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Lack of basic amenities cause of high attrition rate in Afram Plains
Poor access to water, healthcare and education in four remote island communities in the Eastern region has resulted in high attrition of key workers in such areas.
This has led to adverse results recorded in education, health and birth registration in the Afram Plains North and South districts.
This came to light when Ghana’s Representativefor the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF),Osama MakkawiKhogali,concluded a week-long visit to the four remote island communities in the two districts.
The visit was to appreciate the pressing challenges impacting children in these communities, including significant barriers to birth registration, access to education, health, and adolescent and child protection issues.
This is the first time a head of a development organisation in Ghana has undertaken such extensive and direct engagement with hard-to-reach communities in the Afram Plains North and South districts.
MrKhogali travelled by ferry, canoe, and motor bicycle engaging directly with residents in Bumpata, Ekyiamenfrom, two communities in KwahuAfram Plains South, and the remote fishing village of Kpatalidza and Senafukope in KwahuAfram Plains North from June 22- 28,2025.
He stated that UNICEF’s presence in these remote communities reaffirm its core principle to protect and promote the rights of every child irrespective of where they live, however, isolated.
According to MrKhogali, understanding the unique barriers children face in accessing quality education and essential health services to addressing concerns around adolescent pregnancy and birth registration was crucial for tailoring UNICEF’s support effectively.
During his visit, MrKhogali held dialogues with the Regional Coordinating Councils and District Chief Executives, community members and their leaders, teachers, health workers, and religious leaders.
The discussions were centred on challenges hindering birth registration, barriers to accessing quality education, availability of essential health commodities, and adolescent pregnancy.
Findings from the visit and engagement revealed that inadequate water supply, health facilities and difficult access to education in the area caused children to trek long distances to access these facilities.
Furthermore, the UNICEF rep on the visit noted that weak implementation of birth registration protocols and the charges associated with children over 12 months were major drawbacks to achieving universal birth registration.
Strategic engagements were held with the Regional and District Health Directorates to assess the availability of basic health supplies.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
A 30-year-old man has been sentenced to 25 years imprisonment with hard labour by the Bekwai Circuit Court for his role in a 2022 robbery at a mining site at Manso Akwasiso in the Ashanti South Region.
The convict, Dominic Ofori, also known as Fanta, was arrested on 16th February 2026 after years on the run. He pleaded guilty before the Bekwai Circuit Court to robbery contrary to Section 149 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 Act 29, and was accordingly sentenced to 25 years imprisonment with hard labour.
On March 20, 2022, the Manso Adubia District Police received intelligence that a group of armed men from Manso Abodom were planning to attack a mining site at Manso Akwasiso to rob the owner of gold concentrate. Acting on the information, police mounted a coordinated operation and laid an ambush at the site.
At about 5:30 pm the same day, four-armed men arrived at the site, fired indiscriminately, and robbed the miners of their gold concentrate. The police team on surveillance intervened, resulting in an exchange of gunfire.
Three of the suspects, Abu Abubakar, Musah Latif, and Gideon Takyi, sustained gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead on arrival at St Martins Catholic Hospital at Agroyesum. Dominic Ofori escaped at the time but was later arrested and put before the court.
The Ashanti South Regional Police Command has assured the public of its continued commitment to combating violent crimes and bringing offenders to justice.
The Ashanti Regional Police Command has arrested 45-year-old Isaac Boafo, also known as “Duabo King,” for allegedly publishing false news intended to cause fear and panic.
Police said the arrest follows a viral TikTok video in which Boafo claimed that four officers at the Central Police Station in Kumasi engaged in inappropriate conduct with commercial sex workers during night patrols in Asafo.
Officers from the Police Intelligence Directorate (Ashanti Region) apprehended Boafo after receiving intelligence about the video.
During questioning, he admitted to creating the video to attract views and engagement online, and acknowledged that he could not prove the allegations.
Boafo also admitted making comments about the President of the Republic for content purposes and could not defend those statements.
He has been formally charged and is in detention as investigations continue.
The Ashanti Regional Police have warned the public against publishing or sharing false information on social media, noting that such acts can cause fear, panic, and damage reputations.
They said anyone found engaging in similar conduct will face legal action.
By: Jacob Aggrey
