agbah, a 29-year-old security guard and Unit Committee Member at Abofrem, received information on April 10, at about 22:00 hours that some persons were attempting to secretly bury a child at a refuse dump.
He proceeded to the scene and allegedly found Frimpong, Appiah and Donkor preparing to bury the baby, who was wrapped in cloth and being held by Appiah.
When questioned, the three allegedly claimed the child was dead. However, after inspecting the baby, the complainant realised the child was alive.
Prosecution said Frimpong allegedly tried to persuade the complainant to allow them to proceed, but he refused and took the suspects to the Chief of Abofrem.
Investigations revealed that Agyapongmaa is the biological mother of the baby, whose neck had reportedly been unstable since birth. In search of a remedy, she was directed to Frimpong.
Prosecution said Frimpong told Agyapongmaa that the child had been described as “Nsuoba” and required spiritual intervention.
He allegedly asked her to provide items including eggs, schnapps, powder, incense, a fowl and a cannonball stone for rituals.
After the rituals, Frimpong allegedly assured her the baby would die soon and asked her to return to Kumasi.
On April 9, 2026, Agyapongmaa reportedly returned to inform him that the baby was still alive. Prosecution said they then agreed that euthanasia (mercy killing) was the best option.
Frimpong allegedly asked her to leave the child in his room to complete the process and later declared the baby dead.
Appiah, who had visited Frimpong, allegedly assisted in confirming the supposed death.
The prosecution said Frimpong, Appiah and Donkor later took the baby to the refuse dump, where Donkor dug a grave and they attempted to bury the child before the complainant intervened and rescued the baby.
The matter was reported to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit at Bibiani, leading to the arrest of the accused persons.
Prosecution said the suspects admitted the offence in their caution statements and that police were preparing a duplicate docket for the Attorney-General’s Department for advice. –GNA
