News
Engagement; pledges 24-hour security, sanitation taskforce to transform Accra Metropolis
The new Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, has held his maiden stakeholder engagement with key interest groups in the capital, pledging to work to reset Accra’s development trajectory and make the city cleaner, safer, and more inclusive.
The engagement, held at the Omanye Aba Hall of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), on the Mayor’s second day in office, brought together market leaders, transport unions, representatives of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), Traditional Authorities, Civil Society Actors, and Assembly members to discuss challenges and explore opportunities for sustainable urban transformation.
Speaking at the event, Mayor Allotey expressed deep appreciation to the stakeholders for honouring the invitation and revealed plans to introduce a 24-hour city operation model, including a clean-up and security task force that would help improve sanitation and ensure safety, particularly for businesses operating late into the night.
“We’re bringing 24-hour security and a clean-up task force so that you will be able to work in the evening without fear, and we will create more employment opportunities through this approach,” he said.
The Mayor pledged to work closely with all groups to address them systematically, calling for unity and action.
He also promised that within six months, “our environment will be very clean, very tidy,” pointing out that the filth in Accra had become unacceptable and needed urgent attention.
The President of the Greater Accra Markets Association, Hon. Mercy Naa Afrowa Needjan, commended the Mayor for initiating the stakeholder engagement so early in his tenure and described the meeting as a much-needed familiarisation exercise that allowed market leaders to interact directly with the Mayor and offer first-hand accounts of conditions on the ground.
Mr. Needjan outlined several concerns facing markets across the capital, including rampant street trading, inadequate security, and deteriorating infrastructure in older market facilities.
“Street trading is one of our biggest problems, and some of our markets urgently need renovation. We know the problems can’t be solved in a day, but bit by bit, we believe improvements can be made,” she stated.
The Secretary General of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), Alhaji Alpha Shaban, described the meeting as a positive first step and emphasised the longstanding and inseparable partnership between GUTA and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA).
Alhaji Shaban urged the Assembly to take a proactive approach by setting up a technical committee to verify the concerns raised during the meeting, to help build consensus and make the implementation of solutions more effective.
Representatives from the Timber Market lamented the long walking distances within the market space, stressing the need for improved infrastructure and accessibility.
Leaders of the Ghana Road Coordinating Council expressed concern about the deplorable state of many transport terminals across the city and called on the Assembly to lead efforts in standardising and upgrading these terminals for efficient operations.
Transport operators, including officials from the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and the Ghana Property Transport Association, expressed concerns over how drivers often struggle for space due to traders operating along the roadsides, leading to traffic congestion, delays, and increased fuel consumption.
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
