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 Public Accounts Committee (PAC) today commenced its second Zonal Public Hearing in Kumasi Ashanti Region to examine the 2024 Auditor-General’s Report on public schools and District Assemblies yesterday, April 20, 2026.
In her opening remarks, the Chairperson of the Committee, Abena Osei Asare noted that the Committee will consider four (4) Auditor – General’s reports, namely, District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) & Other Statutory Funds, The Accounts of District Assemblies for the Financial Year (IGF), Pre-University Education Institutions and lastly Colleges of Education in the year ending 31st December 2024.
She assured the various District Assemblies and other institutions invited to respond to infractions cited in the Auditor-General’s report that the Committee would be transparent in asking questions as well as granting opportunities to all to explain issues to the Committee.
Abena Osei Asare, allowed the Ranking Member of the Committee, Samuel Atta Mills to chair the sitting with the explanation that her government was in power then, therefore she could not chair over Auditor-General reports of 2024.
The Ghana Audit Service has issued a correction to its Auditor General’s report on the nationwide payroll audit, clarifying that a GH¢427,995,661.40 figure wrongly attributed to a public servant was due to a transpositional error.
In a press release dated April 21, 2026, the Service explained that the amount earlier linked to Frank Oliver Kpodo does not belong to him.
It stated that the figure rather relates to unaccounted staff under the Ministry of Education during the payroll audit covering the period from January 1, 2023 to June 30, 2025.
The Service expressed concern over media reports that cited Mr Kpodo as having received the amount as unearned salary, stressing that the attribution was an error.
It offered an unreserved apology to Mr Kpodo for the distress and public scrutiny the mistake may have caused.
The Service also apologised to the Government, the people of Ghana, and the Controller and Accountant General’s Department for the error.
According to the corrected report, the GH¢427.9 million is linked to 3,476 unaccounted staff under the Ministry of Education, making it the highest figure recorded in the audit.
The nationwide payroll audit covered 6,270 records across several public institutions, with a total salary value of GH¢801,808,427.04.
Other institutions captured in the report include the Judicial Service of Ghana, the Electoral Commission of Ghana, and the Ministry of Health, among others.
The Audit Service noted that the corrected summary has been provided to ensure accuracy and maintain public trust in its work.
It reaffirmed its commitment to accountability and transparency in the management of public funds.
By: Jacob Aggrey
