News
Father, Son Fined for Stealing, Assault
The Asokore-Mampong District Court in the Asokore-Mampong Municipality of the Ashanti Region has fined a father and his son GH¢2,400 each for stealing a fowl, damaging a mobile phone, and assaulting the owner of the fowl.
Kingsley Kofi Kumi, 54, and his 20-year-old son, Kingsley Abeka, a trader, pleaded not guilty to charges of causing unlawful damage, assault, and stealing. However, they were convicted after a full trial. They were also ordered to compensate the complainant, Jennifer Sarpong, with GH¢2,000 and will serve two months imprisonment each if the fine is not paid.
Police Chief Inspector David Opoku Kwabi, presenting the facts of the case, stated that the complainant shared a common fence wall with the convicts at Buokrom Limex Quarry, near Asokore-Mampong. On March 25, 2024, Kingsley Kofi Kumi allegedly went to the complainant’s drinking spot, claiming his son had slaughtered her fowl and that she should collect it from their house. The complainant demanded payment of GH¢70 for the fowl, which led to a quarrel.
The prosecution explained that when the complainant attempted to record the incident on her phone, the father allegedly snatched the phone, valued at GH¢2,500, smashed it on the ground, and stepped on it. He then reportedly dragged her into a gutter, held her braided hair, and together with his son, assaulted her. Bystanders intervened, and a report was made to the Buokrom police, resulting in their arrest.
In their caution statements, both accused denied stealing, assaulting, and causing damage, claiming that the complainant’s mobile phone fell into the gutter and was damaged while she attempted to record videos.
By GNA
Spectator
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The Ghana High Commission in Abuja, Nigeria, is appealing to the public to help trace the relatives or next of kin of Apia Solomon, a Ghanaian national believed to be from Osu, Accra.
According to a public announcement by the High Commission, Mr. Solomon, born on March 6, 1960, in Accra, died on July 5, 2021, from cardiopulmonary failure.
He worked as a temporary civilian staff member at the National Defence College in Nigeria. His remains are currently being kept at the Nigerian Air Force Hospital morgue in Abuja, pending burial arrangements.
The High Commission says efforts to locate his relatives have so far been unsuccessful and is urging anyone with information about his family, friends or next of kin to come forward.
Anyone with relevant information is encouraged to contact the Ghana High Commission in Abuja.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Security consultant Richard Kumadoe has blamed what he describes as flawed recruitment and incomplete background checks for some of the problems facing the Bureau of National Intelligence (BNI).
He has called on the leadership of the BNI to review the backgrounds of officers recruited during specific periods, particularly those who entered the agency under recent recruitment processes.
Speaking on the issue on TV3 yesterday, Mr Kumadoe alleged that some individuals were recruited into the intelligence agency without proper background checks and completed vetting.
“Certain categories of persons were dumped into the BNI, whose backgrounds were not checked, and whose vettings were not completed,” he stated.
He said some of the officers linked to the concerns appeared to have been recruited within the same period, making it necessary for the agency to examine the recruitment records and backgrounds of those who joined during that time.
Mr Kumadoe argued that the problems could be addressed by ensuring that recruitment procedures were properly followed and that all applicants underwent the required checks before being employed.
According to him, when the selection process is flawed, it can lead to problems within the institution.
He blamed the politicisation of security institutions, arguing that appointing people without the necessary intelligence experience and allowing political interests to influence recruitment could undermine their operations.
“When you have a selection procedure that was flawed because you politicised the place, brought in people to come and head the place when they have no business being there, they don’t know anything about being a BNI officer, they are not intelligence officers, and you flood the place with politicians and political artists, then you circumvent the standard procedure and you are going to have some of these problems,” he said.
Mr Kumadoe, however, defended the current leadership of the BNI, arguing that efforts to address longstanding problems within security institutions could bring such issues to light.
He said the leadership should be assessed in the context of the steps it is taking to improve the agency’s operations and uphold professional standards.
Drawing on his own experience in the intelligence field, he said the opportunity to serve under experienced officers had helped him develop the skills and integrity needed to contribute to national security.
By: Jacob Aggrey
