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I Gave Ataa Ayi 70 Years to Protect My Family — Acting Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie
Acting Chief Justice, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, has revealed that he once sentenced notorious armed robber Ataa Ayi to 70 years in prison because he feared for his safety and that of his family.
Speaking during his vetting in Parliament on Monday, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie explained that although judges are guided by sentencing principles, they sometimes have to go beyond them in exceptional cases.
He said, “I sentenced Ataa Ayi to 70 years in prison because I feared he would attack me and my family upon his release. You see, there are so many reasons. The magistrates have the sentencing guidelines, but sometimes they have to go beyond that.”
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie said that at the time of sentencing, he believed a shorter jail term would have endangered his family after the convict’s release.
“If Ataa Ayi was given 30 years and he comes back, my family would be the first one he would attack. So by the time he comes back after 70 years, I will be dead and gone,” he added.
The Acting Chief Justice also used the occasion to call for reforms in Ghana’s justice system, including the introduction of community service and parole as alternative forms of punishment.
He explained that such measures could help decongest the country’s overcrowded prisons and make offenders face the consequences of their actions in a way that benefits society.
“Punishments are not only for the person being punished but also to deter others,” he said, adding that community service could be assigned around the area where the offence was committed to serve as a lesson to the public.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie further urged lawmakers to consider laws that make community sentences and parole a permanent part of Ghana’s judicial process.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ahyiresu and Abofrem, two quiet communities in the Atwima Mponua District, have been shaken to the core by a chilling midnight drama that reads like a nightmare.
A pastor and a young mother stand accused of attempting to bury a five‑month‑old baby girl alive, a crime that has ignited outrage and disbelief across the township.
According to police, Apostle Richmond Akwasi Frimpong, 36, Head Pastor of the Anointed Grace Prayer Ministry at Kuffour Camp, conspired with his uncle Emmanuel Appiah, 53, and the child’s mother, 23‑year‑old Beatrice Agyapomaa, to dispose of the infant, Anaya Achiaa, under the cover of darkness.
A fourth suspect, Emmanuel Donkor, remains on the run.
The suspects were caught near a refuse dump around 10 pm on April 9, 2026, after a vigilant resident, Akwasi Twezor, noticed their suspicious movements.
When confronted, they claimed the child was already dead and had palace approval for burial. But Twezor’s instincts proved right—the baby was still alive, gasping faintly for breath.
Chief Linguist, Nana Yaw Badu, later confirmed that Frimpong had misled him earlier in the evening, securing permission for burial by falsely declaring the child dead.
The infant was rushed to the Abofrem Clinic, where she is now responding well to treatment. Police described her as “very beautiful.”
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Evelyn Yitamkey, Commander of DOVVSU in Bibiani, confirmed that the suspects have been provisionally charged.
Frimpong faces attempted murder and conspiracy charges, while Agyapomaa and Appiah are charged with conspiracy and abetment.
They were remanded by the Bibiani Circuit Court, presided over by Judge Frank Asiedu Nimako, to assist investigations.
The docket has been forwarded to the Attorney General’s Department for advice, ASP Yitamkey indicated.
The attempted crime has provoked fury among residents, many suspecting ritual motives aimed at bolstering the pastor’s influence.
Crowds attempted to attack the suspects outside court, but police intervention prevented mob justice.
The Assembly Member for Ahyiresu, Yusuf Suleiman, has assured residents that justice will be pursued swiftly.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
The forecourt of the African University of Communications and Business (AUCB) in Accra came alive on Friday with colour, creativity and innovation, as Level 300 students transformed the space into a lively exhibition of ideas.
Under the theme “Building meaningful brands beyond the logo,” the students invited patrons into a world where ordinary products were reimagined through storytelling, design and purpose.
From scented candles to innovative food concepts, each stand told a unique story, one that went beyond aesthetics to capture identity, value and human connection.
For many of the students, the event was more than just an academic exercise; it was a moment to dream out loud.
Guided by their lecturer, Peter Wonders, they explored what it truly means to build a brand in today’s competitive world where trust, consistency and experience matter just as much as logos and slogans.
Chairman of the occasion, Nana Kum Gyata VI, in his remarks said a brand is what people say about you when you are not present.
At the end of the presentations, awards were presented to deserving groups with Vida Nyaneba emerging as the overall best branding student.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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