News
Two soldiers grabbed for brutalising widow
For refusing to vacate the house of her late husband, a 28-year-old widow has been subjected to severe beatings allegedly by two military men at Bonwire in the Ejisu Municipality of the Ashanti Region.
The incident, which took place on Tuesday at about 6am, saw the military men vandalising some property in the house also.
A report made to the Bonwire Police led to the arrest of the two soldiers whose names have been kept for security reasons.
Ashanti Regional Crime Officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Felix Kwasi Cosmos confirmed the arrest to The Spectator saying the two had been handed over to the Military Command for further action.
Major Christiana Osei-Duah, Public Relations Officer of the Fourth Battalion of Infantry also corroborated the story adding that, investigations into the matter were underway but would not give further details.
But, reports available to The Spectator indicated that, the two military men stormed Mrs Yaa Boatemaa Agyapong’s house on Tuesday, November 24, 2020, around 6:00 am and ordered her to vacate the premises.
Information is that, since the demise of her husband about two years ago, her late husband’s family members had been pestering her to vacate the house but she would not budge.
The mother of the victim, Madam Abena Serwaa, narrated that, the house was built by “my daughter’s husband and he gave it to my daughter but the family of my daughter’s late husband is demanding the ownership of the property”.
She claimed a sister-in-law, Nana Ama, went to the house with the two military men on that fateful day to eject the daughter.
According to her, “they told my daughter to produce documents to prove that her late husband gave the house to her and my daughter told them to take her to court if they need the documents”.
“They, then, started beating my daughter and vandalised some property in the house,” she added.
As at the time of filing this story, Mrs Yaa Boatemaa Agyapong had been treated and discharged from the Ejisu Government Hospital.
From Kingsley E.Hope, Kumasi
News
Media reports claiming Cecilia Dapaah is cleared by FBI are false – OSP
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has dismissed media reports suggesting that former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, has been cleared of corruption by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
In a statement, the OSP said its attention had been drawn to several misleading publications which claimed that the FBI “found no evidence of corruption” or that Mrs. Dapaah “had been cleared.”
The office stressed that these reports were false and a misrepresentation of its Half-Yearly Report.
According to the OSP, the report stated that no direct and immediate evidence of corruption had been found, a legal standard that is different from saying there was “no evidence” or that the former minister had been cleared.
The OSP explained that the case was earlier referred to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) after investigations revealed strong signs of suspected money laundering and structuring, which fall under EOCO’s mandate.
However, the previous leadership of EOCO failed to act and returned the docket.
The new leadership has since requested and received the docket again.
The OSP urged the media to report with accuracy and remain faithful to official documents, stressing that responsible communication is necessary on matters of high national interest.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
Government Pays GH¢9.7 Billion Coupon Under the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP)
The Government of Ghana has paid GH¢9.7 billion as part of its debt obligations under the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP).
The Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson said the payment amounted to GH¢9,698,815,220.17.
This brings the total payments made under the programme this year alone to GH¢19.4 billion.
According to the minister in a facebook post, the payment shows government’s commitment to honouring agreements made under the DDEP and is expected to boost investor confidence in the economy.
He stated that government has also created two sinking fund accounts one in cedis and another in US dollars to help manage future debt payments.
These funds, introduced he said is in line with the 2025 Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review and backed by the Public Financial Management Act, meant to ensure that upcoming loan obligations due between 2026 and 2028 are paid on time.
The Finance Minister assured investors and the public that all future debt commitments, including those under the DDEP, will be fully honoured without delays.
By: Jacob Aggrey
