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We‘ve capacity to turn economy around—AGI President
The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) says Ghanaian industrialists and entrepreneurs have the capacity, knowledge and expertise to produce to feed the country and turn the economy around.
To this end, the AGI has called on the government to develop deliberate policies to spur the growth of the industrial sector.
Speaking at the Virtual Forum on COVID-19 and the Vision of Ghana Beyond Aid, President of the AGI, Dr Yaw Adu Gyamfi said Ghanaian Industrialists and entrepreneurs could produce all the country needs with the needed support.
Accordingto the AGI President who spoke on the theme “COVID-19 and our march towards Ghana Beyond Aid: Turning adversity into opportunities,” it was Ghanaians who could help turn the economy around and not any other nationals.
“Germans build Germany, Nigerians will build Nigeria and it is Ghanaians who will build Ghana,” he said, adding that “even in time of adversity, we Ghanaian industrialists say we can if given the chance.”
He said the COVID-19 pandemic had demonstrated that Ghanaians could rise to the occasion if given the opportunity, saying “in spite of the COVID-19, and the lockdown, we were able to feed ourselves and the country never went hungry.”
Dr Gyamfi said the high cost of electricity, low investment in research and development and the inability of the country to link Information Communication Technology to industry were some of the challenges facing the industrial sector which comprised manufacturing, mining and oil and gas of the country.
The AGI President observed that the revival of the industry and the manufacturing sectors, would be hinged on pillars such as strong collaboration between industry and the universities for the local production of machinery needed by industry, value-addition to the country’s natural resources, adoption of ICT applications for manufacturing, and need for large markets.
To this end, Dr Gyamfi entreated the youth to develop applications to help industry improve their production processes.
“Industry needs ICT applications that will help improve productivity,” he challenged the youth.
Dr Gyamfi commended the government for the One District, One Factory and the Planting for Food and Jobs as well as the African Continental Free Trade Area initiatives, saying they were good programmes to propel the development of the country.
Touching on the COVID-19 pandemic, he said the adversity had taught the entire citizenry to become health conscious and the country to be self-reliant.
According to him, the number of people who reported to his health facility for treatment and medication for diabetes and other ailments had reduced.
That, Dr Gyamfi said was because people had resorted to good eating habits and better lifestyles as a result of the coronavirus disease.
BY KINGSLEY ASARE
A 30-year-old man has been sentenced to 25 years imprisonment with hard labour by the Bekwai Circuit Court for his role in a 2022 robbery at a mining site at Manso Akwasiso in the Ashanti South Region.
The convict, Dominic Ofori, also known as Fanta, was arrested on 16th February 2026 after years on the run. He pleaded guilty before the Bekwai Circuit Court to robbery contrary to Section 149 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 Act 29, and was accordingly sentenced to 25 years imprisonment with hard labour.
On March 20, 2022, the Manso Adubia District Police received intelligence that a group of armed men from Manso Abodom were planning to attack a mining site at Manso Akwasiso to rob the owner of gold concentrate. Acting on the information, police mounted a coordinated operation and laid an ambush at the site.
At about 5:30 pm the same day, four-armed men arrived at the site, fired indiscriminately, and robbed the miners of their gold concentrate. The police team on surveillance intervened, resulting in an exchange of gunfire.
Three of the suspects, Abu Abubakar, Musah Latif, and Gideon Takyi, sustained gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead on arrival at St Martins Catholic Hospital at Agroyesum. Dominic Ofori escaped at the time but was later arrested and put before the court.
The Ashanti South Regional Police Command has assured the public of its continued commitment to combating violent crimes and bringing offenders to justice.
The Ashanti Regional Police Command has arrested 45-year-old Isaac Boafo, also known as “Duabo King,” for allegedly publishing false news intended to cause fear and panic.
Police said the arrest follows a viral TikTok video in which Boafo claimed that four officers at the Central Police Station in Kumasi engaged in inappropriate conduct with commercial sex workers during night patrols in Asafo.
Officers from the Police Intelligence Directorate (Ashanti Region) apprehended Boafo after receiving intelligence about the video.
During questioning, he admitted to creating the video to attract views and engagement online, and acknowledged that he could not prove the allegations.
Boafo also admitted making comments about the President of the Republic for content purposes and could not defend those statements.
He has been formally charged and is in detention as investigations continue.
The Ashanti Regional Police have warned the public against publishing or sharing false information on social media, noting that such acts can cause fear, panic, and damage reputations.
They said anyone found engaging in similar conduct will face legal action.
By: Jacob Aggrey
