Director General of CID, DCOP Lydia Yaako Donkor

Two Ghanaian women who were kidnapped in Nigeria under the pretense of marriage proposals have safely returned to Ghana.

Anastasia Baidoo Arthur and Evelyn Konadu arrived at Kotoka International Airport on Friday, May 9, 2025, aboard an Africa World Airlines flight from Abuja.

Their return was confirmed by the Director General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, DCOP Lydia Yaako Donkor, during a press briefing on Friday, May 9, 2025.

“I’m pleased to confirm that at 1:45 today, I received the victims at Kotoka International Airport. They were accompanied by an official of the Research Department of the Ghana High Commission who verified their identities,” DCOP Donkor said.

She noted that the victims were in stable condition and would undergo medical evaluation before providing statements to assist ongoing investigations.

“Both women are in stable condition and will receive the necessary medical attention. Following that, they will go through standard police procedures to provide their accounts to assist with ongoing investigations,” she said.

DCOP Donkor reiterated the police’s commitment to crime prevention and public safety, urging citizens to remain vigilant and cautious in online interactions.

“The Ghana Police Service remains steadfast in its core mandate of crime prevention, detection, apprehension, and prosecution of offenders. We are committed to ensuring that Ghana remains a safe and secure place for all,” she added.

The two women’s plight went viral after disturbing videos showing them being tortured were circulated on social media.

Their captors had demanded a ransom of GH¢500,000 each from their families.

The victims had separately traveled to Port Harcourt, Nigeria, on April 22, 2025. They were lured by a group of men posing as white foreigners seeking marriage partners.

The suspects, identified as Peter Okoye (31), Paulinus Chidokwe (35), Chinoso Okafor (35), and Christian Emeka, operated as part of a broader transnational romance scam syndicate targeting victims in both Ghana and Nigeria.

Upon arrival, the women were kidnapped, stripped, tied, and assaulted with machetes. They were threatened with death; their heads were covered with black polythene bags, and they were told they would be hanged with nylon ropes.

GH¢18,000 had already been transferred to the suspects before authorities intervened.

With support from Ghana’s National Signals Bureau and the Nigeria Police Force, eight suspects were arrested from different hideouts, and the victims were rescued.

Watch the press briefing below:

JKB/MA

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By Francis Ntow 

Accra, May 9, GNA – High utilities and taxes could jeopardise the country’s economic stabilisation, government’s 24-hour economy initiative for jobs and industrialisation agenda, the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) has cautioned. 

This comes on the back of a recent announcement of a 14.75 per cent increase in electricity tariff, effective May 3, 2025, and the Government’s indication of adding the COVID-19 levy to Value Added Tax (VAT) in a rationalisation exercise. 

“Fortunately, the economic indicators are getting right,” Dr Joseph Obeng, the President of GUTA, said in an exclusive interview with the Ghana News Agency, cautioning against actions that could derail the gains. 

“We do not have to negate it with any unwanted costs of doing business, regarding utility tariff increment and high Value Added Tax (VAT). Because if care is not taken, we will shoot ourselves in the foot,” he said. 

“The 14.75 per cent increase in electricity tariff is so huge and unjustified, given the improvement in economic indicators that were cited as reasons for previous increases,” Dr. Obeng said.  

GUTA, the largest trading body has been pushing for a broad restructuring of the current VAT system to ensure uniformity, simplicity, affordability, leading to greater compliance and generating more revenue for the Government.  

The current VAT system comprised a standard rate of 15 per cent, with an additional 2.5 per cent National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL), 2.5 per cent Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) Levy, and a one per cent COVID-19 Levy. 

In essence, businesses under the standard VAT scheme incurred a rate of 21 per cent, while small businesses with an annual turnover below GHS500,000 paid three per cent VAT under the Flat Rate Scheme (VFRS). 

To alleviate hardships and ease the high cost of doing business, the Government pledged to scrap some tax handles, including Electronic Transfer Levy (E-levy), Emissions Levy and 10 per cent levy on bet winnings, and COVID-19 levy. 

