Minister-Designate for the Interior, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, has decried the dire conditions in Ghana’s prisons, with a particular focus on the inadequate daily feeding budget for inmates.
During his vetting before the Parliamentary Appointments Committee on Friday, January 24, the Asawase MP expressed shock over the GHC1.80 allocated to feed each prisoner daily. He described the amount as insufficient and inhumane, calling for urgent reforms to improve the welfare of inmates.
“I was shocked when I heard that the rationing for feeding a prisoner in Ghana is GHC1.80 for the whole day,” he said. “I doubt, with the greatest of respect, that even the cats and dogs in our houses—how much food do we give them? Yet, we put our own compatriots, because of one mistake or the other, in trying to correct them, we feed them with GHC1.80 and expect them to be healthy.”
Muntaka pledged to prioritize prison reform if his nomination is approved, stressing that the feeding budget would be a key area of focus.
“It is a very serious thing, and I assure my colleagues that I will pay attention to it and address it,” he added.
Beyond nutrition, the Minister-Designate highlighted the broader challenges facing the prison system, including severe overcrowding and unsanitary conditions, which have made inmates vulnerable to diseases such as tuberculosis, scabies, and other communicable illnesses.
He noted that the current state of the prisons undermines efforts to rehabilitate inmates and called for comprehensive measures to address these systemic issues.
The Ghana Prisons Service has repeatedly appealed for government intervention to improve living conditions for inmates, but little progress has been made.
Kirk Franklin recently discussed his decision to distance himself from his biological mother on the “Funky Friday” podcast.
He shared a touching memory from twenty years ago involving a family intervention intended to support his sister, who was struggling with addiction and had just been released from prison.
During this intervention, Franklin, who was the only family member actively trying to assist his sister, faced a challenging moment when his mother introduced her new husband.
The situation escalated when an argument between Franklin and his mother’s new husband led to his mother choosing to leave with her husband, abandoning Franklin and his sister.
Franklin described the deep emotional impact of his mother’s decision to prioritize her new relationship over her children.
He revealed that this experience left him feeling deeply hurt and led him to a personal vow to never again tolerate such treatment.
This story highlights the complexities and emotional challenges involved in family dynamics, especially when dealing with issues of loyalty and support.
Franklin’s account illustrates how pivotal moments can shape personal boundaries and relationships.
The Electoral Commission (EC) has announced its cooperation with the Ghana Prisons Service to enroll eligible inmates in preparation for the 2024 general election.
During the upcoming supplementary registration exercise from August 1 to August 3, 2024, eligible prison inmates will have the opportunity to enroll at all district offices of the Commission.
This announcement was made during a press briefing following the EC’s meeting with the National Peace Council in Accra on Wednesday.
The objective of the meeting was to inform key stakeholders about the election timetable and seek their input to ensure trustworthy, equitable, and transparent elections in 2024.
Held in private, the meeting focused on strategies to promote peace and unity among political figures, citizens, organizations, and other stakeholders throughout the electoral process.
The Peace Council encouraged the EC to foster confidence among political parties and the public by maintaining ongoing communication with relevant stakeholders to enhance openness and responsibility in its activities.
Mrs. Jean Mensa, Chairperson of the EC, affirmed the Commission’s commitment to conducting transparent, unrestricted, and trustworthy elections, highlighting the significance of its discussions with the Peace Council.
“We have had useful deliberations. The purpose was to brief the Council, receive feedback, and address some of the concerns that you have.
“We are going away with some useful nuggets that we believe will strengthen our work,” she said.
Mrs. Mensa restated the Commission’s dedication to facilitating the participation of Guan Constituency residents in the upcoming elections.
She also confirmed that no new Constitutional Instrument would be introduced for the December 7 polls and assured the use of indelible ink during the process.
Addressing the registration of prison inmates, the EC Chairperson mentioned that the Commission was acquiring data from the Prisons Service to inform its preparations.
Reverend Dr. Ernest Adu-Gyamfi, Chairman of the National Peace Council, highlighted that the meeting covered topics such as fostering trust between the EC, political parties, and the public, and the importance of consistently clarifying matters to all stakeholders.
“It’s been a very fruitful meeting,” he said and expressed delight that the people of the Guan Constituency would be participating in the upcoming elections.
From May 7 to May 29, 2024, the EC carried out a voter registration drive, followed by a nationwide effort to replace lost voter ID cards starting May 30, 2024.
Additionally, the EC has finished the voter transfer process, ensuring all necessary updates are completed.
Nana Ama McBrown, renowned actress and TV presenter, has stepped in to assist Kwasi Abaka, a 32-year-old farmer who found himself serving a one-year jail term at the Winneba Local Prison for abetment of crime.
Abaka’s plight began when he unknowingly sold electronic appliances—comprising a home theatre, flat-screen television, woofer, and pen drive—that were later identified as stolen items.
He received these items from a friend, the son of a Chief priest at Ajumako Breman Essiam in the Central Region, who pressured him to sell them quickly to raise funds for Christmas gifts.
“I sold the TV for Ghc 600, the home theatre for Ghc 130, two pen drives for Ghc 70 each, and a Bluetooth player for Ghc 50. I was given only Ghc 100,” Abaka explained.
Unfortunately, Abaka was arrested shortly after the sale and, despite efforts from his friend and the buyer to secure bail, he remained in custody.
Eventually, he was arraigned before the court where he pleaded guilty to abetment of crime, resulting in a sentence of 12 months imprisonment when he could not afford to pay a fine of Ghc 1,800.
Moved by his story, Nana Ama McBrown, through the Crime Check Foundation, intervened to pay the fine on Abaka’s behalf. This act facilitated his release from prison, bringing relief to Abaka and his family.
This gesture from Nana Ama McBrown highlights her commitment to supporting individuals facing unjust circumstances, ensuring that they have a fair chance to rebuild their lives after experiencing hardships within the legal system.
A 22-year-old shop attendant who stole GH₵39,385 from a telecommunication shop has been fined 100 penalty units (GH¢1,200) by an Accra Circuit Court and ordered to serve a day in prison.
Paulina Boateng, charged with stealing, pleaded guilty and was convicted on her own plea by the Court presided over by Isaac Addoh.
