News
Disaster zone turned business centre
Some people in this country are smart enough to turn a bad situation to their advantage by cashing in on the plight of others.
Such a scenario was recorded in the Upper West Region recently where heavy rains destroyed farmlands and roads in the districts cutting off about 80 communities from the regional capital, Wa.
Following this disater, some residents of Goriyiri in the Nadowli-Kaleo District made good use of their time and energy by constructing a small wooden bridge across a portion of the road which was washed away by the floods, for people to cross with their loads and motorbikes to safer grounds at the fee.
The “disaster zone” was immediately turned into a business centre to give credence to the proverbial saying that “Every Cloud has a silver lining”.
The terms and conditions applicable with regard to crossing the wooden bridge were that: A traveller without a load was charged GH¢1.00 whilst those with load paid between GH¢2.00 and GH¢5 depending on the weight.
Children who were carried on shoulders across the flood waters paid GH¢1 while motorbikes taken across were made to pay between GH¢20.00 and GH¢30.00 also depending on the size.
The three days’ torrential rainfall (August 12 to 14) which led to the flooding, caused sections of the international road that passed through several districts to neighbouring Burkina Faso to cave in.
The wreckage left huge pits filled with water in the middle of the road in about four different sections in the Nadowli-Kaleo District as well as the Jirapa and Lawra Municipalities respectively, leaving travellers in despair.
In an interaction with The Spectator, one of the aids who wanted to be known as Der, saidthat they were only interested in helping the people to get to their destinations as vehicles could not cross the road any longer.
He explained that at the initial stages of the wreck, they helped travellers cross the water at a fee and gathered enough money to buy wood which they used to construct the small bridge to enable them to cross.
“When we help them across, they pick tricycles which are waiting on the other side of the road and charge them a small amount for food and water”, he said, adding that it was their main source of livelihood as their farmlands had been washed away by the rain.
Tricycle operators were also having a field day as they left the main town where business was less attractive for Goriyiri with the hope of getting to travellers Nadowli town.
A road user, Mr Elijah Danyi confirmed that he paid GH₵30.00 before the men helped him cross the bridge with his motorbike and paid GH₵20.00 on his way back.
Until the bridge is fixed, this probably would be the most booming business in the area as the farms of these residents have been submerged in water.
From Lydia Darlington Fordjour, Wa
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
