News
Fetish priest in court for defraud
A 43-year old fetish priest has been granted Gh¢15,000 bail with two sureties, one to be justified, by a Koforidua Circuit Court ‘B’ for allegedly defrauding by false pretence.
Mr. Richard Vormawor, also known as Nana Buame, was said to have cut pieces of white paper like Gh¢10 and Ghc20 cedi notes and covered same with the original Ghana cedi notes and wrapped them with plain rubber to look like the real cedi notes with the intent to defraud unsuspecting public.
The accused, who pleaded not guilty to the charge of defrauding by false pretence could not meet the bail condition and was still in police custody at the time of filing this report.
He would re-appear before the court presided by Mrs Mercy Adei Kotei on May 6, this year to continue with the trial.
Giving the facts of the case to the court, the Prosecutor, Chief Inspector Owusu Ababio said the complainant was Inspector Nelson Nadutey stationed at the Koforidua Central Hospital whilst the accused was a self-acclaimed fetish priest and resident of Koforidua Zongo.
He continued that the Koforidua District Police Command in recent times had been inundated with reports of people being defrauded by fetish priests under the pretext of doubling monies for them, thus putting the command on a high alert.
Chief Inspector Ababio explained that on April 5, this year at about 1pm,one Lance Corporal Eric Akpai who worked under the complainant and was on duty at the Nkurakan barrier, spotted the accused in a certain Hyundai mini bus heading toward Koforidua.
He said that when the vehicle was stopped and searched seven bundles of Ghc20 notes and two bundles of Ghc10 notes which the police suspected to be counterfeit, were found on the fetish priest.
The Prosecutor said the accused was then arrested and brought to the police station for interrogation.
He said that the accused in his cautioned statement, disclosed that the said bundles of money were rather white paper he had cut in the form of 10 and 20 Ghana Cedi notes and had covered them with their respective original Ghana cedi notes and wrapped with plain rubber to look like the actual Ghana cedi notes.
The Chief Inspector Ababio said when the accused was questioned of his intention, he could not give any tangible reasons, adding it was further revealed that he was on a mission to defraud the unsuspecting public with an old trick known as “Bring 20 million and get one billion in old Ghana cedis” but luck eluded him.
After investigations, he was charged with the offence and arraigned at the court.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Koforidua
AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine has broken ground on a modern 1,500-seater multipurpose assembly hall and a secured main gatehouse for New Edubiase Senior High School, in the Adansi South District.
The project, being executed by local contractor AA Engineering and Construction, is expected to be completed within 17 months and forms part of the Mine’s 10-Year Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP) — a strategic framework for delivering sustainable development in its host communities.
Beyond the expansive assembly hall, the facility will house a fully integrated administrative complex featuring a dedicated sound room, a 16-seater staff eatery, and suites for the Headmaster and Assistant Headmaster, a bursar’s office, an 18-seater conference room, a 24-seater staff common room, six faculty office spaces and ancillary stores and washrooms.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, the Mine’s Director of Sustainability Management, Edmund Oduro Agyei, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to improving educational outcomes in host communities through impactful and sustainable investments.
The Edubiasehene, Guahyia Oduropanin Birikorang, commended the Mine for the investment, saying the project demonstrated that the company’s development agenda extended well beyond its immediate operational areas.
The Headmaster of New Edubiase SHS, Mr Christopher Appiah Mensah, described the intervention as timely and transformative, noting it would address longstanding infrastructure deficits, improve conditions for teaching and learning, and create adequate space for academic and social gatherings.
“This will greatly enhance administrative efficiency and improve the overall welfare of both staff and students,” he said.
The facility is also expected to boost the school’s capacity to host national examinations and major events, and strengthen its standing as a centre of academic excellence within the district.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
Stakeholders have been urged to help raise awareness and eliminate the stigma often associated with clubfoot, a treatable condition which occurs in children.
Parents are to seek early treatment for the condition while policymakers strengthen support for early detection, disability inclusion, and child health services in the country.
Clubfoot is a condition present at birth in which one or both feet are twisted inward and downward. If left untreated, experts say a child may face lifelong challenges with walking, which could affect education, employment, and social inclusion.
In Ghana, an estimated 1,000 babies are said to be born with clubfoot every year.
In commemoration of the World Clubfoot Day, marked on June 3 every year, stakeholders create awareness about the condition and, among other things, celebrate the dedication of health professionals who ensure children receive treatment.
In a release copied to the Ghana News Agency, Nana Afua Adutwumwaa Adjetey, Programme Manager, Ghana Clubfoot Programme, noted that many families were unaware of the free treatment available for the condition in Ghana. 
She observed that the lack of awareness continued to delay treatment for children who could have received prompt and life-changing care at no cost.
Treatment, she said, was provided free of charge for children under age five at Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG–Hope Walks) partner clinics across the country.
More than 9,000 children born with clubfoot had received treatment and care through the programme over the past 18 years.
“The treatment follows the internationally recognised Ponseti Method, which uses a series of gentle casts to gradually correct the position of the foot, followed by a brace to maintain correction and prevent relapse. When treatment begins early, success rates are extremely high,” Madam Adjetey explained.
“For many children, the journey begins with a health worker who identifies clubfoot at birth and makes a referral. A few moments of observation can change the course of a child’s life forever.”
“Clubfoot is not a curse; it is not caused by wrongdoing…it is a medical condition that can be treated successfully. Families should never feel ashamed to seek help.”
The Programme Manager said children born with the condition deserved equal opportunities, dignity, and inclusion, and called on communities to support parents rather than “judge them.” -GNA