In default of the fine, she would serve 12 months’ imprisonment. The court also ordered her to pay the remaining balance of the money to the complainant.
Earlier, a lawyer acting as a friend of the court, Lord Delvin Essandoh, prayed for leniency, highlighting that the convict was a first-time offender who showed remorse. He emphasized that she did not waste the court’s time and had her whole life ahead of her, urging the court to consider these factors in determining the sentence.
The prosecution, led by Police Chief Inspector Jonas Lawer, confirmed that the convict was not previously known. The facts presented by the prosecution indicated that the complainant, Mr. Daniel Nana Amaning, was an electrical engineer and shop supervisor for Glorious Bost Ventures, where both the complainant and the convict resided in Nii Boi Town, Accra.
The prosecution further explained that the convict, employed as a shop attendant, was tasked with managing the affairs of the company, which involved selling electrical prepaid and mobile money services for various telecommunication networks. However, in February 2023, the convict stole the aforementioned amount from the shop.
It said, “Recently, an internal auditor was engaged to audit the activities in the shop, and it was detected that an amount of GH¢39,385 had been misappropriated by the convict.”
A mother of three, Beauty, who had been imprisoned without trial at the Nsawam Female Prison for five years, has finally reunited with her family.
The emotional scenes unfolded as Beauty walked out of the prison gates, marking the end of a long and challenging chapter.
Beauty’s journey into imprisonment began when a tragic incident led to the loss of her husband’s life.
The unfortunate incident occurred when her deceased husband handed her 5 Ghana cedis with the intention of preparing a meal of banku and soup.
At that time, Beauty was not only managing the responsibilities of caring for her three children but also dealing with the challenges of being a lactating mother.
Financial constraints compelled Beauty to prepare only the banku without the accompanying soup, a decision that sparked a confrontation with her husband.
In an attempt to defend herself during the heated altercation, Beauty threw a knife, unintentionally resulting in the tragic death of her husband.
For the past five years, Beauty has carried the weight of her incarceration at the Nsawam Female Prison.
The separation from her three children and the haunting memories of the incident added to the emotional toll she endured.
However, the recent turn of events brought a glimmer of hope for Beauty.
With the intervention of Crime Check and its legal team, the court granted her bail, paving the way for her release from prison.
A person who used to work for the Canadian national police has been sent to prison for 14 years for sharing secret information with people who are believed to be criminals.
The prosecutors said that Cameron Ortis, who is 51 years old, gave secret government information to criminals who work together in a group.
Ortis said no and explained that he was working secretly to stop a big danger to Canada.
He was found guilty in November after a trial that lasted for eight weeks at a court in Ottawa.
On Wednesday, Judge Robert Maranger said that Ortis will serve seven more years in prison, taking into account the time he has already spent behind bars.
This was the first time that Canada’s new spy law was used in a trial.
The lawyers wanted Ortis to go to jail for 28 years because they believe that a shorter sentence would show other countries that Canada can’t keep important information safe.
But his lawyers said he should only be in jail for seven years because he already spent three years in jail waiting for the trial.
Lawyer Jon Doody said that his client lost everything during that time, such as his job, friends, and savings.
Judge Maranger said that the 14-year sentence is a fair and suitable amount of time.
Ortis was taken by the police in 2019 and accused of breaking six laws, including ones about keeping the country safe. He was proven to have done the bad things he was accused of.
When he was arrested, he was in charge of the National Intelligence Coordination Centre, which is a part of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It deals with important information and intelligence within the organization.
He got permission to have access to important information when he started working for the RCMP in 2007 as a civilian.
Prosecutors said Ortis used his job to give secret information in 2015 to three people in a group that launders money internationally, and to a man named Vincent Ramos.
US authorities had linked the mobile security company Ramos ran to drug traffickers and organized crime members in the past.
Ortis asked Ramos for almost $27,500 in exchange for giving him information about police activities, but there is no proof that he actually got any money.
In court, Ortis said he gave out secret information on purpose as part of a plan to trick people into using encrypted email so that security agencies could read their messages.
His lawyers said he did what he did to deal with a serious danger to Canada that had to be dealt with.
The prosecutors said that he shared the information on purpose without his boss’s permission. They said there is no record of his mission in the RCMP archives.
“His story was just a lie to make you think his selfish criminal acts had a noble and secret reason,” said prosecutor Judy Kliewer in court.
A 47-year-old driver, Joseph Yankson, has been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by the Gender-Based Court at the Police Headquarters for sexually abusing his 13-year-old stepdaughter in Tetegu, Accra.
Yankson took advantage of the victim’s mother’s absence and committed the act twice, promising to appease the family with a sheep after the first incident.
Charged with defilement, Yankson pleaded guilty, leading to his conviction by the court presided over by Dora Eshun Inkumasah. Chief Inspector Opoku Aniagyie, representing Chief Inspector Simon Tekpor, stated that the complainant, a teacher and friend of the victim’s mother, reported the incident.
The court heard that the accused, now a convict, was the stepfather of the victim, and they lived together in Tetegu. In 2023, the victim’s mother left for Ajumako in the Central Region, leaving the children in the care of Yankson.
Taking advantage of the situation, Yankson engaged in sexual intercourse with the victim. Upon the victim’s mother’s return, the crime was reported, leading to a family meeting where Yankson admitted the offense and promised to appease the family.
However, on December 26, 2023, Yankson repeated the act, and the victim informed her mother upon her return.
The matter was then reported to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit, leading to the issuance of a medical form for the victim’s examination and treatment on January 4, 2024.
Glynn Simmons, 70, who spent 48 years behind bars for a crime he did not commit, has been officially exonerated by an Oklahoma judge.
Released in July after a district court discovered that crucial evidence had not been disclosed to his defense lawyers, Simmons faced the longest known wrongful sentence in the United States.
On Monday, a county district attorney concluded that there was insufficient evidence to justify a new trial. In an order issued on Tuesday, Judge Amy Palumbo formally declared Mr. Simmons innocent.
“This court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the offence for which Mr Simmons was convicted, sentenced and imprisoned… was not committed by Mr Simmons,” said Oklahoma County District Judge Palumbo in her ruling.
