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Take pride in learning Ga customs, they aren’t fetish —Nae Wulomo
The Nae Wulomo of the Ga State, Nuumo Akwaa Mensah III, has urged the youth to take pride in learning and upholding Ga customs and traditions, stressing that it is their identity.
According to him, although they have shown interest, the process has been slow as a result of their involvement in church activities, due to the thinking that these customs and traditions are fetish.
But the Nae Wulomo insisted that, “these customs and traditions are not fetish. It has been with us for ages and our ancestors have kept them sacred before handing over to this generation.”
He said this in an interview with The Spectator in Accra last Saturday as the people of Ga Mashie celebrated their Homowo festival.
The festival attracted scores of people from all walks of life to observe the rich culture of the Ga people and other activities lined up as part of the festival.
The Nae Wulomo said it was important for young people to equip themselves with knowledge of the Ga customs and practices so they are not misled or disconnected from their roots.
The Nae Wulomo, who is the Highest Chief Priest of the Ga State, also cautioned the youth against violence and involvement in chieftaincy disputes.
He said many of these young people end up either as victims or perpetrators of crime when they allow themselves to be drawn into such conflicts.
“No girl or boy should be involved in fights or any confusion. If you are not killed, you may kill somebody and the punishment and agony that follow are the same,” he warned.
He decried the growing menace of drug abuse among the youth, describing it as a practice that destroys both the body and the mind.
“Drugs weaken the youth, ruin their appearance, and damage their mental and physical health. We need all young people alive and strong to build the future of our communities and nation,” he cautioned.
Nuumo Akwaa Mensah III also expressed concern about young girls being exploited as juvenile sex workers, appealing to them to pursue education instead.
“My beautiful girls, please stay away from such practices. Return to the classroom and prepare yourselves for a bright future. Education will open the doors to greatness,” he urged.
Turning to the Homowo celebrations, the Nae Wulomo praised the peace and unity experienced in this year’s festival, commending leaders of the communities for resolving some of the issues through dialogue and with the support of the Police and National Security.
“Yes, there were disputes in some areas before Homowo, but they were resolved. With unity and security involvement, everything went on successfully and peacefully,” he indicated.
He concluded with prayers and blessings for the people of Ga State and the nation as a whole.
This year’s Homowo was marked with pomp and pageantry at James Town and other areas of Ga Mashie amid drumming, dancing, chanting and firing of musketry.
Homowo means ‘hooting at hunger’ and also commemorates the triumph of the Ga people over famine during their migration to present day Accra.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has amended the charges in the ongoing case against former National Petroleum Authority (NPA) Chief Executive, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, and nine others.
The number of counts has risen from 25 to 54 after investigators uncovered new evidence.
The accused are facing trial for alleged large-scale extortion, abuse of public office, and money laundering involving over GH¢291 million and US$332,000.
According to the OSP, the accused persons allegedly extorted huge sums of money from bulk oil transporters and oil marketing companies under the pretext of carrying out official duties.
The proceeds were reportedly laundered through the purchase of properties and investments in business entities to conceal their source.
The accused persons include Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, Jacob Kwamina Amuah, Wendy Newman, Albert Ankrah, Isaac Mensah, Bright Bediako-Mensah, Kwaku Aboagye Acquaah, Propnest Limited, Kel Logistics Limited, and Kings Energy Limited.
The OSP has also seized and frozen several assets, including tanker trucks, fuel stations, houses, apartments, and parcels of land valued at more than GH¢100 million pending the outcome of the trial.
The case, titled The Republic v. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid & 9 Others (Cr/0603/2025), is currently being heard at the Accra High Court.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The National Operations Directorate (NOD) Surveillance Unit, of the Ghana Police Service has arrested a 32-year-old man, Akoto Nelson, for posing as a police officer during a public event at the Black Star Square in Accra.
The suspect was arrested on Sunday, 19th October 2025, by a team of officers deployed to provide security at a musical concert. The team observed the suspect dressed in a police uniform with the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) behaving suspiciously. Upon interrogation, he admitted that he was not a police officer.
Investigations revealed that the suspect impersonated a police officer to gain free entry to the event, claiming he did not have money to pay the entry fee. He further disclosed that the uniform belonged to a deceased Chief Inspector, identified as Gyasi, from whom he obtained the police accoutrements in 2022.
A subsequent search conducted at his residence in Taifa-Ashaiman uncovered several items that were retained as exhibits. These include one toy P99 pistol, one pepper spray, two ZTE mini handsets, one pepper spray pouch, one ZTE charger, one Xinfa cutter knife, some complimentary cards, one voter ID in the name of Akoto Nelson Elikem, and one birth certificate in the name of Nelson Akoto.
Preliminary investigations further established that the suspect works as a security guard and a messenger at a private company. He remains in police custody and will be put before the court.