So far, the E-levy, Emissions Levy and the Betting Tax have all been scrapped, but President Mahama has indicated that the COVID-19 levy would be addressed in a VAT rationalisation exercise in September 2025. 

Dr Obeng advocated that the Government took bold steps to halt further increases in utilities, VAT and port charges to create a safe space for enhanced local production at affordable prices. 

He urged the Government to purge the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) of inefficiencies and alleged corrupt practices, citing the missing containers of cables and other essential materials of the company as example. 

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has identified arrears by ECG to Independent Power Producers and other power sector players as a major concern in the implementation of the country’s US$3 billion loan-supported programme. 

“Arrears are continuing to accumulate, which is a very significant challenge for Ghana, given the implications it can have for power supply,” said Stéphane Roudet, the IMF Mission Chief for Ghana. 

He, however, noted that the Fund had seen a promising reform that could make ECG more efficient at collecting its bills and reducing the large commercial losses of the company. 

He said this during a media roundtable at the April 2025 IMF/World Bank Group Spring meetings in Washington DC, USA, expressing confidence in the country’s economic stability. 

GNA  

ABD 

By Laudia Sawer 

Tema, May 09, GNA-Professor Ransford Gyampo, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA), has called on the leadership of the Ghana Police Service to continue the implementation of the 2024 directive against harassment of drivers on the transit corridor. 

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) in 2024 issued directives to the Ghana Police Service to cease harassing transit drivers, particularly those transporting goods between Tema and other major cities, to stop unprofessional conduct, extortion, and other malpractices that had been reported along transit corridors.  

Professor Gyampo, in a speech read on his behalf by Mr. Prince Henry Ankrah, the deputy CEO in charge of operations, during a workshop for transit truck drivers, commended the police for the directive. 

He said the directive significantly reduced the police harassment of transit truck drivers and delays along the country’s transit corridor. 

“The Authority hopes that the directive will continue to be enforced to positively impact the haulage of transit,” he said. 

He added that in line with the implementation of its memoranda of understanding with the three Sahelian landlocked countries, the GSA has since 2018 undertaken quarterly fact-finding missions along the major transit corridors in the country. 

These exercises, he said, had unearthed serious infractions of Ghana’s Road Traffic Regulations, harassment of truck drivers, malpractices at Axle Load Stations, extortion, and deplorable road conditions, among others. 

He said the findings of such trips were shared with relevant agencies to address the challenges identified and revealed that the outcome of the latest fact-finding trip undertaken in March 2025 on the Tema Hamile corridor recorded the 67 police stops made up of 46 permanent barriers and 21 temporary barriers.  

He added that seven customs checkpoints between Nsutem and Hamile were recorded, while eight Immigration checkpoints, and six Axle Load stations were seen. 

According to him, the authority had collaborated with the police administration to conduct sensitisation seminars for police officers along the corridors, adding that the seminars had contributed to improving the interface between police personnel and haulage truck drivers along the corridor. 

GNA 

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May – 09 – 2025 , 17:55

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The US Embassy issued 25,000 visas to Ghanaians in 2024

The United States Embassy in Ghana issued 25,000 visas to Ghanaian nationals in 2024, out of a total of 61,000 applications, according to Consular General Elliot Fertik.

Speaking at a Consular Media Day held on May 9, 2025, and monitored by GhanaWeb, Fertik stressed the Embassy’s commitment to transparency, lawful travel, and improved service for visa applicants.

The event aimed to clarify the US visa process and address common misconceptions.

“Last year, the US Embassy issued up to 25,000 visas to Ghanaians, to come and work, study and visit the United States.

“We continue to welcome visitors from Ghana who are interested in studying, investing, or doing business in the US. But with entry to the US, visa applicants or holders must follow our laws,” he said.

Fertik also issued a firm warning against illegal immigration, emphasising that the US has a zero-tolerance policy.

“Those who break the rules will face the law, including visa refusals or outright bans from entering the US,” he added.

