Executive Director at Peasant Farmers Association, Dr. Charles Nyaaba, has classified Ghanaian farmers as the most patriotic individuals in the country.
He argued that Ghanaian farmers are putting their lives on the line to prevent food shortages.
According to him, the farming sector is not as easy and lucrative as many perceive; instead, it is an industry fraught with risks that deter businessmen from venturing into it.
He added that it costs an arm and a leg to be a farmer, as they have to battle with climate variability, market challenges, and high input costs to produce food.
” If you are classifying patriotic individuals in the country that will be Ghanaian farmers. Majority of those who always claim that Ghanaian farmers are not doing their best. Few of them tried not less than 2 seasons they had to leave the sector because they claim it’s not a profitable venture.
” If you look at the risks that Ghanaian farmers have to take in producing to supply to all of us, no business person who has an alternative to do other economic activities will do that. We have to battle with climate rates, market challenges, high input forces etc”.
Dr. Nyaaba also mentioned that seeking funds from financial institutions is a daunting task for farmers, as these institutions doubt they will get their money back without delays.
He further added that the government does not give the agricultural sector the necessary attention, despite allocating large sums in the budget that are not disbursed to farmers.
“When you go to any financial institution for a loan to go and farm, the bank will not like to see your face in the bank. Yet we are doing all this to supply foods. When you take last year and this year for instance government completely took its hands off the Agriculture sector in terms of investment that goes to the farmer. But when you look at the national budget there was a huge amount of allocation that is going to the Agricultural sector yet at the end of the day the Minister reports that this much is spent in the sector yet nothing went to the farmer.
Dr Charles Nyaaba stated that “What you are seeing in the market is from our efforts. We have to compete with our foreign partners who are getting huge subsidy, how can we survive?.
A senior police investigator involved in the probe of rapper Kiernan Forbes’ murder, known as AKA, has stated that authorities will not arrest KwaZulu-Natal businessman Mfundo Gcaba at this time.
This decision comes as there is insufficient concrete evidence linking him to the assassination.
The incident, which occurred on February 10 last year, saw AKA, whose real name is Kiernan Forbes, and his close friend Tibz Motsoane shot and killed outside a Durban restaurant.
Gwabeni, identified as a taxi boss and a suspect in the case, is alleged to have received R800,000 to pay the hitmen responsible for the double homicide.
During their investigation, police discovered that Gcaba had transferred the substantial amount into Gwabeni’s account.
“The money and the two calls between him (Gcaba) and Gwabeni are not sufficient to effect an arrest or bring him in for questioning.
“The police want to establish a motive and on whose instructions Gwabeni was acting. We believe there are more powerful people involved here,” the police source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.
Gwabeni, in turn, reportedly paid over R133,000 to each of the other suspects involved in carrying out the hit.
Despite these findings, a police officer familiar with the details of the Forbes murder case explained that connecting Gcaba directly to the murders remains challenging.
The officer emphasised that the money transfer and phone calls between Gcaba and Gwabeni are not sufficient grounds for arrest or questioning.
The police source, speaking anonymously, hinted at the involvement of more powerful individuals and the need to establish motives and instructions behind Gwabeni’s actions.
When questioned about Gcaba’s status despite being mentioned in court, KwaZulu-Natal National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara declined to comment, citing ongoing investigations into the matter.
Accra Circuit Court has summoned Nana Ohene Djan Aggrey Bentil, a 54-year-old businessman, over allegations of defrauding a car dealer of four luxury vehicles valued at GH¢1.78 million.
The vehicles involved include a 2018 Range Rover Sport, a 2020 Toyota Tundra, a Maserati, and another 2018 Range Rover.
According to court documents, Bentil, the director of N. O. B. Djania Company Limited, reportedly took the vehicles to have them evaluated by his bankers.
However, he allegedly impersonated the importers of the cars and illegally registered them at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) office at 37, using the names of the actual owners without their consent.
Bentil pleaded not guilty to ten charges, including forgery of official documents, defrauding by false pretence, and issuing false cheques when he appeared before Judge Afia Owusuaa Appiah on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
During the bail application, Bentil’s counsel, Emmanuel Acolatse, argued that his client posed no flight risk, had a fixed place of abode, and would cooperate with investigations if granted bail.
However, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Kofi Anane opposed the bail application, expressing concerns that Bentil might abscond, especially considering ongoing criminal charges against him in another court.
ASP Anane elaborated on the prosecution’s case, stating that Bentil allegedly contacted the complainant in June 2022, expressing interest in purchasing luxury cars.
Subsequently, Bentil inspected and purportedly agreed to buy four cars, demanding their original documents for valuation by his bankers.
Bentil allegedly issued post-dated cheques to the complainant as payment under the company name N.O.B. Djania Company Limited. He then fraudulently registered the cars under the names of their actual owners without their consent, subsequently selling two of the vehicles to another party.
Three of the eight cheques issued were cleared, resulting in the complainant receiving GH¢500,000.00.
The court ordered the prosecution to provide details of Bentil’s other ongoing case before deciding onthe bail application.
Ghanaianbusinessman at the center of a viral video controversy involving a popular broadcaster, Henry Fitz, the has broken his silence on the matter.
Denying accusations of blackmail and video leakage, Fitz revealed his side of the story.
Fitz refuted claims of blackmail, asserting that he did not leak the video in question.
Instead, he explained that the media personality had recorded the video herself and sent it to him during a period of reconciliation after an altercation.
The businessman went on to accuse the broadcaster of engaging in multiple relationships, speculating that this may have led to her losing her phone to unidentified individuals in the country.
In a social media post, Fitz expressed his frustration, stating, “Wow and wow again…!!! Blackmailing you since 2019? When I was accommodating you for GH¢2500 daily for about 5 months.”
He also addressed other financial matters and incidents involving the broadcaster, including a fake pregnancy miscarriage.
Fitz clarified that he only received the video after it was sent to him by the broadcaster to resolve an issue, implying that she mishandled the footage, leading to its circulation.
He warned against further accusations, threatening consequences if provoked.
The businessman’s statement on Instagram concluded with a stern message directed at the broadcaster: “Serwaa, next time, I will come very hard and I will bury every reputation you have built. Calling me a blackmailer? Do not make I vex.”
The controversy has sparked widespread discussion and debate on social media platforms, with many expressing varying opinions on the unfolding situation.
A 41-year-old businessman named Abdul Razak Abdulai was charged with theft and fraudulent breach of trust in an Accra Circuit Court after it was purported that he stole GH¢315,000.00 that belonged to another businessman. Abdulai pleaded not guilty.
The presiding judge, Mrs. Afia Owusuaa Appiah, granted the accused person bail in the amount of GH¢300,000.00, with two sureties who must justify their status. The accused is scheduled to appear in court again on December 5, 2023.
According to Police Inspector Nana Akua Boatemaa, standing in for Police Chief Inspector Samuel Ahiabor, the complainant, Alhaji Sani Suleman, a resident of Adjei Kodjo, Ashaiman, is a businessman. The accused, on the other hand, resides in Karaga, in the Northern Region.
The prosecution’s account stated that on June 12, 2023, witness Hakim Ayuba entrusted an amount of GH¢1,815,000.00 in cash to the accused with the intention of delivering it to the complainant. However, the accused dishonestly diverted a portion of the funds amounting to GH¢315,000.00, only giving GH¢1,500,000.00 to the complainant.
Upon learning of this, the complainant confronted the accused and requested the money. The accused, however, failed to return the money immediately and provided excuses to others, later promising to repay it.
The prosecution reported that on June 29, 2023, a formal complaint was lodged, leading to the subsequent arrest of the accused. During the investigation, the accused person confessed to the offense in his caution statement.
The former manager of a Keystone Bank branch in the Agege neighborhood of Lagos State, Tijani Saleh, is accused of making an unauthorized withdrawal of N5.9 million from his business account, which has made it impossible for account holder Bala Ibrahim to satisfy his financial obligations.
During a conversation with media correspondent, Ibrahim claimed that his attempts to get the bank to repay his money had failed.
PUNCH According to Metro, Ibrahim opened a business account with the bank and deposited N20 million into it.
