News
Woman jailed 2 years for stealing
AN Accra Circuit Court has sentenced a 32-year-old unemployed woman to two years imprisonment for stealing assorted items from a church at the 48 Engineer Barracks at Teshie.
The convict, Amanda Pascal, pleaded guilty to charges of unlawful entry and stealing.
The court, presided over by Mrs Basilia Adjei-Tawiah, convicted her on her own plea and sentenced her to two years imprisonment on each count, to run concurrently.
Prosecution said the items stolen included a deep fryer valued at GH¢1,500, a Bluetooth speaker worth GH¢3,423, trumpet mouthpieces numbering 21, valued at GH¢6,820, a perfume, valued at GH¢586, and six tins of sardines, valued at GH¢200, all belonging to Veronica Owusu Boateng, the complainant.
Amanda was arrested after the CCTV camera of the church captured her entering the complainant’s room during a church service and leaving with bags containing the stolen items.
However, drama erupted during proceedings, when the trial judge asked whether the convict had any previous convictions.
Although the case investigator indicated she had been jailed by the LEKMA District Court, Amanda told the court she had previously been convicted and sentenced by the same Circuit Court to nine months imprisonment.
The judge cautioned her to take advantage of rehabilitation programmes within the Ghana Prisons Service and turn her life around, particularly as she had young children.
The court heard that only the deep fryer and the Bluetooth speaker were retrieved. Amanda pleaded with the court for time, stating she was preparing for an outdooring ceremony in March.
Chief Inspector Abigail Offeibea told the court that the complainant, emergency medical personnel at the 37 Military Hospital, resided at the Teshie Barracks, while the convict, a Nigerian national, lived at Teshie Lascala.
Prosecution said on February 15, 2026, the complainant was informed after a church service that 21 trumpet mouthpieces kept for safekeeping were missing. Upon checking her room, she realised other items had also been stolen.
A review of the church’s CCTV footage showed Amanda, who had been frequenting the barracks, entering the room during the service and later exiting with the items. The matter was reported to the police, and a search was launched.
Amanda was spotted in the neighborhood on February 17, arrested, and taken to the police station together with the retrieved items. In her caution statement, she admitted the offence and said she had used some of the remaining items and discarded the trumpet mouthpieces. –GNA
The Ghana Tourism Development Company Limited (GTD) in collaboration with the Department of Organisation and Human Resource Management, University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) has marked the 2026 World Safety Day Celebration in Accra.
The event held on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at the Cedi Conference Centre, Legon was under the theme “Good Psychosocial Working Environment: A Pathway to Thriving Workers and Strong Organizations.”
The day is observed globally to promote safe and healthy working conditions and to raise awareness about both physical and psychological risks at the workplace.
The event formed part of efforts by stakeholders to deepen national conversations on workplace safety, particularly the growing concern about psychosocial well being.
In his keynote address, the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Abdul Rashid Hassan Pelpuo stressed that workers must not be treated as machines but as human beings with dignity, rights and families.
He explained that unsafe work environments marked by fear, harassment, intimidation and excessive pressure reduce productivity and weaken organisations.
He noted that although physical hazards such as faulty equipment and unsafe buildings remain a concern, psychological risks including excessive workload, bullying, job insecurity and toxic communication are equally dangerous and must be addressed.
According to him, psychological hazards are real, measurable and preventable, and should be treated with the same urgency as physical risks.
He maintained that safe and healthy working conditions are not a luxury but a fundamental right that supports productivity and social justice.
Dr Pelpuo further stated that the government remains committed to strengthening occupational safety and health systems, adding that worker wellbeing is a core responsibility of leadership and not a public relations issue.
He urged employers to create environments where dignity is protected, and workers are empowered to speak without fear.
The Dean of University of Ghana Business School, Prof Ernest Y Tweneboah Koduah noted that the school is committed to shaping a better world of work that is equitable, productive and sustainable.
He announced that the school has secured accreditation from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission to introduce a programme in organisational health and safety.
He explained that gaps in workplace safety in Ghana are linked to weak enforcement, underreporting and limited professional training.
He added that the new programme will equip graduates with the skills to prioritise employee wellbeing as a key organisational responsibility.
Prof Tweneboah Koduah urged organisations to assess psychosocial risks, invest in human resource capacity and create environments where workers can openly discuss mental health concerns.
He emphasised that collaboration between academia and industry is essential to addressing workplace safety challenges.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, the Registrar of the University of Ghana, Emelia Naa Kwantsua Agyei Mensah described the event as historic, noting that it is the first time the university is marking the global observance.
She explained that the focus on psychosocial wellbeing reflects current realities in the world of work.
She stated that employee health, including mental and emotional wellbeing, directly affects productivity, morale and institutional performance.
Mrs Agyei Mensah added that the university is committed to creating a safe and supportive environment for staff and students, beyond minimum legal requirements.
She called on leaders to reflect on the kind of workplaces they create and to prioritise the wellbeing of employees.
CEO of the GTDC, Prof Kobby on his part noted that its participation aligns with its commitment under the Riyadh Declaration, which calls on member states to improve infrastructure and public safety, as well as enhance services, transport, connectivity and accessibility.
He indicated that the company intends to use the platform to highlight Ghana’s readiness to implement the declaration, with a strong focus on worker safety and wellbeing as a foundation for sustainable tourism development.
The event brought together policymakers, academics, industry players and students to discuss strategies for improving workplace safety and promoting healthier work environments across the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Minister for Energy, John Abdulai Jinapor, has praised engineers and technical teams working to restore electricity after a fire at the Akosombo Substation disrupted power supply.
He said this after visiting the facility on Monday night to assess ongoing repair works following the incident, which affected the control room and caused the loss of more than 1,000 megawatts of power to the national grid.
During the visit, he interacted with engineers and technicians who have been working continuously under difficult conditions to restore operations.
He said he was impressed by their dedication, courage, and professionalism despite the challenges.
The minister commended the teams for their resilience and sacrifice, noting that their efforts reflect a strong sense of duty and commitment to national service.
He assured them of the government’s full support as they continue with the restoration work.
He also assured the public that authorities are doing everything possible to restore stable electricity supply as soon as possible.
By: Jacob Aggrey