The US Embassy further urged Ghanaians to avoid fraudulent agents and follow the official application process since such actions could lead to visa refusals, revocations, or deportation.

JKB/AE

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By Michael Owusu Duodu

Bechem (Ahafo), May 9, GNA – The Water and Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) project, has been described as the most connected, so far as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are concerned.

Mr. Jeremiah Atengdem, Water Expert with IRC, Ghana, said this in a presentation at a Project Inception Meeting, held at Bechem, in the Ahafo Region, for stakeholders in the Tano South Municipality.

He said WASH had links with health, education, agriculture, the environment, and almost all the other sectors of the economy and it was against that backdrop that his outfit was helping Assemblies in the Ahafo Region, with the implementation of the WASH Masterplan effectively.

He added that Goal ‘6’ of the SDGs sought to ensure safe water for all Ghanaians by the year 2030.

“The WASH Masterplan must be incorporated into the Medium-Term Plans of the Assemblies else it cannot be executed,” Mr Atengdem said, adding that the Safe Water project needed financial support from the Assemblies to achieve its objectives.

Mr Emmanuel Kwame Frimpong, the Tano South Municipal Chief Executive expressed gratitude to IRC, Ghana, for considering the municipality in the programme and reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to do all in its power, to see to the successful decision of the project.

“In all cases, the health, safety and wellbeing of the people, were vital for the effective and efficient prosecution of the country’s development and transformation agenda, and thus, we dare not fail,” he stated.

Participants expressed varied concerns about the quality, safety and efficient water service deliveries in the area, and called on the authorities to rise to the task.

GNA

GRB

Ghanaian actress-turned-politician and 2024 National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Tema Central, Ebi Bright, has been confirmed as the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly.

She was endorsed by the assembly members with 28 votes in favour and 3 against.

Her nomination generated mixed reactions among residents, with some expressing concerns about her appointment, citing her non-indigene status in Tema.

At her swearing-in ceremony on Friday, May 9, by the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Ebi Bright—now the first female mayor of Tema—pledged her commitment to advancing the President’s 24-hour economy initiative.

“I’m profoundly grateful to H.E John Dramani Mahama for the confidence he has reposed in me and all the gallant men and women who make up his cabinet and advisers. And to the Honourable Assembly members and government appointees, for your endorsement,” she stated.

She added, “It is my mission to lead Tema into a bold new chapter, one defined by purpose, service, and love. Transforming Tema into a sustainable, industrial, economic, and social powerhouse. My vision is to transform Tema into a sustainable, inclusive, and dynamic urban hub where industrial revival is thriving 24-hour economy.”

NDC denies receiving GHC8m from National Signals Bureau

…..

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Women In Sustainability Africa (WiSA), has been launched on behalf of all women of Africa to mark a new beginning to accelerate growth towards the closure of the SDG gaps including gender inequality.

The event, which was held at the Wesley Towers in Accra, Ghana brought together stakeholders to drive the sustainability agenda.

Speaking at the launch, the Founder of WiSA and Convener for the event, Nana Yaa Serwaa Sarpong, stated that the key to bridging the gender inequality gap is two pronged.

First is the recognition of women as a source of labour with positive return on every investment that is made to build capacity in women and second is men standing side by side with women to lift up and empower women.

Against the first backdrop, she said if governments invest in women, there would be a return on investment, because women a major source of labour to any economy in Africa and if she were a subsistence farmer, “now she would be doing industrial farming, that is a higher productivity and higher capacity, and the GDP will improve.”

Secondly Nana Yaa Serwaa Sarpong, said when God created the earth, he urged both men and women together to be fruitful, take dominion and multiply.

“Gender inequality gap cannot be closed by women alone, when God created the earth, he empowered both the man and woman together and he said be fruitful and take care of the world I have given you,” she noted.

Against this backdrop, she said if the gender equality gap can close, there must be catalytic efforts that cause a revolution in order to achieve such goal.

She said, therefore, there is a need for unity; men and women standing side by side to lift women up, because there is strength in togetherness and gain for everyone.