Ibrahim stated shortly after the account was funded that he needed N5.9m to support some of the projects his business was undertaking but had not yet received a check to withdraw funds from the corporate account.
Ibrahim claimed that in an effort to withdraw the funds, he went to the bank manager for advice on the avenues to pursue. He added that the manager required his company’s letterhead paper in order to execute the request.
The businessman, however, claimed that things took an unexpected turn when the bank manager allegedly withdrew N5.9 million from his corporate account using letterhead paper without his permission.
Ibrahim stated that he raised the alarm when he requested his statement of accounts and that the bank fired the manager as a result of learning about the manager’s actions.
Although he was aware that the former manager was responsible for the unauthorized withdrawal, he pointed out that the bank had yet to reimburse him for his money.
An account holder with the Keystone Bank, Bala Ibrahim, has been finding it difficult to meet his financial needs after an erstwhile manager of a branch of the bank in the Agege area of Lagos State, Tijani Saleh, allegedly made an unauthorised withdrawal of N5.9m from his corporate account.
Ibrahim, while speaking with our correspondent, said efforts to get the bank to refund his money proved abortive.
PUNCH Metro gathered that Ibrahim opened a corporate account with the bank and funded the account with N20m.
Shortly after funding the account, Ibrahim said he was in need of N5.9m to fund some of the projects his company was doing but had yet to be given a cheque to withdraw money from the corporate account.
In a bid to get the money withdrawn, Ibrahim said he approached the bank manager to advise him on the options to explore to enable him to withdraw the money, adding that the manager demanded the letter-headed paper of his company to process the request.
The businessman, however, said things took another dimension when without his consent, the bank manager allegedly used the letter-headed paper to make an unauthorised withdrawal of N5.9m from his corporate account.
Upon discovering that the money had been withdrawn when he requested his statement of account, Ibrahim said he raised the alarm and the bank, after getting wind of the manager’s action, sacked him.
He, however, noted that the bank had yet to refund his money despite knowing that the erstwhile manager was responsible for the unauthorised withdrawal.
Ibrahim said, “I opened a N20m corporate account with the Keystone Bank. But when I needed some money to facilitate some projects in my company, I approached the bank manager. He told me to send the letter-headed paper of my company and I did.
“It was later on I realised he used the letter-headed paper to withdraw N5.9m from my account without my consent. The bank got wind of his action and sacked him. Since then I started begging them to return my money, but they refused.
“I then reported the matter to the EFCC but the matter was turned against me and I was charged to court. We spent over five years on the case before I was finally discharged and acquitted.”
Ibrahim said after the case was concluded, the EFCC failed to charge the bank to court or compel them to pay him the money.
“They accused me of withdrawing the money and yet claimed for a reversal. I wrote several letters to make them reverse the money. They have refused. I wrote the EFCC to charge them to court as they did to me but they refused. All I want is my money back,” he said.
Reacting, the spokesperson for Keystone Bank Plc, Edward Ettu, in an email sent to our correspondent, said a forensic report showed that Ibrahim withdrew the money through a counter cheque.
Ettu partly stated, “When the matter was reported to the police, they went further to investigate the N20m lodged into the account of the customer. The customer refused to allow his fingerprints, amongst others, to be taken but eventually, a forensic report showed that he was the one that withdrew the money through a counter cheque because his chequebook was not ready.
“That judgment neither said he had money with the bank nor that the bank debited his account legally. That did not come up in court at all. The same man that is asking about N5.9m filed a suit against the FG, EFCC, and the bank claiming damages to the tune of over N2 bn but did not make any claim of N5.9m against the bank.
“Up till now, there is no suit against the bank on N5.9m. Our record shows that he was the one that withdrew the money and the forensic examination conducted on his writing and signature proved that. It is not true that the bank debited his account illegally and no court order said so.”
Calls and text messages sent to the EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, for a comment on the matter were yet to be responded to as of the time this report was filed.
Forty-year-old Alhaji Fareed Yakubu is said to be evading capture after reportedly issuing a dud cheque of GH¢3 million meant for the repayment of a debt.