“It’s a lesson in resilience and tenacity,” Mr Simmons told reporters after the decision, according to the Associated Press. “Don’t let nobody tell you that it can’t happen, because it really can.”
Glynn Simmons spent 48 years, one month, and 18 days in prison for the 1974 murder of Carolyn Sue Rogers during a liquor store robbery in an Oklahoma City suburb. At the age of 22, Simmons and co-defendant Don Roberts were convicted and initially sentenced to death in 1975, with their punishments later reduced to life imprisonment due to US Supreme Court rulings on the death penalty.
Maintaining his innocence, Simmons asserted he was in his home state of Louisiana at the time of the murder. In July, a district court vacated his sentence after discovering that prosecutors failed to disclose crucial evidence to defense lawyers, including a witness identifying other suspects.
Simmons and Roberts were convicted based partly on testimony from a teenager who had been shot in the back of the head. The National Registry of Exonerations reported that the teenager pointed to several other men during police line-ups and later contradicted some of her own testimony. Roberts was released on parole in 2008.
Individuals wrongfully convicted in Oklahoma are eligible for up to $175,000 (£138,000) in compensation. Simmons, currently battling liver cancer, has a GoFundMe campaign that has raised thousands of dollars to support his living costs and chemotherapy.
A court in Accra has sentenced Joshua Asiedu, also known as Kwame Ketewa, to three years in prison for sharing explicit photos of his ex-girlfriend with friends on social media.
As part of his sentencing, he is also required to pay the victim, a 19-year-old girl, GH₵10,000 as compensation for the emotional distress he caused her.
The court, presided over by Mrs. Christina Cann, found Asiedu guilty of non-consensual sharing of intimate images.
The act was reportedly in response to the victim breaking up with him.
Nevertheless, the court recognized that the prosecution did not establish a prima facie case against Asiedu regarding the threat of death or domestic violence, specifically emotional abuse, and subsequently acquitted and discharged him of these two charges.
In his plea for mitigation, Asiedu pleaded with the trial judge to have mercy on him saying “All the allegations against me are untrue”.
According to the prosecution, which is headed by Chief Inspector Opoku Aniagyei, the complainant is an Accra-based trader who is 49 years old.
According to the report, the victim, a 19-year-old recent senior high school graduate, lives in Odorkor, Accra, with her mother.
The convict dwells at Odorkor, according to the prosecution.
When her father learned that Asiedu had an extramarital affair with the victim in 2018, he became aware of it.
The prosecution claimed that the victim broke up with Asiedu because she told him she was no longer interested in the relationship.
The prosecution claimed that in 2021, Asiedu shared the victim’s naked photos on his WhatsApp status for everyone to see because he was upset about her behavior.
He claims that Asiedu afterwards sent the pictures to Kasia and Sika, two of the victims’ pals.
The prosecution said thereafter, “the accused person always calls the victim to threaten her with words that he will deal with her and that if she wants to lose her life or she wants her mother to lose her, then she should play with him and that made the victim feel constantly unhappy, miserable, humiliated, ridiculed, afraid, jittery, depressed and worthless.”
The victim’s school authorities also observed signs of her emotional distress and subsequently summoned her parents to the school. The school provided her with the assistance of a counselor, and after a counseling session, a report was submitted detailing her condition.
On May 17, 2021, the complainant reported Asiedu’s actions to the Domestic Violence and Victim’s Support Unit. Upon learning that the police were looking for him, Asiedu went into hiding at an undisclosed location.
Asiedu re-emerged on January 26, 2023, and he was subsequently apprehended. During the investigation process, a caution statement was obtained from him, and the victim’s explicit photographs were recovered from her father’s mobile phones. Additionally, audio recordings of the threats made were collected as evidence.
A 35-year-old barber has been sentenced to 10 years of hard labor in prison after pleading guilty to two charges: threatening to kill and robbery.
James Awuni admitted to the charges, which are in violation of Section 75 and 149(1) of the Criminal Offences Act of 1960, Act 29.
His accomplice, Kwame Copper, is currently evading arrest.
On August 6, 2023, Awuni, using a Vodafone number (0500637074), called the wife of the Chief Executive of Obuasi Bitters and falsely claimed that he had been hired by someone to assassinate her husband.
Alarmed by the threat, the woman informed her husband, who then contacted the same number for verification.
Awuni informed the complainant that he was hesitant to carry out the contract, for reasons known only to him, and demanded an amount of GHS1,200 from the complainant, a request that Mr. Amoh (the husband) complied with.
The complainant reported the incident to the Police Intelligence Directorate after sending the money for investigation. Acting on intelligence, the directorate apprehended Awuni on September 27, 2023, at his hideout in Bebu, near Kumasi, in the Ashanti region.
Prosecutor ASP Stephen Ofori informed Her Honour Vida Yeboah in court on Friday, October 6, 2023, that Awuni mentioned Kwame Copper as an accomplice.
Awuni admitted guilt to the charges of threatening to kill and robbery and promised to reimburse the complainant for the money he had received when he appeared before the court on Monday, October 2, 2023.
He refunded an amount of GH1,200 on Friday before being sentenced to 10 years in prison. He received a 2-month sentence for threatening to kill and a 10-year sentence for robbery, with the two sentences running concurrently.
Presiding Judge, Her Honour Vida Yeboah, stated that the court considered the accused’s repayment of the money before imposing the minimum prison sentence for robbery.
The Venezuelan government invited reporters to visit the Tocoron Penitentiary Center in Aragua state on Saturday. This happened after security forces took back control of the prison from gangsters who had been in charge for a long time.
The Tocoron prison, which is one of the biggest in the country, used to be controlled by the prisoners themselves. Many of these prisoners were members of a powerful criminal gang called “Train of Aragua,” named after the state in which Tocoron is situated, as per the Venezuelan Information Ministry.
On Wednesday, the Venezuelan security forces, which include the Army and National Guard, carried out a special operation with over 11,000 people to take back control of the prison area.
Venezuela’s Interior Minister, Remigio Ceballos, said that the operation went really well. On Saturday, during a visit with the media, Ceballos announced that security forces had arrested 80 important members of the Tren de Aragua gang after taking control of the prison.
Ceballos said that the government did not talk with gang leaders before the operation, despite what the media said.
