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‘Don’t use places of worship for chastisement
● Sheikh Shaban speaking at the meeting
Mosque and other places of worship should not be used for chastisement but a place to embrace those considered wayward and reform them in love to become very responsible people in society.
Islamic Cleric in the Upper West Region Sheikh Shaban Mohammed Alhassan who said this, noted that oftentimes places of worship had been used to chastise people who were struggling with certain forms of secular addictions and had prevent such persons from approaching the places of worship for emotional support and advice.
“Imagine a young girl going to a place of worship to confide in the Cleric about an unplanned pregnancy as an adolescent in a bid to get emotional support and words of encouragement when she is yet to get married; such news will definitely not be welcomed by a Cleric and the girl would definitely be chastised”, he said.
To this end, the Sheikh has advocated the establishment of adolescent corners at major mosques to help meet the needs of youth who had issues with receiving education on sexual and reproductive health.
The Islamic cleric made this known at a meeting on sexual and reproductive health at Wa by youth advocacy groups in the region.
He said that in order to achieve this, engagement meetings on sexual and reproductive health and adolescent sexual behaviours should include religious leaders so that they would be updated with happenings in that area and the role they were to play to curb the situation.
“When the Ghana Health Service for instance presents statistics on the number of children sexually active or use contraceptives within a specific time-frame because they want to indulge in sex to the clerics at such meetings, they will come to terms with the real happenings on the ground and accept to identify ways to assist in the education of these young ones”, he said.
He indicated that these statistics could assist the clerics in preparing their sermons to include issues of such nature and to sensitise the youth to abstinence.
The cleric who was concerned about the trend said some of his colleagues needed capacity building to be abreast of issues of the secular world and appreciate the need to freely talk about them and help educate the young ones.
He believed opening an adolescent corner at major mosques and equipping the facilities with a health worker who understood the word of God would help put adolescents in check and maintain responsible sexual behaviours amongst them.
From Lydia Darlington Fordjour, Wa
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Health Minister leads delegation Mimi Darko’s appointment as AMA Director General
Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Minister for Health and Member of Parliament has led a delegation to secure the appointment of Dr Delese Mimi Darko, Chief Executive Officer of the Food and Drugs Authority, as the Director General of the African Medicines Agency (AMA) during the ongoing 2nd Ordinary Session of the Conference of State Parties in Kigali, Rwanda.
This prestigious appointment, achieved through a competitive process, marks a proud and historic moment for Ghana and the entire continent.
It highlights Dr. Darko’s exceptional leadership, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to enhancing public health and regulatory systems across Africa.
The Minister expressed his deep appreciation to President John Dramani Mahama for his strong support and leadership throughout this process.
Mr.Akandoh congratulated Dr. Mimi Darko and Team Ghana for their incredibly successful campaign.
The AMA was established by the African Union on November 5, 2021, with the primary objective of improving access to quality, safe, and effective medical products throughout the continent. Its creation aims to facilitate the regulation and oversight of essential medicines at a continental level while promoting collaboration among African countries and regions.
The Agency’s mission is to provide leadership in creating an enabling regulatory environment for the pharmaceutical sector in Africa, ensuring that the African population has access to essential medical products and technologies.
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Police arrest five suspects involved in robbery cases in Ashanti Region
The Police Intelligence Directorate (PID) in the Ashanti Region has informed the public about a recent breakthrough in the fight against armed robbery in the Denchemuoso District.
Following a series of robbery incidents in the area, on April 22, 2025, PID/Ashanti operatives, acting on credible intelligence, apprehended one Michael Owusu Ansah, alias Baby Last, aged 32.
The suspect had been on the police wanted list since 2016 in connection with a robbery and the murder of Police Officer G/Cpl Frank Essel of SWAT/Ashanti, which occurred at the Open Space Hotel in Denchemuoso on May 19, 2016.
During interrogation, the suspect confessed to engaging in multiple street and residential robberies in Denchemuoso, Atwima-Techiman, Asuoyeboah, and surrounding areas.
He also disclosed that his gang operated with knives, pistols, and pump-action guns.
Further investigations led to the identification and arrest of his accomplices, namely:Emmanuel Owusu, alias Cassidy, Maxwell Gyimah, alias Nana Kwame, Sudais Oxford Ntiamoah, alias The Man Sudais and Rhano Okyere, alias Demon
These individuals were arrested from their hideouts within Atwima-Techiman and Denchemuoso.
However, one suspect, remains at large and efforts are underway to apprehend him and recover the weapons used in the robberies.
All five arrested suspects were arraigned before the Atasomanso Circuit Court on May 13, 2025.
They were remanded into police custody and are scheduled to reappear on June 4, 2025.
