News
Car dealer granted GH₵85,000 bail over fraud
A man who allegedly took $14,500 from a sound engineer under the pretext of purchasing a Honda CR from the United States for him has been granted bail by an Accra Circuit Court yesterday.
Kennedy Kumi, the accused, was granted GH₵85,000 bail with two sureties who must be justified.
As part of the bail bond, the court presided over by Mrs Afia Owusua Appiah ordered Kumi to report himself to the police once every week until the final determination of the case.
His plea would be taken on June 8, 2020.
One Asare who paraded as a clearing agent and took GH₵34,264.70 from the complainant is currently on the run and being sought by the police.
Appearing before Mrs Appiah, Chief Inspector of Police, Simon Apiorsonu told the court that in May 2019, the complainant expressed interest to purchase a Honda CR from the United States.
He said Kumi who knew the complainant and a witness in the case said he could buy the vehicle for the complainant at a cheaper price and based on that, the complainant paid the money to Kumi in the presence of the witness.
The prosecutor said weeks after the payment of the money, the alleged car dealer called the complainant and said the container carrying the vehicle had arrived at the Tema Port and arranged for them to meet at Jubilee Terminal, Tema.
The court heard that the two met Asare where the complainant gave him (Asare) GH₵34,246.70 as additional charges to clear the vehicle.
However, after taking the money, Chief Inspector Apiorsonu said that Asare switched off his mobile phone and efforts to reach him proved unsuccessful.
He said on November 6, 2020, the complainant lodged a complaint with the police, and Kumi was arrested.
Chief Inspector Apiorsonu told the court that the accused denied having defrauded the complainant, but failed to provide any relevant document or information concerning the purchase and shipment of the vehicle from the United States to Ghana.
The case stands adjourned.
BY MALIK SULLEMANA
The Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has pledged to work closely with the Judiciary and the Ministry of Justice to address challenges affecting the delivery of justice in Ghana.
He made this known after receiving the Chief Justice, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, who paid a courtesy call on him earlier today.
The Chief Justice was accompanied by Supreme Court Judge, Justice Gabriel Pwamang, the Acting Director of the Ghana School of Law, Professor Raymond Atuguba, and the Judicial Secretary.
The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, was also present at the meeting.
Dr. Forson said the Chief Justice explained that the visit was to express appreciation for the continuous support the Ministry of Finance has given to the Judiciary.
According to him, the Chief Justice raised concerns about congestion in the courts, describing it as a major challenge that affects the speedy delivery of justice.
He said several solutions are currently being considered to help reduce the pressure on the courts.
“The Chief Justice also highlighted issues regarding the working conditions of staff within the Judiciary,” Dr. Forson stated.
He assured them of his commitment to helping resolve these problems through collaboration with the Judiciary and the Ministry of Justice.
“I am committed to working closely with the Judiciary and the Ministry of Justice to tackle these challenges,” he said.
As part of the measures being considered, Dr. Forson revealed that his ministry is examining the possibility of allowing the Judiciary to use 100 percent of its Internally Generated Funds (IGF) to meet urgent operational needs.
He said this move, if approved, would help improve the efficiency of the courts and enhance justice delivery across the country.
The meeting forms part of efforts to strengthen cooperation between the Executive and the Judiciary in addressing systemic challenges within Ghana’s justice system.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana has begun talks with the family of Guinea’s first President, Sékou Touré, to take possession of the house where Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah lived and worked during his final years in exile.
The Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, announced that the move follows instructions from President John Dramani Mahama.
According to him, the Mahama administration plans to renovate and preserve the residence in Guinea as a mark of respect for Nkrumah and to protect his legacy.
He explained that the site is expected to become part of a broader historical and tourism experience that traces Nkrumah’s life from Ghana to Guinea.
The decision was formally communicated to the Sékou Touré family on Saturday during a visit led by Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang.
The visit took place after the investiture of Guinea’s President Mamady Doumbouya.
Mr Ablakwa noted that the Ghanaian delegation toured Nkrumah’s abandoned home and was warmly received by three generations of the Sékou Touré family, led by the former president’s eldest son.
He added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is currently negotiating the terms and conditions of the arrangement and engaging preservation experts to handle the restoration works.
The minister assured the public that the process will be handled openly, stressing that Ghanaians will be kept informed at every stage in the interest of transparency and accountability.
Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah was Ghana’s first President and a leading figure in Africa’s independence and Pan African movements.
His years in Guinea symbolised the strong political and ideological ties between the two countries.
By: Jacob Aggrey
