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Live up to expectations-Dep. Minister to Tourism Day Celebration Committee
The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dr. Ziblim Iddi Barri, has charged the committee responsible for the organisation of this year’s World Tourism Day Celebration, to live up to expectations making the forthcoming event a memorable one.
Dr. Ziblim Iddi Barri who also doubles as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Gusheigu Constituency in the Northern Region indicated that even with the Covid-19 on hand, the committee must strive to further market Ghana in the global Map in relations to Tourism Sphere.
This, according to him, would further spur Ghana’s image, given the huge success the nation has chalked in the Year of Return Programme by attracting both the International and Local tourists to Ghana’s attraction sites, and to also ensure that all the necessary COVD- 19 precautions were adhered to.
Dr. Zublim Iddi Barri made these remarks at the inauguration of the Planning Committee on this year’s World Tourism Day Celebration on the August 11, 2020, on the event slated for September 27 2020, under the theme: Building Peace, Fostering Knowledge.
He stressed that globally Tourism has been viewed as a lead sector for the economic growth and developmental transformational agenda, since it has the propensity to create jobs and accelerate infrastructural development.
Dr. Ziblim Iddi Barri observed that many countries and local communities around the world including Japan, China and Korea had properly used tourism to improve on their socio- cultural and economies of their Nations, which had invariably reduced poverty in their countries.
He bemoaned that In spite of the African rich Tourism attractions, its continent is still lagging behind in its quest for development.
He, therefore, used the rare occasion to entreat committee members to discharge their duties with their utmost best.
The Chief Director of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. John Yao Agbeko also urged the committee members to fastrack their work in order to meet the timelines of the programme.
On her part, the President of the Ghana Tourism Federation (GHATOF) and also the Co- Chairperson of the planning committee, Mrs. Bella Ahu, assured the Tourism Ministry that the committee would deliver to achieve the overall goal of making the forthcoming world Tourism Day a huge success.
A 30-year-old man has been sentenced to 25 years imprisonment with hard labour by the Bekwai Circuit Court for his role in a 2022 robbery at a mining site at Manso Akwasiso in the Ashanti South Region.
The convict, Dominic Ofori, also known as Fanta, was arrested on 16th February 2026 after years on the run. He pleaded guilty before the Bekwai Circuit Court to robbery contrary to Section 149 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 Act 29, and was accordingly sentenced to 25 years imprisonment with hard labour.
On March 20, 2022, the Manso Adubia District Police received intelligence that a group of armed men from Manso Abodom were planning to attack a mining site at Manso Akwasiso to rob the owner of gold concentrate. Acting on the information, police mounted a coordinated operation and laid an ambush at the site.
At about 5:30 pm the same day, four-armed men arrived at the site, fired indiscriminately, and robbed the miners of their gold concentrate. The police team on surveillance intervened, resulting in an exchange of gunfire.
Three of the suspects, Abu Abubakar, Musah Latif, and Gideon Takyi, sustained gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead on arrival at St Martins Catholic Hospital at Agroyesum. Dominic Ofori escaped at the time but was later arrested and put before the court.
The Ashanti South Regional Police Command has assured the public of its continued commitment to combating violent crimes and bringing offenders to justice.
The Ashanti Regional Police Command has arrested 45-year-old Isaac Boafo, also known as “Duabo King,” for allegedly publishing false news intended to cause fear and panic.
Police said the arrest follows a viral TikTok video in which Boafo claimed that four officers at the Central Police Station in Kumasi engaged in inappropriate conduct with commercial sex workers during night patrols in Asafo.
Officers from the Police Intelligence Directorate (Ashanti Region) apprehended Boafo after receiving intelligence about the video.
During questioning, he admitted to creating the video to attract views and engagement online, and acknowledged that he could not prove the allegations.
Boafo also admitted making comments about the President of the Republic for content purposes and could not defend those statements.
He has been formally charged and is in detention as investigations continue.
The Ashanti Regional Police have warned the public against publishing or sharing false information on social media, noting that such acts can cause fear, panic, and damage reputations.
They said anyone found engaging in similar conduct will face legal action.
By: Jacob Aggrey
