News
38-year-old woman arrested for stealing one-week-old baby at Wa Market
The Upper West Regional Police Command has arrested a 38-year-old woman, Abena Martha Maanibeh, for stealing a one-week-old baby and other valuables belonging to the baby’s mother at Wa Market (Kejetia).
According to a police statement, the incident happened on August 10, 2025. The complainant, Ms. Kwofie Mwinbelle, had given birth to a baby boy at the Wa Regional Hospital on August 1.
The suspect, who was working as a caretaker for another patient at the hospital, tricked the new mother into following her to Wa Market to buy baby diapers.
She then took advantage of the situation to run away with the baby and the mother’s handbag, which contained a mobile phone, cash, and other items.
Police investigations, led by ASP Stella Atukwia of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit, traced the suspect to her hideout at Nuobollie in the Savannah Region.
She was arrested on August 15, 2025. The stolen baby was found safe and reunited with his mother, and some of the stolen belongings were recovered.
The suspect appeared before the Wa District Magistrate Court on August 18, 2025 and has since been remanded into custody and will reappear on September 2, 2025.
The Upper West Regional Police Command assured the public of its commitment to protect lives and property.
It also thanked residents for their vigilance and support, which helped in arresting the suspect.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has amended the charges in the ongoing case against former National Petroleum Authority (NPA) Chief Executive, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, and nine others.
The number of counts has risen from 25 to 54 after investigators uncovered new evidence.
The accused are facing trial for alleged large-scale extortion, abuse of public office, and money laundering involving over GH¢291 million and US$332,000.
According to the OSP, the accused persons allegedly extorted huge sums of money from bulk oil transporters and oil marketing companies under the pretext of carrying out official duties.
The proceeds were reportedly laundered through the purchase of properties and investments in business entities to conceal their source.
The accused persons include Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, Jacob Kwamina Amuah, Wendy Newman, Albert Ankrah, Isaac Mensah, Bright Bediako-Mensah, Kwaku Aboagye Acquaah, Propnest Limited, Kel Logistics Limited, and Kings Energy Limited.
The OSP has also seized and frozen several assets, including tanker trucks, fuel stations, houses, apartments, and parcels of land valued at more than GH¢100 million pending the outcome of the trial.
The case, titled The Republic v. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid & 9 Others (Cr/0603/2025), is currently being heard at the Accra High Court.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The National Operations Directorate (NOD) Surveillance Unit, of the Ghana Police Service has arrested a 32-year-old man, Akoto Nelson, for posing as a police officer during a public event at the Black Star Square in Accra.
The suspect was arrested on Sunday, 19th October 2025, by a team of officers deployed to provide security at a musical concert. The team observed the suspect dressed in a police uniform with the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) behaving suspiciously. Upon interrogation, he admitted that he was not a police officer.
Investigations revealed that the suspect impersonated a police officer to gain free entry to the event, claiming he did not have money to pay the entry fee. He further disclosed that the uniform belonged to a deceased Chief Inspector, identified as Gyasi, from whom he obtained the police accoutrements in 2022.
A subsequent search conducted at his residence in Taifa-Ashaiman uncovered several items that were retained as exhibits. These include one toy P99 pistol, one pepper spray, two ZTE mini handsets, one pepper spray pouch, one ZTE charger, one Xinfa cutter knife, some complimentary cards, one voter ID in the name of Akoto Nelson Elikem, and one birth certificate in the name of Nelson Akoto.
Preliminary investigations further established that the suspect works as a security guard and a messenger at a private company. He remains in police custody and will be put before the court.
