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Let’s not sow seeds of division …Pres Mahama cautions on maiden National Day of Thanksgiving
![President John Mahama [left] with First Lady Mrs Lordina Mahama and Mr Alban Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament](https://spectator.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/President-Mahama-left-with-First-Lady-Mrs-Lordina-Mahama-and-Mr-Alban-Bagbin-Speaker-of-Parliament.jpg)
Ghana’s maiden National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving service was held on Tuesday at the State House in Accra.
It was attended by President John Mahama, Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Bagbin, First Lady Lordina Mahama, Ministers of State and Members of Parliament (MPs).
Also in attendance were men and women of God, traditional leaders including the Ga mantse, Nii Teiko Tsuru II, Muslim chiefs and officers from some of the security agencies.
The event themed “Reset, Reflect and Renew for National Prosperity” was to unite Ghanaians of all faiths and express gratitude to God for the nation’s abundant blessings.
The sermon was preached by His Eminence Cardinal Appiah Turkson.
That was preceded by prayer sessions led by various pastors amidst praise and worship sessions by seasoned gospel musicians in the country.
The Islamic Prayers and Thanksgiving Service was led by Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, the National Chief Imam at the Ghana National Mosque at Kanda, Accra.
President Mahama in his address called for togetherness and mutual respect as the nation seeks healing and transformation.
“Let us remain vigilant against the voices of tribalism, the voices of religious extremism and against the poison of political division. These are the seeds of division that we must never let take root in our precious nation, Ghana,” he declared
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
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