We have completely taken apart the leaders of the group called ‘Tren de Aragua. ‘ “They have left,” he said to CNN in Spanish.
Reporters, including a team from CNNe, were taken to see where prisoners had created a swimming pool and some restaurants within the prison walls in recent times. Authorities shared pictures of the weapons found during the raid on prisoners. These weapons included guns that can shoot many bullets quickly, like automatic rifles and machine guns. They also found lots of bullets.
According to the Venezuelan Information Ministry, many prisoners were moved to different prisons after the operation. But, the family members of prisoners disagree with these statements and say that they haven’t talked to their loved ones since the morning when the operation took place.
“I haven’t received any updates since Wednesday,” said Claribel Rojas, whose brother is incarcerated in the Tocoron prison, in an interview on Saturday with CNNe. “I was here both yesterday and today, but nobody has said anything. ”
In Venezuela, it is common for gangs to control prisons. The Tocoron Penitentiary is extremely famous in the country because it represents how the government can’t regain control in recent years.
The Tren de Aragua is the strongest criminal gang in Venezuela. Recently, it has started to do more work in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Argentina, says the US State Department.
People who dress “inappropriately” might go to jail for up to 10 years with this new law. The law will be tested for three years.
The law is not approved yet. It needs to be approved by the Guardian Council.
The decision was made a year after people protested when Mahsa Amini died while in custody of the morality police. She was held because they believed she was wearing her hijab incorrectly.
During the protests against the religious leaders, women either burned their headscarves or lifted them in the air. These demonstrations happened all across the country and it is said that many people were killed by the security forces.
More and more women and girls are choosing to not wear a headscarf in public anymore, even though the moral police have come back and there are security cameras now.
According to Iranian law, which follows the country’s interpretation of Sharia, women and girls who have reached puberty need to wear a hijab to cover their hair and wear loose clothes to hide their bodies.
Right now, if people don’t follow the rules, they might have to go to jail for 10 days to 2 months or pay a fine of 5,000 to 500,000 rials ($0. 10-$1014 at the black market exchange rate).
On Wednesday, lawmakers voted to pass the “Hijab and Chastity Bill” with a majority of 152 to 34. This bill states that individuals who are found wearing clothes considered “inappropriate” in public will face a punishment called the “fourth degree. ”
As per the law, this means a person will be sent to prison for a period of five to ten years and will have to pay a fine ranging from 180 million to 360 million rials ($3,651-$7,302).
The proposed bill suggests that people who show nudity or mock the hijab on social media or in the media might have to pay fines. It also says that if a woman is not wearing a hijab or fitting clothes in a vehicle, the owner of that vehicle might have to pay a fine.
If someone purposely breaks the dress code together with foreign or hostile governments, media, groups or organizations, they could go to jail for five to ten years.
The bill is now going to be sent to the Guardian Council for approval. The Guardian Council is a group of conservative religious leaders and legal experts. They can reject the bill if they think it goes against the constitution and Sharia.
A few weeks ago, a group of experts from the United Nations said that the bill might be seen as a way of treating genders unequally, with the goal of making women and girls completely submissive.
“The proposed law would give harsh punishments to women and girls who don’t follow it. This could result in them being violently forced to comply,” the experts explained.
The bill goes against basic human rights, such as the right to participate in cultural activities, the banning of unfair treatment based on gender, the freedom to express opinions, the right to peacefully protest, and the right to use social, educational, and health services, as well as the freedom to move around.
Prison guards discovered that a man named Billy Chemirmir, who was 50 years old, had died while he was in his prison cell at the Coffield Unit prison in Texas on Tuesday morning.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice said that Chemirmir was murdered by his cellmate on Monday night.
In 2022, an American court gave Chemirmir a life sentence for murdering an 81-year-old named Lu Thi Harris and an 87-year-old named Mary Brooks.
He was accused of killing 20 old people in north Texas for two years.
Officials said that Chemirmir pretended to be a caregiver or maintenance worker to enter care homes in north Texas.
He focused on older women at the places they live, and would often steal valuable things like jewelry from them before causing them harm.
Chemirmir got arrested in March 2018 because a 91-year-old lady who lives in her own apartment told the police about him.
An inmate at the Afram planes in the Eastern Region, Kwesi Donkor, has disclosed that his wife and children are not aware of his imprisonment.
He explained that he had traveled from another village to visit his friend, Baba Iddrisu, who was involved in the charcoal trade.
During his visit, he found his friend accused of charcoal theft and joined him at the police station to offer support.
Unfortunately, both he and his friend were implicated and detained for 18 months despite their efforts to prove their innocence.
Remarkably, none of the people he resides with or his immediate family members are aware of his imprisonment.
“They are not aware at all that I am in prison. Even the people living in my neighbourhood currently are not aware of my whereabout. My wife and children living far away from me are also not aware that i am in prison,” Kwesi Donkor told host, Mr. Ibrahim Oppong Kwarteng, on Crime Check Tv’s “Time with the prisoner show.”
Crime Check Foundation was incorporated on 6th November, 2015 under the Companies Act 1963, Act 179 as a company limited by guarantee.
A crime prevention advocacy organization that uses Life in Prison Documentaries to sensitize the public to the dangers of crime.
“Time with the prisoner show” over the years has not only served as a crime deterrent tool, but has been instrumental in highlighting major infractions of the law in Ghana’s Justice Delivery System, abuse of the rights of Prisoners, deplorable conditions in Ghana’s forty two prisons and the need for a review of Ghana’s Criminal Justice System.
An Accra Circuit Court has handed down an eight-year prison sentence with hard labor to a 34-year-old man for operating an unlicensed microfinance company. Kofi Asante was also charged with forging a license from the Bank of Ghana (BoG) for deposit-taking businesses.
He pleaded guilty to both charges—operating a microfinance business without a license and forging official documents to do so. Consequently, he received concurrent sentences of four and eight years in prison, respectively.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Emmanuel Haligah informed the court, presided over by Mr. Jojo Hagan Amoah, that in June 2023, the police received information about Asante’s establishment of microfinance business centers under the names KM COMMUNITY BANK and PRYM CAPITAL in Suhum and its environs. He did so with the intention of collecting deposits from the public without the requisite license from the Bank of Ghana.
