News
‘Pragya’ rider jailed 15 years for defilement
A tricycle ‘Pragya’ rider has appeared before the Tarkwa Circuit Court for allegedly defiling a 13-year-old pupil at Matwamatwa, a suburb of Asankrangwa in the Wassa Amenfi West Municipality.
David Owusu, 21, charged with defilement pleaded guilty with explanation, but the court presided over by Mrs Hathia Ama Manu rejected Owusu’s explanation and sentenced him to 15 years imprisonment with hard labour.
The Prosecutor, Superintendent of Police Juliana Essel-Dadzie, told the court that the complainant is a police officer at Asankrangwa and his wife is related to the victim.
She said on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at about 1:30 pm, while Owusu was working in Asankrangwa township, he chanced on the victim who was on his way to the auntie’s shop, and he picked her up.
Superintendent Essel-Dadzie said when they got to the shop, Owusu failed to stop for the victim to alight and sped off to his house, dragged her into his room, and had sexual intercourse with her.
The prosecutor said that after the act, Owusu took the victim to the aunty’s house where she changed her clothes and thereafter, he took her to the shop.
On May 1, 2024, the victim revealed her ordeal to one of the workers in her aunt’s shop and she informed the complainant and Owusu was arrested and sent to the Asankrangwa police station, and reported the matter. -GNA
The Majority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, says Parliament and government officials are working closely with authorities in the Netherlands following the detention of the Member of Parliament for Asante Akyem North, Kwame Ohene Frimpong.
Speaking on the matter on Channel One news yesterday, Mr. Dafeamekpor disclosed that the MP was detained at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam on Sunday while travelling on a private trip.
According to him, Mr. Frimpong personally informed him about the incident around 5 a.m. on the day of the arrest.
He said the issue was immediately escalated to parliamentary leadership and other state officials for intervention.
Mr. Dafeamekpor explained that the Majority Leader, who was in transit at Heathrow Airport in London at the time, travelled to Schiphol to engage the detained MP and better understand the situation.
He added that the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ghana’s Ambassador to The Hague, the Attorney General, the Speaker of Parliament and the Clerk to Parliament had all been involved in efforts to address the matter.
According to him, a Ghanaian lawyer based in The Hague and qualified to practise there has also been engaged to represent the MP.
“The lawyer is dealing with the issues, but let me confirm that he is fine,” Mr. Dafeamekpor stated.
He noted that Parliament and the legal team were still waiting for official documents, including an authenticated copy of the arrest warrant and other details from Dutch prosecutors handling the matter.
The South Dayi MP therefore urged the media and the public to avoid speculation until all facts surrounding the case are confirmed.
“We want to urge all the media houses not to be throwing in things that have not been confirmed,” he said.
Mr. Dafeamekpor further explained that Parliament’s involvement was partly because the MP was travelling with a diplomatic passport.
He noted that extradition and detention cases involving political figures are not uncommon internationally, citing examples such as former Chilean leader Augusto Pinochet and Julian Assange.
According to him, authorities are hopeful the matter can be resolved for the MP to return to Ghana safely.
He appealed to the MP’s family, colleagues in Parliament and the public to remain calm while diplomatic and legal processes continue.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana Water Ltd has announced temporary water supply interruptions in several parts of western Accra following technical challenges at the Weija Water Treatment Plant.
In a press release issued on May 13, the company explained that the challenges had affected water production and distribution in some communities.
According to the management of the company, residents in areas including Dansoman, Mamprobi, Mataheko, Laterbiokorshie, Korle Bu, La Paz, MacCarthy Hill, Gbawe, Mallam, Tesano, Darkuman, North Kaneshie, Dome, Achimota, Anyaa and Ablekuma may experience low water pressure and erratic water supply.
Management noted that engineers and technical teams were working to fix the problem and restore normal water supply as soon as possible.
The company advised consumers to store water whenever there is flow in their communities in order to manage the temporary disruption.
It urged essential service providers to contact their Assembly Members or the Ghana Water Ltd Call Centre for assistance.
The company apologized to customers affected by the situation and appealed for calm and cooperation while efforts continue to resolve the challenge.
By: Jacob Aggrey
