News
KAAG embarks on cleanup exercise in Accra
The KOICA Alumni Association of Ghana (KAAG), last Saturday embarked on a massive cleanup exercise at the Vienna City Beach in Accra.
The five-hour cleanup exercise was part of the Association’s initiative of raising awareness on the need to keep the country’s beaches and oceans clean, for relaxation and pleasure.
The Association rid the beach of debris to mitigate the problem caused by ocean debris and the danger that plastic pollution poses to marine life.
The President of KAAG, Madam Lovia Afoakwa said the exercise was to ensure the ocean becomes clean to make it easier for fishers to make a living.
“This beach cleaning exercise is aligned to the Government of Ghana’s desire to conserve our water bodies as was emphasized at the recently held national blue economy summit, and also in our small way, contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals especially goals 6, 13, 14, and 15.
Interestingly, around the time Ghana held its first blue economic summit, Korea also held its first international cooperation conference on oceans and fisheries. So we continue to have things in common” she said.
Madam Afoakwa said cleaning the beaches was not a one-man responsibility but a task for all and sundry to embark on a similar initiative in promoting a clean environment.
She urged the public to stop littering, and indiscriminate dumping of refuse into the ocean and open spaces, and appealed to all residents and corporate institutions to keep their surroundings clean at all times to prevent environmental pollution.
The Country Director for Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Mr Seungmin applauded the Association for embarking on such an initiative, and said, KOICA was also committed and working with Civil Society Organisations in promoting good sanitation practice
BY BERNARD BENGHAN
The Tema Regional Police Command has intercepted 1,613 parcels of substances suspected to be narcotic drugs during an intelligence-led operation along the Akosombo–Tema road.
According to a press release issued by the Public Affairs Unit of the Ghana Police Service on January 13 2026, the operation formed part of ongoing efforts to clamp down on drug trafficking in the region.
The Police explained that on January 10 2026, intelligence was received that suspected narcotic drugs were being transported from the Volta Region towards Tema.
Following the information, police teams mounted surveillance along the route, with particular focus on the Agomeda Junction area.
The statement noted that at about 12:45 a.m. on January 11 2026, officers intercepted two vehicles a white Toyota Highlander with registration number GS 2013-13 and a black Mitsubishi Pajero with registration number GC 400-22.
The vehicles were being driven by two suspects, Isaac Odoi, aged 33, and Kwame Mani, aged 39.
A search conducted on the vehicles led to the discovery of several compressed yellow-wrapped parcels suspected to be narcotic drugs.
The suspects were arrested and the vehicles escorted to the police station for further action.
On January 12 2026, the suspects and the seized items were handed over to the Regional Criminal Investigations Department in Tema, where photographs and inventories were taken.
Police indicated that 872 parcels were retrieved from the Mitsubishi Pajero, while 741 parcels were found in the Toyota Highlander, bringing the total number of parcels seized to 1,613.
The suspects are currently in police custody assisting with investigations. The Police said samples of the substances will be sent to the Forensic Crime Laboratory for testing, while further searches will be carried out at the suspects’ residences.
Arrangements are also underway to process the suspects for court.
The Tema Regional Police Command reiterated its commitment to intensifying operations against drug trafficking and other criminal activities and urged the public to continue providing credible information to support police efforts.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Former Deputy Education Minister John Ntim Fordjour has hit back at Minister for Government Communications Felix Kwakye Ofosu, accusing the government of what he described as arrogance of power over alleged LGBT content in school materials.
His response followed comments by Mr Kwakye Ofosu, who described Mr Fordjour as overzealous and prone to getting carried away in his advocacy.
The minister also argued that Mr Fordjour was part of the government when the curriculum in question was introduced.
Reacting to the remarks, Mr Fordjour rejected the criticism and accused the government of insulting parents who had raised concerns about the content of textbooks and teacher manuals used in schools.
According to him, parents voted for the current government on the belief that it would protect Ghanaian values and shield children from LGBT related content in education.
He argued that the same government had now allowed materials that discuss gender beyond male and female and topics he described as sexual in nature to be introduced into classrooms.
Mr Fordjour claimed the government had been caught red handed and had even admitted plans to remove the content, yet continued to dismiss critics as being overzealous.
He stressed that parents had every right to be alarmed, noting that lessons taught in school often carry more weight than what children hear at home, in churches, or in mosques. He warned that once such ideas are taught in school, they are difficult to undo.
The former deputy minister maintained that being vigilant, even if described as overzealous, was necessary to protect children and preserve Ghanaian cultural values. He added that many parents across the country shared these concerns and would continue to speak out.
Mr Fordjour further accused the government of betraying its campaign promises and using public funds to print what he described as LGBT laced textbooks, while dismissing parents who questioned the move.
He concluded that the backlash from parents was not extremism but a natural response to what he viewed as a threat to the values and mindset of the younger generation.
By: Jacob Aggrey
