News
IT Technician, 2 others in court for robbery
Three young men who allegedly robbed a taxi driver of his GH¢ 25,000 car and sold it to another person at a drastically reduced price of GH¢ 5,000 are standing trial at the Accra Circuit Court ‘One’.
The accused, Messrs Frank Obeng also known as Khalifa, 22, trader, Richard Quaye also known as Shasey, 35, IT Technician, and Kwasi Asamoah also known as Faroy, 34, labourer, are charged with conspiracy and robbery while Mr Francis Addai, 27, driver, is charged with dishonestly receiving.
They were remanded in police custody two weeks ago by the presiding judge, Madam Afia Owusua Appiah to appear again on a latter date for continuation.
Meanwhile, the police have embarked on a search to arrest five accomplices who are on the run. They are Mr Sammy Gravity, Mr Sammy Benchem, Spanky, Asaa Dollar, and Musah Hamzah alias Alhaji.
Inspector Samuel Ahiabor told the court that the complainant, Mr. Samuel Opoku was a taxi driver and a resident of Kaneshie while the accused also resided at Aunty Aku, Odokor Official Town and Sowutuom (all suburbs of Accra) respectively.
He said that on September 14, 2020, at about 4:30 am, the complainant was driving his Hyundai 110 taxi with registration number GX 5543-19 within Kaneshie when the 1st accused, Frank Obeng, hired him from Kaneshie to Awoshie-Mangoase at GH¢ 12.00.
The prosecutor said that when the taxi driver was about to get to the place, the 5th accused, Sammy Gravity (on the run) called Frank Obeng (1st accused) on a mobile phone to let the driver stop at a junction for him to come and pay the fare which the driver obliged.
He said that no sooner had the driver stopped than the 5th accused (Sammy Gravity) pointed a pistol at him (driver) and sat in the car and ordered that the complainant should move the taxi to a nearby junction where their colleagues were waiting for them.
He said that upon reaching the place, Frank Obeng (1st accused) switched off the engine and instructed the complainant to surrender his Nokia mobile phone value at GH¢ 200.00 and cash of GH¢ 380.00 to them. They took the money, pushed him out of the car and drove off.
He said that Asaa Dollar (8th accused at large) drove the car and they went and met Francis Addai (4th accused) at Ablekuma where he also took the car to Musah Hamzah (9th accused) and sold it to him at GH¢ 5,000.00 and they shared the money among themselves.
Inspector Ahiabor said that on September 16,2020, the 1st accused (Frank Obeng) was arrested at Odorkor and during interrogation he mentioned the names of the accused as his accomplices and led the police to arrest Richard Quaye (2nd accused), Kwasi Asamoah (3rd accused) and Francis Addai (4th accused).
According to the prosecutor, the 4th accused (Francis Addai) admitted the offence and told the police that he had so far received five cars namely, two Hyundai Matiz, and three Atos including the complainant’s Hyundai 110, which were all sold to Hamzah at prices ranging between GH¢4,000 and GH¢ 5,000. The police are yet to retrieve Mr Opoku’s taxi.
By Castro Zangina-Tong
The state has closed its case in the Republic v Akonta Mining and two others.
The case was heard earlier today at the Accra Criminal Court, where state prosecutors and CID investigators from the Ghana Police Service closed the Republic’s case.
In all, the prosecution called three witnesses to prove its case, two former employees of Akonta Mining Company Limited and a detective from the Ghana Police Service.
According to an update on the case, the two former employees testified to Mr Bernard Antwi-Boasiako’s deep involvement in Akonta Mining Company’s alleged illegal mining activities in the Tano-Nimiri Forest Reserve.
The police detective tendered in evidence drone footage and other audio-visual materials and official communications in support of the testimonies of the two former Akonta Mining employees.
The accused persons, through cross-examination of the witnesses, sought to dissociate themselves from every mining activity in the Tano-Nimiri Forest Reserve.