ASP Haligah noted that KM Community Bank purportedly had branches in Anum-Apapam, Akorabo, and Amanase, while Prym Capital was headquartered in Suhum.
On June 30, 2023, the accused was arrested for investigation, and searches were conducted at all his office premises. Copies of documents falsely claiming to be licenses issued by the Bank of Ghana in the name of KM Community Bank were found and seized for investigation.
It was revealed during the investigation that between January and April 2023, Asante had forged a Bank of Ghana license to operate the microfinance business. He had also established branches in Suhum, Anum Apapam, Akorabo, and Amanase.
As part of his operations, Asante hired 24 individuals as sales agents in Suhum and the surrounding areas. He managed to convince approximately 950 members of the public to make daily deposits totaling GHC56,000.00 with his businesses.
In his cautioned statement, Asante admitted that KM COMMUNITY BANK and PRYM CAPITAL were not registered with the Office of the Registrar of Companies and were not authorized by the Bank of Ghana to engage in deposit-taking operations. He also confessed to forging the Bank of Ghana’s license.
ASP Haligah said after the investigation, he was arraigned.
The convicted rapper and singer Tory Lanez’ has reportedly married Raina Chassagne, the mother of his six-year-old son Kai, while serving time for shooting Megan Thee Stallion. This was revealed while he was requesting bail.
The motion for bail was submitted by Lanez to the Superior Court of Los Angeles, according to legal journalist Meghann Cuniff’s report on Friday.
The 31-year-old Canadian rapper was given a 10-year prison term for shooting fellow rapper Megan Thee Stallion, as previously reported by Face2Face Africa. When Lanez and Megan Thee Stallion got into a fight after leaving a pool party held at reality star Kylie Jenner’s Hollywood mansion in July 2020, Lanez, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, shot Megan Thee Stallion in the feet.
Since December, the 31-year-old has been detained in custody after being found guilty of three charges involving firearms. Lanez was found guilty of three felonies: assault with a semi-automatic weapon; possession of a loaded, unregistered firearm in a motor vehicle; and grossly negligent discharge of a firearm.
In the recently made public court documents, it is stated that Raina Chassagne is now Lanez’s wife and that, should he be granted bail, the two will remain together in Los Angeles with their 6-year-old son. If granted bail, Lanez would not have to travel far to live near his family.
“From his sentencing hearing engagement announcement to his bail motion wedding announcement, Tory Lanez’s relationship status has advanced rapidly in the last few weeks. His fiancée is now his wife, according to the motion,” Cuniff tweeted.
On September 5, a hearing will be held to go over Lanez’s motion for bail. According to court records, Chassagne was previously listed as the mother of the musician’s son but is now listed as his wife. However, it is unknown when they actually got married.
Cuniff in a different tweet also shared that Lanez would abstain from substances and not establish any contact with Megan if he’s granted bail. “Upon release, Mr. Peterson will maintain his sobriety, and have no contact with the victim nor shall he or any of his associates by his direction address her on social media or by other means,” Cuniff stated.
“Mr. Peterson is a well-known musician; abscond. He is a household name through his artistry and philanthropy.”
But, it seems like Lanez’s application for bail may face stiff opposition, according to Complex.
Cuniff’s lawyers said that it is unusual for judges to grant bail applications pending appeal.
It is especially challenging to enable Lanez’s bail because of the nature of his conviction.
“Generally, to get bail pending appeal, you have to show a substantial likelihood of prevailing on appeal, which often means a substantial likelihood you can show error by the trial judge,” attorney Michale Freedman told Cuniff in an email.
“So it’s pretty rare for the trial judge to find the defense can make this showing about the same judge’s own rulings, especially after the judge has already denied post-trial motions raising those same arguments.”
Twenty-seven (27) young inmates from the Senior Correctional Centre of the Prison Service, a facility designated for offenders aged 21 and under are participating in the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
These inmates were accompanied by prison officers to the examination center, where heightened security measures in case of attempted escapes.
These 27 juvenile inmates were part of a larger group of 57 prisoners participating in the 2023 BECE.
The rest of the candidates hailed from various prisons across the country, including the Kumasi Central Prison, Nsawam Medium Security Prison, and Sunyani Central Prison.
With over 600,000 candidates anticipated to engage in the examination across nearly 19,000 schools at 2137 centers, the BECE is set to continue until Friday, August 11, 2023.
On Monday, August 8, 2023, candidates sat for Religious and Moral Education 2 (Essay), Religious and Moral Education 1 (Objective), English Language 2 (Essay), and English Language I (Objective). Both Papers 2 & 1 for each subject were taken at one sitting without break.
The following days will see them tackle Social Studies, Basic Design and Technology, Mathematics, Information and Communication Technology, and finally, French.
The Minister for Trade and Industry, Kobina Tahir (KT) Hammond, has made a statement regarding the fate of James Gyakye Quayson, the Member of Parliament for Assin Central.
Hammond has asserted that Gyakye Quayson’s destiny has been determined, and he will face imprisonment similar to the former MP for Bawku Central, Adamu Dramani Sakande, who was incarcerated for providing false information about his Burkinabe and British citizenships.
During an interview with Oyerepa TV at Parliament on Monday, July 4, 2023, KT Hammond emphasized that the circumstances surrounding Adamu Sakande’s case closely resemble those of Gyakye Quayson, which explains why the latter is expected to face imprisonment.
“There is something we call precedence at the court… this is the same thing that happened with Adamu Sakande. He (Sakande) came to this house, the same NDC (National Democratic Congress) members were the ones who sacked him from parliament and took him to court. He was imprisoned and he eventually died and was buried. It is the same matter.
“They are making all kinds of noise about his swearing-in. I prompted the former deputy Attorney General, Dominic Ayine, to tell the gentleman (Quayson) that we have seen this before in this house. He should leave this house before he would be jailed.
“There is precedence, this is the same as the Adamu Sakande case. Adamu was jailed for having multiple citizenships and Quayson had the same issue. Now he (Quayson) has renounced his other citizenship and he is only Ghanaian… but laws he broke previously is what we are talking about,” he said in Twi.