She said, this is the new dimension of gender empowerment and the new wave which must be propagated across Africa without any antagonism between men and women.

“That’s why it is an African agenda we need to stand together, there is strength in numbers. The door of success we seek to enter as women, the men are holding the keys to the room, if you fight with them how do we enter the room ?,” she quizzed.

Nana Yaa who is also founder of the League of Extraordinary Women said, WiSA will work with men, he for she champions, CSOs, Corporate Institutions, local and International Development Organisations to bring all women and women groups together (especially those at the grassroots level) to foster the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across Africa.

Speaking at the event, Ghana’s Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, said, recognising the proportionate impact of climate change on women, the Ministry has developed a roadmap to strengthen the gender responsiveness of social protection programmes.

According to her, this initiative aims to ensure that their interventions are inclusive, equitable and effective in building resilience among vulnerable populations.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I’m pleased to use this occasion to announce that in alignment with WiSA’s vision, the Ministry will launch a campaign dubbed Women Labour Day” she revealed.

This campaign will be celebrated as part of the activities of May 1, and throughout the month of May every year.

She disclosed that in partnership with WiSA and other stakeholders, the Ministry will work towards using this campaign to nationally and continentally recognise women as sources of labour and agents of sustainability.

She said, this campaign would be rolled out in schools, media platforms and community spaces.

“Let this be more than a summit, let it be a starting point for renewed action and strengthened alliances. Let us charge forward as a united force where women are seen, heard, valued and empowered to lead sustainability,” she further added.

The Minister said, “To all men who lift women as equals, with women, we stand with you, together we will build a sustainable Africa.”

Ghana’s Minister of State in charge of Climate Change and Sustainability, Hon. Issifu Seidu, on his part said, “African women have always been the backbone of our communities, playing key roles in agriculture, healthcare, education, and the informal economy. However, their contributions remain undervalued and underappreciated in many spheres of society.”

“Today, as we launch WiSA, we take a stand to change that. Women are not just a part of the labour force—they are the driving force behind our sustainable future. From climate adaptation to community development, women’s roles are not only vital but central to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” he stated.

“We cannot achieve lasting environmental and economic stability unless we address the gender imbalances that still exist in many sectors, particularly in those related to climate action and green energy,” he said.

The Minister further said, WiSA’s vision to establish a Resource & Research Centre dedicated to tracking, reporting and promoting women’s contributions to sustainability could not be more timely or necessary.

Additionally, Ghana’s Minister for Labour, Hon. Rashid Pelpuo in his address said, the core of existence of any nation is the woman and the sustainability of the economy is as a result of the participation.

At all levels he had worked, he came to the realisation that to achieve success, you need both the male and female.

He, therefore, encouraged women to be conscious about the role they play in society, adding that where there is a difference and where women are disregarded, there would be a problem.

He announced that his Ministry is working to amend the current Labour law to recognise the position of women in the country’s workforce.

The flagbearer of Social Democratic Party of Nigeria, Adewole Adebayor called for a borderless Africa, where Africans can easily trade amongst themselves for economic development.

“Luckily for us, our cultural background and experiences under colonial power is the same, it is on the basis of this I will infuse Nigerian capital into WiSA. And if you’re sustainable and come with a sustainable plan we can start with a modest contribution to this programme. On that basis we can work with this programme which we can support with One Million dollars,” he concluded.

The CEO of Ghana’s Microfinance & Small Loans Center (MASLOC), in her pledged the Government of Ghana’s support to WiSA by supporting 16,000 sustainable women farmers in Ghana with loans and technical guidance to improve their trade and livelihoods.

The Programme organised by Women In Sustainability Africa (WiSA) was in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender Children and Social Protection, the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment, and Ministry of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, MASLOC, the League of Extraordinary Women Network, The UN Global Compact and EIB Network, among others.

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

File photo of school feeding caterers

The Deputy Public Relations Officer of the National School Feeding Caterers Association, Margaret Larbi, has expressed disappointment over the lack of formal communication regarding the termination of their contracts.

