News
PAC Chairperson cautions MMDAs to desist from taking monies from MPs and PWDs account for emergencies
The Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Abena Osei Asare has cautioned District and Municipal Assemblies to desist from taking money from Members of Parliament and People With Disabilities (PWDs) accounts to fund their “emergency activities.”
She made this appeal yesterday, Aprill 21 at the PAC second Zonal Public Hearing in Kumasi to consider the 2024 Auditor-General’s report.
During yesterday’s public hearing, it was observed that misapplication of funds was a common infraction most of the Assemblies were practicing to the extent of taking monies allocated to PWDs to organise events such as Independence Day celebration or payment of retirement package to Assembly members .
The Ranking Member of the Committee, Samuel Atta Mills who chaired the sitting, ordered that all monies taken from MPs and PWDs accounts must be paid back within thirty (30) days.
;He was of the view that because MPs are not signatories to the accounts at the Assemblies, their allocations are sometimes used without their knowledge.
Lawyer for Bernard Antwi Boasiako popularly known as Chairman Wontumi , Andy Appiah-Kubi, says case management proceedings involving three witnesses in the Samreboi case have been concluded, with the court expected to resume hearing on May 14, 2026.
Speaking to journalists after proceedings, Mr. Appiah-Kubi said the legal team had completed most of the required filings but still had a few additional witness statements to submit.
According to him, witness statements have already been prepared for Chairman Wontumi, Akonta Mining, Engineer Gomashi, and Mireku Duker.
“Today the business was for conference management and case management. We have finished it except that we have a few more witnesses to file their witness statements for,” he said.
He explained that the remaining witnesses are expected to sign their statements before the legal team files them in court.
“We intend to file them by tomorrow or Monday when the witnesses come to sign and read their witness statements,” he added.
Mr. Appiah-Kubi further noted that the court has adjourned the matter to May 14 for continuation of proceedings.
Chairman Wontumi and his co-accused are standing trial for allegedly transferring or assigning mining rights in respect of Akonta Mining’s Samreboi concession to a third party, Henry Okum, without approval from the Minister responsible for Mines, contrary to the Minerals and Mining Act.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Ghana Police Service has arrested four suspected armed robbers following an intelligence-led operation in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region.
The suspects, identified as Abdulai Ibrahim, Amadu Rahman, Amadu Sulemana, also known as Saaga, and Adu Yakubu, were arrested on May 5, 2026.
Investigations indicate that on 4th May 2026, the suspects converged at Gbane, a mining community in the Talensi District, after travelling from Yagaba and Fumbisi to carry out a robbery operation, during which they robbed four motorbikes and several mobile phones.
During interrogation, the suspects admitted to a series of robberies within the Talensi District, along the Yagaba Fumbisi road and the Yagaba-Nanguruma road in the North East Region.
They also confessed to a robbery at the Vikandi Phone Shop in Bolgatanga on 22nd March 2025, which was captured in a viral video in which they were seen wielding an AK47 assault rifle.
They further admitted to multiple robberies at Gbane mining sites, where gold and large sums of money were taken from victims.
The suspects later led Police to a farm near Biung, close to Gbane, where the gang leader, Amadu Rahman, had concealed an AK47 rifle.
A search of the area led to the retrieval of the rifle, with serial number 68100563, and eighty-seven (87) rounds of live ammunition hidden in a fertilizer sack.
During the search to retrieve the weapon, suspect Amadu Rahman collapsed and was rushed to the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
His body has been deposited at the hospital morgue for preservation and autopsy.
The remaining three suspects are in Police custody and will be put before court to face the full rigours of the law.