The complainant, whose identity is currently not made public, brought the matter before the Police, who in turn have managed to secure an arrest warrant for Yakubu.
Chief Inspector Kwabena Danso of the Greater Accra Regional Police Public Affairs Unit, Alhaji Yakubu is of the assertion that the suspect may be hiding in East Legon, Accra.
Per the police’s description, Yakubu who hails from Tamale in the Northern Region, is five feet eight inches tall.
This information, according to the Police, is to assist members of the general public provide information of the suspects whereabout should they come into contact with him.
Citizens are to report to the Accra Regional Police Headquarters Criminal Investigation Department, the nearest police station or call 0243504357 for prompt police assistance.
Following 25 years of unpaid domestic work, a businessman was forced to pay his ex-wife £180,000.
Based on the effort required throughout their marriage, the charge was calculated using the minimum wage.
The 204,624.86 euros, or roughly £182,000, were ordered to be paid over by Ivana Moral’s husband in a divorce settlement that was made public today.
The amount was determined by Velez-Malaga, southern Spain, court judge Laura Ruiz Alaminos.
He discovered that Ivana, who has two girls with her ex, had been in charge of all home maintenance.
She spent nearly all her time ‘essentially working in the home, which meant looking after the home and the family and all that involves,’ the divorce ruling stated.
Speaking to Cadena Ser radio, Ivana claimed her husband wanted her solely to work within the home or occasionally within gyms he owned, where she handled ‘public relations and acted as a monitor’.
She told the radio station: ‘I have dedicated myself exclusively to housework, looking after my husband and the house.
‘He made me take on the specific role’ of doing domestic chores, to the extent that ‘I was in a place where I couldn’t really do much else.’
The marriage between Ivana and her husband was governed by a separation of property regime.
It meant that the earnings of each party was theirs alone.
As a result, the arrangement ‘would have left Ms Moral with no access to any of the wealth acquired through years of partnership’, i reports.
She told the newspaper: ‘Clearly this was a case of abuse to be completely excluded financially (by my ex-husband) with nothing left after my marriage ended, so me and my daughters were left with nothing after all these years of putting all my time, energy and love in the family.
‘I was supporting my husband in his work and in the family as a mother and a father. I was never allowed access to his financial affairs; everything was in his name.’
Her ex, who had aimed to divide their home and possessions following a divorce , is likely to appeal the decision.
He must also pay her a pension equivalent to £444 per month as well as £356 and £533 to his two daughters, who are now aged 20 and 14.
Renowned economist and businessman, Dr. Kofi Amoah, has berated the government for failing to regulate the activities of religious organisations in Ghana.
In a tweet shared on Saturday, October 9, Dr. Amoah intimated that the government’s failure to regularize religious activities has led to the influx of phoney entities who end up scamming Ghanaians.
He questioned why the government looks unperturbed as Ghanaians are continuously scammed by fake religious leaders like Agradaa as countries such as Rwanda crack down on this menace.
“People are continuously robbed of their savings thru deceptions n promises of fake pastors. Good govts protect citizens from such scams.
“Rwanda closed down 700 fake churches n 200 mosques over nite. Why do our political leaders look on unconcerned? WHY?” parts of the tweet read.
Dr. Amoah made these remarks while reacting to a report by GhanaWeb that scores of people who went to the church of one-time fetish priestess, Nana Agradaa, now known as Evangelist Mama Pat, are crying foul in what they described as a scam by the repented woman.
In several short video clips that have since gone viral in the last few hours, a number of the victims are seen running away from the church building of Evangelist Mama Pat, even as many raised alarms about the fact that they had been deceived and scammed.
GhanaWeb’s further checks showed that the people were at the church in their numbers on the day because the repented priestess had earlier advertised through her television channel that she was going to give out monies to people.
She is also said to have advertised that she would double monies that are brought to her church, Heavenway Champion International Ministry, on the day.
However, as has been typical of her, particularly from the days when she was a fetish priestess, it seems the evangelist only played on the gullibility of the scores of people who appeared at her church to extort monies from them.