According to her, caterers first heard about the termination on social media and were not issued any official letters.

Speaking on Citi Eyewitness News on May 8, 2025, Deputy Public Relations Officer Margaret Larbi said, “We heard of it on social media. The termination of our appointment was not communicated to us through an official letter, we simply saw it online. No formal communication, nothing of that sort.”

It will be recalled that on May 2, 2025, the Ghana School Feeding Programme announced the termination of contracts for all caterers.

The Deputy PRO of the Association noted that a petition has been submitted to the Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, and are awaiting a response.

In 2023, a total of 3,801,491 children benefited from the Ghana School Feeding Programme.

The programmes aims to provide prepared meals in schools to boost enrolment, prevent starvation, and improve nutrition.

SA/MA

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Prof Jasper Ayelazuno speaking to Ghanaweb in Tamale

The Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies at the University for Development Studies (UDS), Prof Jasper Ayelazuno, has called for urgent action to address the galamsey menace in the country.

He said Ghana is no longer fighting illegal small-scale mining but well-organized, mechanized, industrialized galamsey.

Prof Jasper noted that merely describing the current state of illegal mining in the country as galamsey understates the intensity and levels of disruption of this current form of mining.

Explaining the differences between the two, the Political Scientist said that formerly, galamsey simply referred to artisanal small-scale mining where illegal miners used rudimentary tools such as pans, pick-axes, and shovels for mining.

This, he said, is different from the current form, where heavy machines such as excavators and chipping machines are used to cause massive disruptions within minutes of mining.

Speaking to GhanaWeb in Tamale on the sidelines of a public lecture on Ghana’s Extraction Industry on Thursday, Prof Ayelazuno stressed that the evolution of illegal mining from artisanal small-scale illegal mining to mechanised industrialised galamsey is the reason for the “uncontrollable disruption” the new form of galamsey is causing.

“It used to be artisanal small scale galamsey but now it is mechanized industrialised galamsey that is why we have the level of disruption that we have because with the artisanal mining galamsey, they use rudimentary tools but compare that to excavators, compare that to chanfans, compare that to all those very huge machines that are used for mining now, the disruption they can do within a minute, it used not to be so to do that kind of disruption with a pan or a pick-axe or a shovel,” he explained.

The Dean of Communication and Media Studies at the UDS added that galamsey in its earlier form, used to be a sustainable livelihood activity for rural people, just like farming.

“If you look at galamsey, it’s not what it used to be. It used to very sustainable livelihood activity of rural people, just like farming. Even when it was made illegal by the laws of Ghana, people were still mining, and they called it galamsey all the way till the 2000s,” he pointed out.

Prof Jasper blamed Ghana’s political class for facilitating their cronies, family members and sponsors to engage in this mechanized industrialized galamsey.

He opined that “After the 2000s, things changed, it’s not like galamsey just popped up from nowhere, it is something that evolved and the evolution from sustainable mining or galamsey to now uncontrollable disruption is as a result of the political class facilitating their cronies, facilitating their family members, facilitating their sponsors. You know, we’re in a democracy that is called monocracy, so they are now sponsoring them to get money from galamsey which they then use to invest in their campaign. So it is a political issue.”

Prof Jasper noted that although Ghana seem to have lost the fight against galamsey, it will have to take committed political leadership to address the menace.

The public lecture was organized by the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies (FCMS-UDS) in collaboration with Third World Network-Africa (TWN-Africa) as part of TWN-Africa’s 30th anniversary Campus Conversations public lecture series.

It was on the theme “Economic Transformation and Extractives: The Community and Women at the Centre of Ghana’s Transformation.”

Speaking at the opening of the public lecture, Pauline Vande-Pallen, Programme

Officer on Gender and Economic Policy and Extractives at TWN-Africa said the campus conversations are organized for students to understand developments in especially in the extractive industry.

She said the country’s mining industry was expanding very rapidly, and across the country, hence the need for students across the country to understand the issues to be able to shape the country and the world in the future.