News
Court jails ‘okadaman’ 8 yrs for robbery
The Amasaman Circuit Court has sentenced a 23-year-old commercial motorbike rider, popularly known as ‘okadaman,’ to eight years imprisonment with hard labour for robbery.
Issah Sadat admitted conspiring with two others; Koboah Nkotein, now deceased, and one Kojo, who is at large, to rob another person of a cellular phone.
Before sentencing, the court, presided over by Ms Susanna Nyakotey, asked Sadat about his educational background. He said he was a school dropout.
When asked whether he had learnt any trade and how he survived, Sadat replied that he worked as an auto mechanic and a commercial motorbike rider.
At that point, the prosecution informed the court that Sadat owned a motorbike, which had been impounded by the police.
In delivering judgment, the court considered the convict’s age and the fact that he had not wasted the Court’s time.
Sadat was also asked whether he had any family member available to receive the seized motorbike. He answered in the negative, prompting the court to order that the motorbike be released to any family member who later showed up.
Presenting the facts, the prosecution said the complainant, Mr Samuel Arhinful Addo, was a carpenter residing at Oduman near Amasaman, while the robbery victim, Burhanudeen Suleiman, was his neighbour and also an ‘okada’ rider.
The court heard that on April 19, 2026, at about 3:40pm, Suleiman and a witness, Saddick Hamidu, were returning home from a construction site when they reached the Oduman M/A School area.
Sadat and his two accomplices, riding a black Royal motorbike with registration number M-23-GR 531, attacked and robbed Suleiman of his G-mobile phone.
According to the prosecution, the victim raised an alarm and, with the assistance of community members, Sadat and Nkotein were arrested at the scene while the third suspect escaped.
Mr Addo subsequently alerted the Amasaman Patrol Team, which proceeded to the scene and rescued the suspects from an angry mob.
A search conducted at the scene led to the retrieval of a long knife hanging around the engine of Sadat’s motorbike and the victim’s G-mobile phone.
The items, together with the motorbike, were retained by police as exhibits.
Kojo, the other alleged accomplice, also remains at large.
Sadat was subsequently charged and put before the Court, while police continue efforts to apprehend the remaining suspect. –GNA
News
CSA urges Universities to strengthen cybersecurity following university of Nottingham cyber-attack
The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) has cautioned universities and other operators of Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) in Ghana to comply with cybersecurity regulations following a recent cyber-attack on the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom.
In a press release issued on June 16, 2026, the Authority said the incident should serve as a warning to educational institutions that no organisation is immune to cyber threats, regardless of its size, reputation or technological capacity.
According to the CSA, the attack on the University of Nottingham is believed to have affected about 450,000 students and alumni, exposing sensitive information such as personal records, contact details, student identification information and financial data.
The Authority noted that although the breach occurred outside Ghana, it has important lessons for the country’s education sector as well as other critical sectors including health, telecommunications and transportation.
The CSA explained that Ghanaian universities are increasingly relying on digital technologies such as student information systems, online learning platforms, cloud services, digital payment systems and research collaborations.
While these technologies improve efficiency and access to services, they also create opportunities for cybercriminals to exploit vulnerabilities.
“The question is therefore not whether Ghanaian universities or other critical sectors will be attacked, but whether they are sufficiently prepared when an attack occurs,” the statement said.
The Authority reminded institutions to adhere to the Directive for the Protection of Critical Information Infrastructure, which was launched in October 2021 to strengthen cybersecurity across critical sectors.
According to the CSA, the directive requires organisations to establish cybersecurity governance structures, conduct risk assessments, implement security controls, report incidents, carry out regular audits and develop effective incident response plans.
The Authority said these measures are intended to reduce the likelihood and impact of cyber-attacks and help protect essential services and national interests.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Former NPP flagbearer aspirant, Kennedy Agyapong, has criticised both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) over the delayed completion of the Afari Military Hospital and other stalled health infrastructure projects.
Mr. Agyapong made the remarks on Tuesday after donating a pickup truck, an incubator and personal protective equipment (PPEs) to the 37 Military Hospital as part of activities marking his 66th birthday.
Speaking at the event, he said successive governments had failed to complete the Afari Military Hospital despite having years in office to do so.
According to him, the project was initiated during the administration of former President John Agyekum Kufuor and construction later commenced under the NDC.
Mr. Agyapong, who previously chaired Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, said he was aware of the project’s challenges and insisted that both the NPP and NDC should be held accountable for the delays.
“We will criticise the NDC and we will criticise the NPP. That’s the only way to go,” he said.
He noted that the previous NPP administration spent eight years in office without completing the facility and questioned attempts to place the blame solely on the current government.
The former Assin Central MP called on Ghanaians to put national development ahead of partisan politics and demand accountability from all political parties.
He said the country would make greater progress if leaders focused on completing critical projects and delivering results rather than engaging in political point-scoring.
By: Jacob Aggrey