When she was done, as has been shared in a number of the videos available to GhanaWeb, she booted them out of the building, aided by her well-built bodyguards.
A number of the affected people are also heard ranting and calling her out.
“This is Agradaa’s church, Heavenway, and she advertised on her TV station that she was going to share monies to everyone only for us to get here, and she rather collects monies from people. She told people to bring ten million (GHc10,000) and come for two billion (GHc200,000) after which she asked people to leave the church. Things immediately turned chaotic here,” a lady giving voice commentary in one of the videos said.
People are continuously robbed of their savings thru deceptions n promises of fake pastors
Good govts protect citizens from such scams
Rwanda closed down 700 fake churches n 200 mosques over nite
Why do our political leaders look on unconcerned? WHY? ???????? https://t.co/s2IpLN74XI
UT Bank founderPrince Kofi Amoabeng has expressed gratitude to businessman and philanthropist Seidu Agongo for being the only Ghanaian who offered to help him after a selfie of him with a raggedy beard and a sad face went viral on social media, leading Ghanaians to believe he was now a pauper on the verge of death as a result of the bank’s collapse.
Speaking to Nana Otu Darko on CTV’s breakfast show, Dwabre Mu, on Tuesday, 4 October 2022, Mr Amoabeng said the only reason he accepted an invitation to appear on the show was because the station belonged to Mr Agongo’s Class Media Group.
“Actually, the reason why I couldn’t say no to your invitation was because of his [Seidu Agongo’s] personality”, Mr Amoabeng told Nana Otu Darko, adding: “I’ve never set eyes on him but at some point in time, after the COVID-19 pandemic hit, I started wearing this beard and I took a picture of myself and I posted it on [social media] and that set tongues wagging that ‘I was on the verge of death’, ‘I’m now a pauper’, but the boss of this place [CMG], Seidu Agongo, sent me a WhatsApp message that if I’m in difficulty, I should send him my account number for him to give me some money”.
“Of course, I didn’t pursue it but I’m ever so grateful that, at least, one Ghanaian thought that instead of laughing at him, let me help”, he noted.
A 34-year-old businessman has been remanded into police custody by the Ashaiman District Court for allegedly engaging in ‘landguard’ activities.
Nathaniel Alabi is also alleged to have discharged guns in town.
The prosecution told the court that both the complainant, Stephen Derry, and the accused person resided at Santeo near Adjei Kojo, Accra.
It said on September 22, 2022, the complainant reported to the Ashaiman Divisional Criminal Investigation Department (CID), that on September 19, 2022, whiles at Santeo, Alabi, wielding a gun and in the company of some young men came to his vicinity firing gun and claiming ownership of the land.
The prosecution said the accused person had ordered everyone to either vacate the land or renegotiate with him.
It said on September 22, 2022, the Accused person was arrested in connection with a similar case at Katamanso Police Station where the two weapons, which he used on September 19, 2022, were retrieved from him.
The prosecution prayed for the court to remand the Accused person, saying it had information that other victims were yet to report their cases and that his release would interfere with the investigation.
Counsel for the Accused person argued that the offence committed by the accused and others were all bailable and that his client was not a person who would flee from the jurisdiction.
He also said there were “persons of substance” ready to stand surety for the accused, but the Magistrate insisted that he be remanded to reappear on Friday September 30, 2022, to enable the police to conclude the investigation for the appropriate court to hear the case.
The robbers reportedly trailed the victim from his office as he was going to another office to make payment for goods he had purchased.
They attacked him midway and bolted with about GH¢50,000 cash amidst firing of gunshots.
Confirming the incident to Graphic Online’s Kwadwo Baffoe Donkor, the assembly member for the Asafo Electoral Area, Ernest Okai said the incident occurred around 2pm on Wednesday.
He said the victim struggled with the robbers when they attempted snatching the bag containing the cash from his hand.
In an attempt to subdue him, one of the robbers shot but missed him narrowly and the second shot grazed his stomach.
The bag fell, they picked it and bolted amidst the firing of gunshots.
The victim who sustained an injury in the stomach, has since been treated and discharged from the hospital.
The victim is a cold store operator and usually gets supplies from a wholesale supplier also around the same area in Asafo.
