News
GNFS contains Somoco warehouse fire, bushfire in Takoradi
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has contained two separate fire incidents in Takoradi on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, with no casualties recorded.
The first incident was a warehouse fire at Somoco Company Limited, a tricycle assembly company near the Takoradi Air Force Base. The Service received a distress call at 10:37 a.m. and dispatched firefighters from the Sekondi Metro Fire Station with support from the Air Force Base Fire Department.
According to the GNFS, the fire destroyed 10 tricycles. However, swift intervention saved more than 2,000 tricycles and prevented the blaze from spreading to adjoining buildings and a nearby mall.
The fire was brought under control at 11:11 a.m. and fully extinguished at 11:20 a.m. Investigations are ongoing to establish the cause.
The second incident was a bushfire near the Takoradi Technical University (TTU). The Sekondi Metro Fire Station responded to a distress call at 11:55 a.m. with a six-member crew led by ADO I Kenneth Agbavor.
The fire was brought under control at 12:07 p.m. and extinguished at 12:15 p.m. Preliminary investigations indicate that uncontrolled refuse burning ignited dry weeds.
The intervention prevented the fire from spreading to nearby vegetation and buildings.
The Western Regional Commander, ACFO I Cecil B. R. Addo, and the Sekondi Metro Fire Officer, DO II Michael Tetteh, were present during the warehouse fire response.
The Regional Commander, who also visited the bushfire scene, cautioned residents against indiscriminate burning, reminding the public that uncontrolled bush burning is prohibited under the Control and Prevention of Bushfires Law, 1990 (P.N.D.C.L. 229).
The GNFS has urged businesses and warehouse operators to strengthen fire safety measures, obtain fire safety certification and maintain safe storage practices.
Residents have also been advised to dispose of refuse responsibly and avoid burning near dry vegetation and fuel installations to prevent fires and protect lives, property and the environment.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
An Accra High Court has set November 4, 2026, to rule on the bail application filed by the former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
The bail application is pending his appeal against a 20-year jail sentence.
The court fixed the date after hearing arguments from both counsel for the applicant and the prosecution.
Chairman Wontumi is seeking bail pending the determination of his appeal challenging the conviction and sentence.
The court will deliver its ruling on whether to grant the bail application on November 4.
The Conviction
On July 20, 2026, an Accra High Court presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay convicted Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, on 6 illegal mining-related charges.
He was found guilty of assigning mineral rights without ministerial approval and intentionally facilitating an unlicensed mining operation, contrary to the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) as amended, in connection with Akonta Mining Company Limited’s operations on the Samreboi concession in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve in the Western Region.
The law provides a custodial sentence of 15 to 25 years for those offences. The court sentenced him to 20 years imprisonment and a fine of 10,000 penalty units [GH¢120,000]. The court said failure to pay the fine will attract an additional 3-year term, to run concurrently.
His company, Akonta Mining Company Limited, was also fined after the court considered mitigating circumstances.
Current Bail Application
His legal team filed a bail application pending appeal in August 2026. The application was first scheduled for August 19 but was adjourned. Today, October 15, 2026, the court heard arguments from both sides and fixed November 4, 2026 to rule on whether to grant bail.
The defence argues he is not a flight risk, respected all bail terms before conviction, and that his appeal has 19 grounds with strong prospects of success. The State, represented by Deputy Attorney General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, opposed bail, arguing he poses a flight risk and that his grounds do not meet the exceptional circumstances threshold for bail after conviction.
Other Cases Pending
Despite the 20-year sentence, he still faces two other major cases:
A Ghana Exim Bank case where he, together with Wontumi Farms Limited and another accused, allegedly obtained over GH¢14.3 million between 2018 and 2022 under false pretences for a farming project, using forged documents, leading to losses exceeding GH¢30 million.
Charges include defrauding by false pretences, uttering forged documents, money laundering and causing financial loss to the state.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has urged the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to intensify efforts to recover unpaid taxes from public institutions and businesses cited in the Auditor-General’s reports.
The committee asked the Authority to verify the amounts owed and collect outstanding payments from organisations including the Ghana Airports Company Limited, Ghana Water Company Limited and the Electricity Company of Ghana.
The call was made when the GRA appeared before the Committee yesterday.
This comes as the GRA reported that it had exceeded its revenue target by the end of September.
The Chairperson of the Committee, Abena Osei Asare, commended the Authority and the Auditor-General for their work, but called for greater transparency in tax collection, stressing that taxpayers should pay only what is required by law.
Representatives of the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA) also appeared before the Committee, with the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition and its agencies expected to appear next.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
