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Wa West MP calls for calm, impartial probe into suspect’s death
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Wa West, Mr Peter Lanchene Toobu, has called for calm and urged the Ghana Police Service to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the death of Abu Tijani, popularly known as “master one”, who reportedly died while in police custody.
The MP made the call at a press briefing in Wa on Thursday, describing the incident as one that had generated public concern and underscoring the need for transparency to maintain public confidence.
Mr Toobu said the death of Abu Tijani, who had been declared wanted in connection with the protracted Lassia Tuolu-Kendeu conflict and was arrested on July 25, 2026, should be investigated in accordance with the laws of Ghana.
He also appealed to the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice to ensure the fair, impartial and expeditious prosecution of all cases arising from the conflict, stressing that justice must be served without fear or favour because “crime is individualistic and not communal.”
The MP recounted that the communal conflict, which erupted on June 15, 2024, claimed three lives, left several people injured, destroyed properties and disrupted the long-standing peaceful coexistence between the two communities.
He explained that although security agencies restored calm and a mediation process led by the Upper West Regional Minister and Chairman of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC), Charles Lwanga Puozuing, had made progress, the process suffered a setback after two young men from Bakpateng near Lassia Tuolu were murdered in Kendeu on November 23, 2025.
According to Mr Toobu, police arrested 10 suspects following the incident, with nine later granted bail while one remained in custody in connection with the alleged murders. Further investigations subsequently identified additional suspects, including Abu Tijani, who had evaded arrest until his apprehension in July this year.
The MP said he visited Wechiau on Wednesday to assess the security situation, where he met the Paramount Chief and his Council of Elders, received security briefings and inspected a house that had been set ablaze by some youth during the disturbances.
Expressing condolences to families who had lost relatives in the conflict, Mr Toobu said the communities should not continue to lose their young people to violence, adding that poverty, disease, unemployment, deprivation and illiteracy remained the real enemies confronting the area.
He urged residents to refrain from spreading unverified information, inflammatory comments and hate speech, particularly on social media, warning that rumours could further inflame tensions.
Mr Toobu further appealed to the factions involved in the conflict to return to the mediation table under the auspices of REGSEC, saying lasting peace could only be achieved through dialogue, compromise and reconciliation.
He also called on the people of Lassia Tuolu, Kendeu, Wechiau and neighbouring communities to cooperate with security agencies and reject reprisal attacks, while commending the security personnel for their professionalism and sacrifice in protecting lives and property.
The MP appealed to traditional authorities, religious leaders, women, youth groups and civil society organisations to become ambassadors of peace and work together to restore trust and promote lasting peace in Wa West.
A statement issued by the Upper West Regional Police Command on Tuesday said the suspect, had been on its wanted list after allegedly evading arrest on May 11, 2026, and going into hiding despite appeals through the Paramount Chief of Wechau and community elders for him to assist investigations.
Police said he resisted arrest when he was eventually apprehended, injuring two officers before being subdued.
During interrogation, the suspect allegedly admitted involvement in the case and told investigators that the two victims were initially buried in Wechau before he and his alleged accomplices exhumed and reburied the bodies across the Black Volta River in Burkina Faso to conceal the crime.
Police later escorted him to the alleged original burial site, about three kilometres west of Wechau, but an excavation yielded no human remains. He reportedly maintained that the bodies had been moved days after the initial burial.
The statement said that while investigators were later escorting the suspect to identify the location of one of his alleged accomplices along the Nakore Road, he complained of a severe headache.
The operation was halted and he was rushed to the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Hospital in Wa, where he was admitted at about 1:00 p.m. but was pronounced dead at 4:37 p.m. despite receiving medical treatment.
BY GORDON WELLU
Medical Doctor and dietician, Dr Bernice Korkor Asare, has urged women to take greater responsibility for their lifestyle choices, particularly their eating habits and levels of physical activity, to help reduce their risk of developing breast cancer.
According to her, although, some breast cancer risk factors, such as family history and certain reproductive factors, may not be within an individual’s control, lifestyle choices offer an opportunity for people to take preventive action.
She made this known during a talk on the topic: “Role of diet in breast cancer prevention” organised by Times Ladies Association of the New Times Corporation, publishers of The Ghanaian Times and The Spectator, in Accra on Thursday.
The event themed “Breast Cancer Awareness- Promoting Early Detection, Healthy Eating and Prevention.” 
She noted that having a risk factor did not automatically mean a person would develop breast cancer, but could increase the likelihood of developing the disease compared with someone without that particular risk factor.
“Having close relatives who have had breast cancer, particularly a mother, sister or daughter, may increase the risk, although not everyone with a family history will develop the disease,” Dr Asare opined. Read More.
By Adizatu K. Munkaila
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A group of compassionate friends from Innovation Gospel Impact last Friday visited the management, teachers and learners of the Street Academy in Accra.
The visit was to interact to get a deeper insight into the operations of the Academy that houses hundreds of street and underprivileged children and find ways to support them.
The team was led by Rev. Dr Isaac Apenteng Yeboah, a former Director for West African Mailbox Club and Director for Prisons Support Foundation, and Rev. Dale Sutherland from Washington DC.
The call, according to the visitors was occasioned by reports about the struggles of the Academy despite the occasional support it enjoys from individuals and some corporate entities.
Briefing them, the Founder and Executive Director of the Academy, Dr Ataa Lartey, thanked them for the concern showed, indicating that “this is a major boost for both teachers and learners; knowing that their plight is known by people outside their premises.”
According Dr Lartey, the Academy had planned to undertake a number of project to enhance teaching and learning and also procure facilities for the children with keen interest in sports but had to shelve those plans for lack of finance.
He told the team that their biggest concerns were the monthly utility bills that takes a toll on their finances.
“We have a piece of land we planned to turn into an astro turf pitch to train the younger ones whose interests lies in making a career out of football, however, we have been unable to commence because there is no money now,” he said.
Dr Lartey expressed gratitude to the teachers who have dedicated their lives to training these children, rather than going for well-paying jobs and hoped that with time, their conditions of engagement would improve.
Moved by the plight of the Academy, the group donated a cash amount of Gh₵3,000 to settle its water bills.
They described as unfortunate the conditions of learners and teachers of the Academy and pledged to continuously support their operations to realize the dream to build a better future for the unfortunate children.
The group offered to support the school with its monthly utility bills, feeding and staff allowance and urged the Academy staff to remain in constant touch with them.
The Street Academy is located at the Accra Art Center and offers brilliant but needy the chance to pursue their educational dreams by enrolling them in public schools with others offered training in sports and cultural activities.
By Spectator Reporter
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