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Sex worker remanded for human trafficking
An Accra Circuit Court has remanded a 43-year-old Nigerian woman over charges of human trafficking and illegal entry into Ghana.
The accused, Eugenia Ifeoma, is alleged to have recruited, transported and harboured two victims aged 19 and 17 years from Nigeria to Ghana for prostitution.
She pleaded guilty to two counts of human trafficking and guilty with explanation to illegal entry into Ghana.
Ifeoma explained to the court that she was unaware it was an offence to bring others into Ghana.
Prosecution from the Ghana Immigration Service told the court that Ifeoma was a 43-year-old commercial sex worker who plied her trade at Asankragua.
The court heard that on March 2, 2026, Ifeoma travelled from Ghana to Nigeria, where she met the brother of the victims, who requested her to bring his two sisters to Ghana.
She initially declined but later agreed and paid for their transportation into Ghana.
Upon arrival, the victims were taken to Asankragua, where Ifeoma allegedly provided them with packs of condoms and demanded a daily sales remittance of GH₵ 200.
The prosecution further stated that Ifeoma threatened the victims that she would send her fetish priest after them if they attempted to abscond.
The Ghana Immigration Service at Asankragua said it received intelligence that led to Ifeoma’s arrest.
Investigations further revealed that she entered Ghana through unapproved routes.
The trial judge held that the accused person’s explanation did not constitute a defence or denial, convicted her, and remanded her into lawful custody for sentencing on June 29, 2026. –GNA
A total of 294 girls missed out on the first phase of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination exercise in the Ayawaso West Municipality, following challenges with parental consent.
Out of the 997 girls targeted in the first round in October this year, only 703 received the vaccine, representing 70 per cent coverage.
Ms Patience Adoli Kporxah, a Public Health Nurse at the Roman Ridge Sub-Municipal Health Directorate, disclosed this in an interview with The Spectator, identifying parents’ refusal to grant consent as the major obstacle to achieving the vaccination target.
“One of our major challenges was the lack of consent from parents. A lot of parents did not give their consent for their wards to receive the vaccine,” she revealed.
She explained that the directorate had embarked on extensive public education and stakeholder engagements before the exercise to encourage parents to allow their daughters to receive the vaccine.
The interventions included media publicity, letters sent to schools to inform parents, engagements with parents during Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) meetings, and consultations with community leaders.
Churches, mosques and media houses within the municipality were also engaged to help spread information about the vaccination exercise.
Despite the challenges, Ms Kporxah said the directorate had adequate logistics to undertake the exercise, indicating that the major difficulty was securing parental approval rather than a shortage of resources.
She said the Directorate would intensify its engagement with parents, teachers and other stakeholders ahead of the next phase to improve acceptance and coverage.
Ms Kporxah also urged parents whose daughters missed the exercise to take advantage of the opportunity to get them vaccinated at any government health facility, since the HPV vaccine had now been incorporated into Ghana’s routine immunisation programme.
She expressed optimism about the second round of the exercise, scheduled for November and December, saying the directorate would sustain its engagement with schools and parents in order to ensure that more eligible girls received the vaccine.
The HPV vaccine protects against infection with certain types of Human Papillomavirus, which cause nearly all cases of cervical cancer. Health authorities continue to encourage vaccination as a key preventive measure against the disease.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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As part of activities marking Customer Service Week, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has awarded 10 Special Load Tariff (SLT) customers in the Ashanti West Region.
On October 27-29, 2026, the Management of the Ashanti West Region visited these key partners to present them with prestigious plaques and branded ECG souvenirs.
The awards celebrated their valued partnership, consistent patronage, prompt bill payments, and enduring loyalty to the ECG brand.
The 10 companies included XY Plywood Ghana, World Cool Stone Quarry, Asawus Company Limited, Kumasi Cement Ghana Limited, Niwota Company, Lancaster Kumasi City Hotel, Guinness Ghana Limited, Twellium Ghana Company Limited, Kasapreko Company Limited PLC and China Mall Kumasi.
Beyond honouring the organisations, the outreach provided regional management with a valuable platform to interact directly with these strategic stakeholders, gain firsthand insight into their operations, and address their teething operational challenges.
Addressing the awardees, Mr George Amoah, General Manager for the Ashanti West Region, expressed gratitude for their contributions to ECG’s success.
He highlighted the inscription on the commemorative plaque: “The Management and Staff of Ashanti West Region present this prestigious award to your reputable company in recognition for your valued partnership, consistent excellence and loyalty to the company. Thank you for choosing ECG.”
Reiterating the theme of the week, Ing. Amoah emphasised that going “the extra mile” was more than a mantra—it is a core work ethic instilled across all staff members in the region.
“We want to keep the lights on to ensure your business is profitable so that you can continue to employ more people to give our youth a better future,” Mr Amoah stated.
He disclosed that ECG was undertaking numerous system improvement projects across the region to stabilise power supply, increase operational capacity, and attract prospective investors.
Speaking on behalf of the recipients, Mr Manikandan Krishnan, Head of Maintenance at Kasapreko Company Ltd PLC, expressed appreciation to ECG for the recognition and for supporting their business growth.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
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