In addition, KT Hammond, the Member of Parliament for Adansi Asokwa, expressed his disapproval of the Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyemang Badu II, for criticizing the Supreme Court’s ruling that resulted in the removal of Quayson from his parliamentary seat. Hammond also took issue with the Dormaahene’s call for the state to dismiss the criminal case against the former MP for Assin North.
About Adamu Dramani Sakande case:
In July 2012, Adamu Dramani Sakande, a Member of Parliament (MP) for Bawku Central representing the New Patriotic Party (NPP), faced legal consequences for his actions.
The Accra High Court convicted Sakande after finding him guilty of perjury and forgery.
Sakande’s conviction stemmed from his failure to renounce his UK citizenship before running for the Bawku Central seat.
He was charged with perjury and forgery, resulting in a two-year concurrent jail sentence for all counts.
The challenge to Sakande’s status as the MP for Bawku Central came from Sumaila Bielbiel, a cattle dealer based in Bawku. Bielbiel raised concerns about Sakande’s dual citizenship, questioning his eligibility to hold the position.
Specifically, Sakande was accused of registering as a voter during the opening of the voters’ register and subsequently casting a vote in the December 2008 general elections when he was not entitled to do so.
Reports have revealed that one of the surviving sons of the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has been transferred from a Lebanese prison, where he had been on a hunger strike, to a hospital in critical condition.
The Dubai-based Al-Hadath TV, cited by Reuters news agency, stated that Hannibal Gaddafi experienced a significant drop in his blood sugar level.
Hannibal Gaddafi has been held in detention in Lebanon for over eight years.
In the month of June, he initiated a hunger strike to protest against his prolonged detention without trial.
He has been held in the country since his capture in Syria, where he had sought refuge following the assassination of his father by rebels in 2011.
Prison populations globally face a nine-fold higher risk of tuberculosis (TB) compared to the general population.
TB is an infectious disease primarily affecting the lungs, transmitted through the air when infected individuals cough, sneeze, or spit.
A recent study, analyzing data from nearly all countries worldwide between 2000 and 2019, reveals that approximately 125,105 of the 11 million incarcerated individuals developed TB in 2019.
This represents a rate of 1,148 cases per 100,000 people per year, significantly higher than the global incidence rate of 127 cases per 100,000 people.
The study also highlights a strong correlation between tuberculosis rates and prison overcrowding.
Leonardo Martinez, study lead from the School of Public Health, Boston University, USA, said: “This connection between TB and overcrowding suggests that efforts to limit the number of people who are detained may be one potential public health tool to combat the TB epidemic in prisons.”
Martinez said, “The high incidence rate globally and across regions, low case detection rates, and consistency over time indicate that this population represents an important, under-prioritised group. Continued failure to detect, treat, and prevent tuberculosis in prisons will result in the unnecessary disease and deaths of many incarcerated persons.”
“And, of course, when incarcerated persons are released from prison, they can take this infectious disease back into the communities in which they live, further contributing to the spread of tuberculosis globally. Greater focus and resources for addressing the tuberculosis epidemic in prisons are needed to protect the health of incarcerated people and their communities.”
The risk of tuberculosis (TB) among incarcerated populations surpasses that of other health conditions such as diabetes, alcohol use disorders, smoking, and undernourishment.
Researchers from various countries conducted a study and discovered significant regional variations in prison TB rates in 2019, with the highest incidence observed in the African region at 2,242 cases per 100,000 people annually—almost double the global estimate for this population.
The Americas region, particularly Central and South America, had the largest absolute number of TB cases among incarcerated individuals, reaching 30,509.
Factors contributing to the increased TB burden in the Americas may include the significant rise in mass incarceration, leading to overcrowding.
The study also highlighted the strong association between crowding and TB incidence, suggesting it plays a crucial role in the rising TB rates in prisons, particularly in Central and South America.
Anthony D Harries, senior adviser at the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, said: “These findings give us a much clearer picture of tuberculosis in prisons than we’ve ever had before. The high rate of tuberculosis and low rate of detection indicates that current control measures are insufficient for preventing the spread of the disease in prisons globally. Therefore, further research is vital to identify and implement the most effective interventions.”
Karabo Rafube, who developed TB in a South African prison, said: “There was no screening when you entered, and we were crowded into small spaces, so it was no surprise that I caught TB. I was very sick, but it took a long time to find out that I had TB. I took treatment for six months and luckily fully recovered. Some people would sell their medicines to other inmates. “After recovering I was appointed as a TB teacher in the prison. Ever since I left, I’ve been supporting others with TB in prison.
“It is important to break the silence of TB. Prisoners have the right to be screened and have access to medicines, but they are often neglected. We can’t end TB without treating everyone – that includes prisoners.”
The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) officially sponsored the four-year project, providing TB research expertise, logistical and operational support and accountability for success.
Ihsane el-Kadi, a well-known independent journalist in Algeria, has had his prison term dramatically increased by an appeals court in Algiers.
Earlier this year, el-Kadi was handed a three-year jail term, with two years suspended, on charges related to allegedly receiving foreign financing for his media group.
However, the appeal court has now revised the sentence to a staggering seven years, with five years to be served behind bars.
The journalist’s arrest took place on Christmas Eve last year, accompanied by an order to shut down his media company. Throughout the legal proceedings, el-Kadi’s legal team vehemently refuted the charges leveled against him, asserting that the sole foreign money transfer originated from his daughter, who is both a partner in the company and resides in the United Kingdom.
The increased sentence is met with deep concern and criticism from human rights advocates and press freedom organizations, who view it as a severe blow to independent journalism in Algeria. Many fear that such a harsh penalty will have a chilling effect on journalists and further restrict freedom of the press within the country.
The case of Ihsane el-Kadi underscores the challenges faced by journalists operating independently in Algeria and the broader implications for freedom of expression. International entities are closely monitoring the situation, emphasizing the need to protect journalists’ rights and ensure a conducive environment for independent media to thrive.
As news of the heightened sentence spreads, supporters and activists are rallying behind el-Kadi, calling for justice and advocating for the preservation of media freedom.
An appeal court in Algiers has significantly increased the prison sentence of Ihsane el-Kadi, a prominent independent journalist in Algeria.
