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Youth Urged to Stop ‘Galamsey’, Venture into Agriculture
The New Life District of the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church has been inaugurated with a strong call for youth to redirect their energies into agriculture and abandon the practice of ‘galamsey’.
The District Pastor, Osei-Bonsu Sarpong, made the appeal at the inaugural ceremony held in Anlo-Town last weekend, under the theme: ‘United in Faithfulness for Mission.’
According to Pastor Sarpong, embracing agriculture can transform the country’s economy and improve the livelihoods of young people. In contrast, ‘galamsey’ poses significant risks to Ghana’s environment, economy, and public health.
He emphasised that agriculture offers vast employment opportunities for youth, not only in farming but also in related industries. Engaging in illegal mining, he warned, would destroy the land and could lead to early death.
“God will destroy anyone who destroys the land. Our selfish interest in getting quick money will lead us to our early graves,” Pastor Sarpong stated.
Highlighting Ghana’s agricultural potential, he noted that the country is known for producing crops exported globally. He lamented that illegal mining activities were destroying fertile land and polluting water bodies.
Pastor Sarpong also called on the government to strengthen laws against homosexuality, adding that the church would commit to prayers to support these efforts.
The Executive Secretary for the East Ghana Conference of the SDA, Pastor Okyere Baffour, encouraged the congregation to strengthen their relationship with God and remain steadfast in His love.
Elder Emmanuel Tettey, the District Secretary, provided a brief history of the district. He explained that the New Life District, part of the East Ghana Conference’s 2022 reorganisation plan, officially began operations in January 2023 and has a membership of 786.
The district comprises five churches: New Life, Amazing Truth, Ada, Christ the King, and the newly established Corner Stone.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
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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