Norwegian police said Tuesday they had arrested a wealthy businessman over the disappearance of his wife 18 months ago, the latest twist in a case that has kept the Nordic countries on tenterhooks.
Tom Hagen, 70, was arrested as he was leaving his home for work on Tuesday, on suspicion of “murder or accessory to murder,” commissioner Ida Melbo Oystese told a press conference.
Hagen’s wife Anne-Elisabeth Hagen disappeared without a trace from their home in Lorenskog, east of Oslo, on October 31, 2018.
A poorly written ransom note, containing threats and a demand for nine million euros in crypto currency, was found at the scene.
Sporadic contact with the alleged kidnappers on digital platforms initially supported the theory that she had been the victim of a rogue abduction.
However, by June 2019, police were re-evaluating their leads and started examining whether it was a murder that had been disguised as a kidnapping.
Tom Hagen is the 164th richest man in Norway with an estimated net worth of 1.9 billion Norwegian kroner ($183 million, 168 million euros) in 2019, according to business magazine Kapital.
His lawyer said he denied the allegations.
“He forcefully maintains that he has nothing to do with it,” Svein Holden told public broadcaster NRK.
Police did not present any concrete evidence to support their suspicions or speculate on a potential motive, but said the case “had traces of a clear, premeditated misdirection.”
Question marks remain as to what police believe Tom Hagen’s exact role in the disappearance to be, whether he had accomplices and the whereabouts of Anne-Elisabeth Hagen, now presumed dead.
Police said they had yet to interrogate the suspect.
Labour has called on Boris Johnson to clarify who paid for his Caribbean holiday over the New Year.
According to the MPs’ register of interests, the accommodation – which cost £15,000 – was covered by David Ross, the co-founder of Carphone Warehouse.
But a spokesman for Mr Ross has told the Daily Mail he did not pay for the stay and only helped to arrange it.
Downing Street said the trip had been properly registered.
The register also shows earnings Mr Johnson received last year before becoming PM, including more than £327,000 for seven speaking engagements, one of which was a three-hour speech where he was paid £122,899.74.
The prime minister took the holiday to St Vincent and the Grenadines with girlfriend Carrie Symonds between Boxing Day 2019 and 5 January 2020.
Labour’s shadow minister for the cabinet office, Jon Trickett, said Mr Johnson “must come clean” about the holiday accommodation, adding that if he does not, Parliament’s standards watchdog “should step in”.
“The public deserves to know who is paying for their prime minister’s jaunts,” Mr Trickett added.
The entry in Mr Johnson’s register of interests says Mr Ross donated accommodation “for a private holiday for my partner and me, value £15,000”.
But a spokesman of Mr Ross told the Daily Mail: “Boris wanted some help to find somewhere in Mustique, David called the company who run all the villas and somebody had dropped out.
“So Boris got the use of a villa that was worth £15,000, but David Ross did not pay any monies whatsoever for this.”
Mr Ross was one of Mr Johnson’s aides in City Hall and was appointed to the Olympics organising committee.
But he resigned from the roles, and his company, over a share scandal in 2008.
It emerged Mr Ross had used millions of pounds worth of Carphone Warehouse shares as collateral against personal loans without informing the company’s other directors – a potential breach of City rules at the time.
Mr Ross has been a long-standing donor to the Conservative Party, pledging £250,000 in the last election campaign.
A Downing Street spokesperson said: “All transparency requirements have been followed, as set out in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests”.
Mr Johnson faced criticism over his holiday for not returning sooner, after the US killing of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani raised tensions in the Middle East.
It is the first trip abroad that Mr Johnson has declared since going to Saudi Arabia in September 2018.
Only one other MP has declared a free holiday in the last year.
Mr Johnson also declared payments he had received prior to becoming prime minister, including book royalties and hundreds of thousands of pounds for speaking engagements.
In the first six months of 2019, Mr Johnson earned more than £327,000 for the seven speaking engagements, which lasted a total of 17.5 hours.
He was also paid £22,916.66 a month for his column in the Daily Telegraph newspaper, which was published weekly.