Earlier this year, el-Kadi was handed a three-year jail term, with two years suspended, on charges related to allegedly receiving foreign financing for his media group.
However, the appeal court has now revised the sentence to a staggering seven years, with five years to be served behind bars.
The journalist’s arrest took place on Christmas Eve last year, accompanied by an order to shut down his media company. Throughout the legal proceedings, el-Kadi’s legal team vehemently refuted the charges leveled against him, asserting that the sole foreign money transfer originated from his daughter, who is both a partner in the company and resides in the United Kingdom.
The increased sentence is met with deep concern and criticism from human rights advocates and press freedom organizations, who view it as a severe blow to independent journalism in Algeria. Many fear that such a harsh penalty will have a chilling effect on journalists and further restrict freedom of the press within the country.
The case of Ihsane el-Kadi underscores the challenges faced by journalists operating independently in Algeria and the broader implications for freedom of expression. International entities are closely monitoring the situation, emphasizing the need to protect journalists’ rights and ensure a conducive environment for independent media to thrive.
As news of the heightened sentence spreads, supporters and activists are rallying behind el-Kadi, calling for justice and advocating for the preservation of media freedom.
An appeal court in Algiers has significantly increased the prison sentence of Ihsane el-Kadi, a prominent independent journalist in Algeria.
Earlier this year, el-Kadi was handed a three-year jail term, with two years suspended, on charges related to allegedly receiving foreign financing for his media group.
However, the appeal court has now revised the sentence to a staggering seven years, with five years to be served behind bars.
The journalist’s arrest took place on Christmas Eve last year, accompanied by an order to shut down his media company. Throughout the legal proceedings, el-Kadi’s legal team vehemently refuted the charges leveled against him, asserting that the sole foreign money transfer originated from his daughter, who is both a partner in the company and resides in the United Kingdom.
The increased sentence is met with deep concern and criticism from human rights advocates and press freedom organizations, who view it as a severe blow to independent journalism in Algeria. Many fear that such a harsh penalty will have a chilling effect on journalists and further restrict freedom of the press within the country.
The case of Ihsane el-Kadi underscores the challenges faced by journalists operating independently in Algeria and the broader implications for freedom of expression. International entities are closely monitoring the situation, emphasizing the need to protect journalists’ rights and ensure a conducive environment for independent media to thrive.
As news of the heightened sentence spreads, supporters and activists are rallying behind el-Kadi, calling for justice and advocating for the preservation of media freedom.
A workshop for judges and magistrates on the new Narcotics Control Commission Act 2020 (Act 1019) held on Friday, 16th June 2023, has revealed that the percentage of inmates in remand prisons in Ghana has reduced from 33% in 2017 to 9.8% in 2023.
The workshop was organised by the Judicial Training Institute, Perfector for Sentiments (POS) Foundation, and the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), a non-governmental organisation.
The theme was: “the Narcotics Control Commission Act 2020 (Act 1019): effective implementation of the Act, and the role of judges and magistrates in handling people who use drugs”.
The workshop aimed to equip the judges and magistrates with the necessary knowledge of the changes brought by the Act, and the jurisdiction given to the trial Court by Act 1019.
Mr. Johnathan Osei Owusu, the Executive Director of the Perfector for Sentiments (POS) Foundation, implementers of the “Justice for All Programme” (JFAP), gave the information on the remand prison population.
He commended the judiciary, police, and prisons services, as well as all stakeholders, for their support of the programme and described it as a remarkable achievement that was partly due to the implementation of the JFAP.
Mr Owusu explained that the JFAP was a state-led intervention, launched in 2007 to decongest prisons, by setting up Mobile In-prison Special Courts, to adjudicate remand and pre-trial cases in prisons nationwide.
This initiative involved the collective efforts of the Judicial Service of Ghana, Office of the Attorney-General, Ghana Prisons and Police Service, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), and the POS Foundation, a civil society organisation that served as facilitators.
Mr Owusu said the judicial system in Ghana was doing better than that of other neighbouring countries like Nigeria whose remand prison population was 69 per cent, Liberia 48 per cent and Kenya 42 per cent.
Justice Patrick Bayeh, a Supervising High Court Judge in Sunyani said the workshop was important and timely, as judges and magistrates were only familiar with the old narcotic control law.
He praised the new Act 1019, saying it had introduced fairness into the judicial system in prosecuting cases related to narcotics and hoped participants would be well informed about the new law.
Justice Tanko Amadu, the Director of the Judicial Training Institute and a Justice of the Supreme Court, and Mr Yaw Akrasi-Sarpong, a former boss of the then Narcotic Control Board (NACOB) were present.
The participants were taken through topics such as Act 1019, the role of judges in its application in line with best practices and drug use and dependence as public health issues.
Other topics included ‘Ghana’s commitment to international and regional drug reform and how to effectively meet these commitments’, as well as ‘thinking outside the box’, ‘cannabis governance, the international and national perspectives.
The Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020, Act 1019 was passed on 20th March 2020, and received Presidential assent on 11th May 2020.
It came after a long period of seeking more effective responses by law enforcement authorities.
President Akufo-Addohas emphasized the significance of enhancing the well-being and rehabilitation of prison inmates as a top priority for both his government and the Ghana Prison Service.
He said that the government and the Prison Service had put in place a number of measures to improve the conditions of prisoners, including improving healthcare, food security, education, and vocational training.
“The key stakeholders of the Prison Serviceare the inmates and in line with the mandate to ensure welfare, rehabilitation and reformation, this government and prison authority have put in place pragmatic interventions in healthcare, food security, education and service training to improve progressively their conditions,” he stated.
President Akufo-Addo was speaking at the graduation ceremony of intake 31 of the Prison Service, which consisted of 450 new prison officers, in Accra on Thursday.
He also said that the government was committed to improving the welfare of prison officers and urged the new officers to treat prisoners with respect as they discharged their duties.
“The Ghana Prison Service plays a vital role in the criminal justice system and security architecture of the country. As such, as prison officers, you will be called upon to serve in prison establishments all over the country. You must ensure utmost respect for the laws of the land and the lives of prisoners who are committed to your care,” he added.
President Akufo-Addo again asked the officers to be practical, innovative and ensure that they rose to the occasion when duty called.
