News
Building on waterways and Ramsar sites: We all have a responsibility to play, not just politicians – Minister for Tourism
The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has cautioned Ghanaians to stop blaming only politicians for the country’s problems and instead take personal responsibility, especially in protecting the environment.
She gave the caution on the back of the ongoing demolishing exercise being undertaken by the Greater Accra Regional Minister and the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) to safeguard Ghana’s wetlands, waterways, and protected Ramsar sites from encroachment and illegal development.
According to Madam Gomashie, many citizens knowingly build in restricted areas and later ask for leniency or compensation after their structures are removed.
“You do the wrong thing, and when we come to demolish it, you beg for mercy and ask for compensation. But why should government pay for something you knew was wrong? We all need to do the right thing” she said.
She added that safeguarding the country’s natural spaces is not the sole duty of politicians.
“There’s this idea that only politicians must do the right thing. But what about the rest of us? If you build on a waterway or in a risky area, you are part of the problem,” she stressed.
The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, who is leading the demolition efforts, said the operation is aimed at restoring key protected areas and reducing the risk of flooding in the city.
She explained that three Ramsar sites in the region Densu Delta, Songo Lagoon, and Sakumono Lagoon have been heavily encroached upon by illegal structures.
“We are not ending here. After this, we’ll move to other locations. These sites are reserved and people were aware they were not supposed to build there,” she said.
Madam Ocloo stated that after the demolition, the areas would be cleared and handed over to the Forestry Commission for proper maintenance.
She added that there were currently no plans for compensation. “Why would you expect compensation when you knew it was wrong to build there in the first place?” she asked.
Director-General of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Dr. Joseph Bikanyi Kuyon, indicated that the action is not meant to punish people but to protect the community and restore natural balance.
“When you build where you’re not supposed to, there’s only one solution, to remove the structure. Demolition is done to protect human life and preserve the environment. It’s not out of wickedness; it’s about public safety” he noted.
He stressed the importance of considering the interest of the majority, not just individual gains, especially when lives and natural resources are at risk.
Environmental expert, Prof. Alex Berima Owusu of the University of Ghana, warned that destroying wetlands and ecological systems will bring negative consequences for everyone.
He explained that humans and the environment are closely linked.
“When we destroy nature, we pay for it. The environment suffers and human beings bear the consequences. That is why we need to let the law work. These places are ecologically important and must be protected for future generations” he said.
He urging all Ghanaians to respect land use regulations and environmental laws, and to work together to protect wetlands and water bodies, which play a key role in controlling floods, maintaining biodiversity, and ensuring a sustainable future.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ahyiresu and Abofrem, two quiet communities in the Atwima Mponua District, have been shaken to the core by a chilling midnight drama that reads like a nightmare.
A pastor and a young mother stand accused of attempting to bury a five‑month‑old baby girl alive, a crime that has ignited outrage and disbelief across the township.
According to police, Apostle Richmond Akwasi Frimpong, 36, Head Pastor of the Anointed Grace Prayer Ministry at Kuffour Camp, conspired with his uncle Emmanuel Appiah, 53, and the child’s mother, 23‑year‑old Beatrice Agyapomaa, to dispose of the infant, Anaya Achiaa, under the cover of darkness.
A fourth suspect, Emmanuel Donkor, remains on the run.
The suspects were caught near a refuse dump around 10 pm on April 9, 2026, after a vigilant resident, Akwasi Twezor, noticed their suspicious movements.
When confronted, they claimed the child was already dead and had palace approval for burial. But Twezor’s instincts proved right—the baby was still alive, gasping faintly for breath.
Chief Linguist, Nana Yaw Badu, later confirmed that Frimpong had misled him earlier in the evening, securing permission for burial by falsely declaring the child dead.
The infant was rushed to the Abofrem Clinic, where she is now responding well to treatment. Police described her as “very beautiful.”
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Evelyn Yitamkey, Commander of DOVVSU in Bibiani, confirmed that the suspects have been provisionally charged.
Frimpong faces attempted murder and conspiracy charges, while Agyapomaa and Appiah are charged with conspiracy and abetment.
They were remanded by the Bibiani Circuit Court, presided over by Judge Frank Asiedu Nimako, to assist investigations.
The docket has been forwarded to the Attorney General’s Department for advice, ASP Yitamkey indicated.
The attempted crime has provoked fury among residents, many suspecting ritual motives aimed at bolstering the pastor’s influence.
Crowds attempted to attack the suspects outside court, but police intervention prevented mob justice.
The Assembly Member for Ahyiresu, Yusuf Suleiman, has assured residents that justice will be pursued swiftly.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
The forecourt of the African University of Communications and Business (AUCB) in Accra came alive on Friday with colour, creativity and innovation, as Level 300 students transformed the space into a lively exhibition of ideas.
Under the theme “Building meaningful brands beyond the logo,” the students invited patrons into a world where ordinary products were reimagined through storytelling, design and purpose.
From scented candles to innovative food concepts, each stand told a unique story, one that went beyond aesthetics to capture identity, value and human connection.
For many of the students, the event was more than just an academic exercise; it was a moment to dream out loud.
Guided by their lecturer, Peter Wonders, they explored what it truly means to build a brand in today’s competitive world where trust, consistency and experience matter just as much as logos and slogans.
Chairman of the occasion, Nana Kum Gyata VI, in his remarks said a brand is what people say about you when you are not present.
At the end of the presentations, awards were presented to deserving groups with Vida Nyaneba emerging as the overall best branding student.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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