News
Don’t kill vultures…they’re natural environment cleaners
Vultures are very useful birds and should not be killed because they are “natural environment cleaners” and killing them poses a threat to wildlife conservation.
“Vultures are neither evil creatures nor a source of bad luck. Some wild animals were “worshipped” by our ancestors with the ultimate aim of preserving their lives not because they were demonic.”
Mr Thomas Gyimah, Acting Manager, Biodiversity Research and Conservation of the Ghana Wildlife Society, said these in an exclusive interview with this reporter ahead of International Vulture Awareness Day which falls on September 5, 2021.
He said that in spite of their environmental benefits, the population of vultures continued to dwindle due to constant attacks on their habitats thus forcing them to move into human settlements to find food to survive.
“The threats against these birds are increasing and if nothing is done we can lose them all. There is the need to raise awareness to help protect and stop the decline in Vultures’ population”, he emphasised.
Mr Gyimah, making reference to Research Work, said that about 2,900 vultures were killed daily in South and East Africa due to poisoning but was quick to add that this scenario was not so serious in Ghana.
He again said that persons who considered vultures a delicacy also contributed to the gradual extinction of the wild birds and advised such people to find better alternatives and leave the vultures in peace.
He said that it was wrong for people to associate some birds and other wild animals with evil spirits or bad omen when they were encounted and urged society to stop treating such animals and birds with disdain.
Vultures are carnivorous and eat both fresh meat and carcasses that might be rotten.
They play a unique and essential ecological role in their contribution to the prevention of the spread of diseases from decaying corpses.
“If you poison a rat, do well to bury it, so that vultures and other scavengers do not feed on them and more importantly, it is essential to get a professional when using rodents and pest control chemicals at homes, farms and other places” he added.
By Portia Hutton-Mills
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
Follow our WhatsApp Channel now! https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAjG7g3gvWajUAEX12Q
