News
Hope for Ho ex-convicts …hotel to offer assistance
Ex-convicts in the Volta Region would no longer be jobless after their release from prison as one of the hotels at Ho, has taken it upon itself to train them soon after they finish serving their sentences.
As the name depicts, Management of Freedom Hotel, Ho, has announced plans to train ex-convicts in the hospitality industry.
“This is to facilitate their reintegration into the society and make them self-reliant, after the training, they could seek jobs or set up their own businesses.” Mr Bob Coffie Dusu, Managing Director of the hotel, has said.
Mr Dusu was speaking to The Spectator when the management of the hotel donated a modern and large ice-chest, a carton of soap, hand-sanitisers, consignment of sanitary paper and packs of bottled water to the Ho Female Prison, a fortnight ago.
The items were presented to the Correctional Centre by Ms Dorothy Hamza, Human Resource Manager of the Freedom Hotel, accompanied by Madam Gertrude Sowor and Mr Ganyo Klu, manager and chief driver respectively.
Ms Hamza said that the hotel was of the conviction that once ex-convicts were once again gainfully employed they would contribute their quota to national development without resorting to crime for a living.
She said, prisoners and ex-convicts needed love from the society to reform completely.
Furthermore, Ms Hamza said that prisoners only lost their right to personal freedom during their incarceration not their right to personal dignity.
Assistant Superintendent of Prison (ASP) Augusta Addo received the items on behalf of the Ho Female Prison .
Later, the Officer-in-charge of the Ho Female Prison, Superintendent Mandy Mensah expressed gratitude for the gesture, saying the concern shown to inmates by the Freedom Hotel was highly gratifying.
She gave the assurance that the Ho Female Prison would support the hospitality training programme of the hotel by recommending inmates to them before the completion of their jail terms.
Superintendent Mensah entreated other corporate bodies and pubic-spirited individuals to support the welfare of prisoners in various ways for their upkeep.
From Alberto Mario Noretti, Ho
The Criminal Investigation Department has launched an investigation into a viral video in which a woman identified as Arianna Naomi Mackey, an American citizen, claims she was kidnapped by five masked men, whom she alleges were officers of the Ghana Police Service on snap-check duty in Accra, and robbed her of some amount of money.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the video was recorded at a hotel in Accra where Ms. Mackey and two companions were staying.
According to the police, investigation also confirmed that they checked out of the hotel on December 5, 2025.Checks at the Kotoka International Airport also disclosed that she left Ghana on the same day.
The Police subsequently contacted the alleged victim to assist the investigation. She indicated to Police that she was out of the country and she could not get the names of the alleged officers nor the number plate of the vehicle they were using.
Police further requested for the contact details of her friend in Ghana, who she said was with her during the time of the incident.
She, however, stated that her friend does not want to be involved in the investigation.
According to the police, she has since deleted the video on her page and further efforts by the Investigators to contact her through WhatsApp calls and messages have proved unsuccessful, as she has declined to respond and later blocked the team.
Meanwhile, efforts are ongoing to secure her cooperation through appropriate diplomatic channels.
The Ghana Police Service has noted that it treats such allegations very seriously and remains committed to uncovering the facts in this case.
The Northern Regional Police Command has arrested three men believed to be part of a kidnapping syndicate responsible for abducting a 42-year-old man in Wapuli, a community in the Yendi District.
The suspects, Haruna Seidu, Amidu Bandi and Osman Bandi allegedly kidnapped the victim and demanded GH¢100,000 from his family for his release.
According to a police statement, officers from the Regional Police Intelligence Directorate were deployed to Wapuli after the incident was reported.
The team conducted surveillance and launched a rescue operation.
On Friday, December 5, 2025, police successfully rescued the victim and arrested the suspects after what was described as an intense exchange of gunfire.
The suspects were later taken into custody and are expected to be arraigned before court.
The Police said the a fourth suspect, who is believed to have sustained gunshot wounds during the operation, is currently on the run.
They urged the public to provide any information that may lead to his arrest.
By: Jacob Aggrey
