News
Armed robbers attack traders at Paga border
Six armed robbers on Tuesday attacked and robbed some black market exchange traders of their monies at Paga border in the Kassena-Nankana District of the Upper East Region.
The incident started at about 9 am, near Dakola at the Burkina Faso side of the border where some of the black market exchange traders transact their businesses.
The Ghanaian Times gathered that the six robbers who were armed with guns came to the robbery scene with three motorbikes, and robbed the traders who had just begun their businesses in the main market in the morning.
Speaking to the Ghanaian Times, some eyewitnesses said some of the robbers blocked both sides of the ECOWAS road amidst sporadic gun shots, whilst others also moved to stalls, threatening the traders with the guns to give up their monies to them or face the consequences.
Some of the traders who managed to escape to the border site of Ghana informed personnel of the Ghana Immigration Service and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority stationed at the Paga border town of Ghana who proceeded to the robbery scene and exchanged gun fire, forcing the armed robbers to retreat.
The border security personnel, however, called for reinforcement from the police and the military, chased the robbers and finally arrested two of them at Pindaa, whilst the rest escaped into the bush.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) of Kassena-Nankana, Mr Gerard Ataogye, who confirmed the story to the Ghanaian Times said, he was informed by personnel of the Ghana Immigration Service about the incident.
He said the two arrested robbers are foreigners from neigbouring Burkina Faso and have since been handed over to the law enforcement agencies in Burkina Faso.
Mr Ataogye said the security agencies in Ghana were in talks with their counterparts in Burkina Faso to see how they could apprehend the rest of the perpetrators who escaped to deal with them
The DCE lauded the efforts of the Ghanaian security agencies for their timely intervention and entreated the residents of the area, particularly traders, to immediately report to the security agencies any suspicious criminal.
Meanwhile, some of the residents who spoke to the Ghanaian Times said it was not the first time such an incident had happened and called on the security agencies to be extra vigilant.
FROM SAMUEL AKAPULE, PAGA
Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, has revealed that in the whole of 2024, only GHS 362 million was released to MMDAs in Common Fund.
Contrary to this, In 2025 alone GHS 5 billion was released to the MMDAs with the following breakdown as follows.
The Minister made this revelation when he took his turn at the Government Accountability Series held today.
In breakdown, the minister nonted that 1st Quarter – 790,372,058.40 was released for 2025.
He added that for the 2nd Quarter, 1,464,983,309.60 was released.
3rd Quarter saw the release of 1,188,921,640.80 and
1,592,706,391.20 for 4th Quarter.
The Minister added tha each of the MMDAs were required to undertake the following; at least 2-CHPS compounds, 3 Classroom blocks, 10 Boreholes, and Completion of legacy projects.
Additionally, 25% of the Common Fund was allocated for the Construction of 24-Hour Economy Model Markets.
Ahmed Ibrahim noted that as a result of the timely and unprecedented release of Funds, a total of 494 CHPS compounds, 761 Classroom Blocks, 4,029 Boreholes, and 2,755 Legacy projects are currently at various stages of completion.
Also, he added that 261 24-Hour Economy Model Markets have all been awarded on contracts and construction has begun on many of them.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, together with members of the Police Management Board (POMAB), on April 17, 2026, decorated nineteen (19) senior officers who have been promoted to their next ranks based on the recommendations of the Police Council and approval of the President, John Dramani Mahama.
The ceremony, held at the National Police Headquarters in Accra, forms part of efforts to recognise merit, dedication, and long-standing service within the Ghana Police Service, while strengthening leadership across key operational and administrative levels.
The officers promoted from Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) to Commissioner of Police (COP) are Dr. Luke Asue-In-Yeng Zakpaa, Mr. Frederick Agyei, Mr. Duuti Tuaruka, Mr. Arthur Osei-Akoto, Mr. Darko Offei Lomotey, Mr. Eric Ken Winful, Mr. Barnabas Nambont Nasumong, and Mr. Desmond Owusu Boampong.
The IGP and members of POMAB congratulated the officers and urged them to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity in the discharge of their duties.
