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Fmr Minister of State calls for unity in Botoku From Kafui Gati, Botoku
MADAM Sena Akua Dansua, a former Minister of State and current chairperson, Local Government Council, has called on chiefs and citizens of Botoku to unite and join hands in the development agenda of the Botoku Traditional Area.
According to her, she had contributed a lot like others in the areas of education, health, electricity, road but more needed to be done.
“However, because of chieftaincy litigation, we are experiencing internal divisions and formation of sectional groups which would only serve as roadblocks to the progress of the area.”
Madam Dansua was speaking to journalists at the funeral service of the late Kingsley Kwami Afetor, Senior Linguist of Botoku Traditional Area at the weekend.
He passed away on October 3, 2025 at age 58, after a short illness. He was installed in 2015 and was a professional driver.
Madam Dansua stressed further that as a development queen mother of Botoku, some people within the community say things to distract her but was bent on improving the lives of her people.
A tribute to Mr Kingsley Afetor by the Botoku Traditional Council noted that he distinguished himself to the position he occupied for 10 years.
Equally he has paid his due in life and led a life worth emulating and prayed that God should comfort his soul.
Togbe Atakora IV, Amankrado of Botoku, in his remarks stressed that historical customs and structures of communities must be respected in order to minimise chieftaincy disputes.
He cautioned against the wrongful coronation of persons not traditionally qualified to occupy traditional positions.
Present at the funeral grounds were the MP of North Dayi, Madam Joycelyn Tetteh and representatives of other political parties.
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