At the close of the prosecution’s case, counsel for the accused persons asked the court to allow him to call the first prosecution witness back into the witness box for further cross-examination.
The court gave him up to Friday, October 30, to file a formal motion to recall the witnesses.
The case has been adjourned to November 4 for the motion to be heard.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Dr Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, spokesperson to NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has called on the government and Parliament to undertake major reforms in Ghana’s prison system, including the construction of a dedicated prison hospital and the introduction of regulated conjugal visits.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, Dr Boakye-Danquah shared Chairman Wontumi’s observations and recommendations following his remand on July 20, 2026.
According to the statement, Chairman Wontumi’s experience in prison has given him the opportunity to interact with prison officers and inmates and observe the challenges facing the Ghana Prisons Service.
The statement noted that the NPP chairman believes the correctional system must move beyond punishment to focus on rehabilitation, welfare and productivity.
One of his major concerns is the lack of dedicated, well-equipped prison hospitals, ambulances and standby generators in several prison facilities.
Dr Boakye-Danquah said Chairman Wontumi had raised concerns about the difficulties in providing medical care to seriously ill inmates, including those suffering from tuberculosis.
He is therefore calling for the construction of a modern prison hospital to serve facilities across the country. In the interim, he has proposed emergency arrangements with the 37 Military Hospital and the Police Hospital.
On the welfare of prison officers, Chairman Wontumi has urged the government to review their salaries, accommodation and conditions of service.
He has also called for proper classification of inmates, arguing that minor offenders should not be housed alongside armed robbery convicts and that persons facing trial for serious offences, including treason and terrorism, should be appropriately separated from other inmates.
The statement further highlighted concerns about the need for counselling and behavioural support for young inmates, particularly those serving sentences for defilement-related offences.
Chairman Wontumi has also called for a clear policy on the classification and management of LGBTQI+ inmates within the prison system.
On family relationships, he has proposed the creation of designated private areas where prisoners can receive visits from their spouses and children.
He believes regulated conjugal visits could help preserve marriages, reduce tension among inmates and support rehabilitation.
“The prisoner is the one in prison, not the children or spouse,” the statement noted, explaining his position on the need to protect family relationships during incarceration.
Chairman Wontumi has appealed to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to support prison farms with the necessary equipment to improve food production.
According to the statement, the Ghana Prisons Service has access to vast lands and skilled labour but faces a shortage of agricultural equipment, with only one tractor reportedly available for farming and garbage-related activities.
He has further proposed greater collaboration between prison authorities and the justice sector, suggesting that regional prison commanders should be included in relevant discussions because of their knowledge of prison conditions and inmate rehabilitation.
On infrastructure, Chairman Wontumi has called on the government and private sector to invest in modern prison facilities and factories, arguing that the system has seen limited structural improvements over the years.
Appeal to Parliament
Dr Boakye-Danquah said Chairman Wontumi had made a special appeal to Parliament to lead efforts towards comprehensive prison reform.
He is urging the Speaker of Parliament to initiate discussions on prison conditions as a human rights and national development issue.
He has also called on the Majority and Minority caucuses to work together to pass a new Prison Reform Act and approve funding for a dedicated prison hospital, ambulance services, standby generators and agricultural equipment.
Additionally, he wants the Parliamentary Select Committees on Defence and Interior, Health, and Food and Agriculture to undertake working visits to prisons across the country to assess conditions firsthand.
According to the statement, Chairman Wontumi believes bipartisan cooperation between the Majority and Minority caucuses is necessary to secure the legal and financial reforms required to improve the prison system.
He has called for broader prison reforms across Africa, expressing hope that Ghana could lead the continent in improving correctional facilities.
Reflecting on his experience since July 20, Chairman Wontumi stated: “At this experience since July 20th till date, prison doesn’t reform as it should be. I pray that the entire Africa will learn from Ghana.”
The statement added that Chairman Wontumi remained in high spirits.
By: Jacob Aggrey
