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All set for virtual Ghana Beverage Awards 2019
The planning committee of the Ghana Beverage Awards (GBA) has announced that all is ready for the fourth edition of the awards to be organised virtually in adherence to the stipulated COVID-19 protocols and to ensure the safety of all its stakeholders.
GBA 2019 will be streamed live on TV and online on 13th June, 2020 at 6pm.
Under the theme, ‘Inspiring excellence in Ghana’s beverage industry’ the awards aim to promote both local and foreign beverages as well as the participation of small-scale beverage enterprises in Ghana.
Nominations were closed to the general public and all beverage companies in February this year with voting for the prestigious product of the year award ending on 20th March.
The Chief Executive Officer of Global Media Alliance Group (GMA), Mr Ernest Boateng who spoke on the preparedness of the awards committee ahead of the awards said, “We are ready to organise a seamless event which will celebrate the hard work of all the players in the beverage industry in the year under review. We also want to assure our patrons that the virtual awards will maintain the world-class standard they and our stakeholders are used to without losing the prominence and prestige associated with the awards.”
He said in a lead up to this year’s awards, a beverage industry tour was organised for the GBA board to visit nominated companies to familiarise with their work and practices, adding, “This initiative is one of the new activities, which was introduced in the build-up to the 2019 Awards Night.”
Mr Boateng said GBA this year had introduced two new categories; Local Beverage Advertisement of the Year and International Liqueur of the Year.
The addition of the new categories, he said was to acknowledge feedback from stakeholders, particularly consumers who have been instrumental in the nominations phase, adding that the Local Beverage Advert of the Year Award went to the brand in the year under review that was enjoying massive public appeal with its creative publicity.
The Ghana Beverage Awards is organised by Global Media Alliance and supported by the Food Research Institute (FRI) under CSIR, Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Consumer Protection Agency and the Food and Beverage Association of Ghana (FABAG).
BY TIMES REPORTER
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