After serving a four-year prison sentence for stabbing a friend, Sam Safo, a popular Ghanaian musician and socialite known as Showboy, is set to be deported from US to Ghana.
Showboy who announced his release from prison today, June, 7, on Instagram yesterday said he wanted to be in Ghana.
“Follow my new snap chat-Ahantan. I wish I was in Ghana lol. Anyways, I’m getting released tomorrow 06/07,2023 … my last night in prison!(sic)”.
Showboy was sentenced to serve six years in prison in March 2019 for stabbing Junior US, a US based Ghanaian musician during a tussle.
Junior US survived the stabbing but was later killed in a robbery attack in 2021.
At the time of Junior’s death, many people accused Showboy’s “men” for carrying out the crime but that was disputed when the real culprits were later apprehended by the US Police.
Showboy had a good relationship with Criss Waddle
Even though Showboy was in detention, he was quite active on social media giving details of his life and events leading to his incarceration.
In one of his posts last year, he accused Criss Waddle, founder of AMG Record label, which he is said to be co-founder for setting him up.
“5yrs ago Criss Waddle sent junior us to my house (apartment) … they set me up..my life hasnt been the same since then. July 3,2016 . I never forget this day. U can read the statement and see the lies they told police, came to court and denied everything and said they scared of me,”
“Told court am a Gunsta .. prosecutor told me I got a Huge Ego and said I call the shot .. I was profiled .. if not Criss Waddle sending Junior to me to come pay me money he Criss Waddle owed ..all this never was going to happen .. Junior us was never my friend. That was Criss Waddle friend that hated on me out of jealousy .. I was set up by Criss Waddle and his friends. .thats the facts … still ain’t got no visit from Criss Waddle till today. .. haven’t seen him in 5yrs(sic),” he wrote at the time.
Perhaps, Showboy gave a hint of his deportation in April this year in a Facebook post.
This is what he said, “Dem want deport me ..a make sad rough. .. a taya for life … if a come Ghana too Boyz want beat me especially criss waddle and shatta wale in friends lol …. make a sign for deportation or sit for another 1yr or 2 for immigration detention to fight for ma stay and still be on 9yrs probation. .. or to just sign for the deportation n come face death or happineass in Ghana …… lol am stressed, I can’t think far ..
Sometimes I think God don’t like me”.
till today. .. haven’t seen him in 5yrs “
“Being doing time for almost 2 and half years now … still depressed ..still suffering mentally … I am not innocent ,I was attacked first and I defended myself by stabbing. .I dont have control off ma adrenaline ..I did whatever to survive at the moment. .THEY SET ME UP ..TOOK MY FREEDOM FROM ME …. U ASK WHY AM MENTALLY UNSTABLE..THIS IS .. I DONT HAVE NO FRIEND ,NOBODY TO TRUST … JUST FAKE LOVE ALL AROUND ME (sic)”.
A musician and entrepreneur, Nhyiraba Kojo, has revealed that a prisoner offered to serve his 30-day term in his place.
He added that the person showed courage by contacting the prison’s second-in-command and offering to serve Nhyiraba Kojo’s term in addition to his own.
According to Nhyiraba Kojo, his encounter with prison life provided him with a unique perspective on the concept of love.
“It was fun, I am telling you. I know people love me, but when I got there (prison), then I realized that there is a difference between love. Do you know that I got someone who was bold enough to go and tell the 2IC (second-in-command) that he wants to serve my sentence for me, even if they will increase it one year for him, he is okay… I think he was serving like 7 years… that is why I am saying that it was fun because getting there was like I was at a party or some show that people are expecting you, it was fun, it was crazy,” expressed Nhyiraba Kojo.
Nhyiraba Kojo was found guilty of contempt by the court inSekondi-Takoradi and was initially ordered to serve a 30-day prison sentence unless he could purge himself of the contempt.
However, the musician spent only two weeks behind bars instead of the reported 30 days. The court subsequently ordered his release upon discovering that he had addressed the issue of noise pollution as instructed.
In an interview with Sammy Kay on the Go online show, Nhyiraba Kojo acknowledged that while his prison sentence proved to be a blessing for the inmates, there were also some challenging experiences during his time there.
Ireti Doyle, a well-known Nollywood actress, celebrated her56th birthday in an unusual location. She shared a video on social media that showed how she celebrated her special day while in “prison” at a movie set. Currently, she is filming for the popular action-comedy film “Merry Men 3.”
In the video snippet that she posted on her Instagram page, Ireti is seen playing the role of a corrupt politician named Dame Maduka, who is ultimately arrested and imprisoned. She thanked God for reaching a new age and all of the blessings that she has received.
She wrote: “Na my birthday o… See where @aycomedian put me!! It is well… Another 365 round the sun, He has been faithful and has done all things well!!”
Ireti Doyle has been a prominent figure in the Nigerian entertainment industry for several years. She has starred in several movies and TV shows and has won numerous awards for her acting prowess. She is known for her versatility in playing various roles, ranging from dramatic to comedic.
In “Merry Men 3,” Ireti Doyle will be sharing the screen with other notable actors, including Ramsey Nouah, Jim Iyke, and Ayo Makun. The film is the third installment in the Merry Men franchise, which centers on a group of wealthy and adventurous men who use their wealth and connections to help people in need.
Despite being “imprisoned” on her birthday, Ireti Doyle seemed to be in high spirits, enjoying her time on set and playing her role to the best of her abilities. Her fans and colleagues in the entertainment industry also wished her a happy birthday and expressed their admiration for her dedication to her craft.
Meanwhile, some months back, Ireti confirmed her divorce from veteran actor Patrick Doyle.
The 55-year-old made the confirmation in an interview with Chude Jideonwo, saying: “We are officially divorced.”
Ireti Doyle and Ex-husband Patrick
In a recent interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, Nigerian actress Ireti Doyle opened up about her personal life, correcting some misconceptions and revealing some painful truths.
Firstly, Doyle corrected the impression that she had her first child at 17. In fact, she was 19 when she became a mother. While this may seem like a small detail, it is important for the actress to set the record straight and prevent any false narratives from being spread.
Ireti Doyle bags doctorate degree
Chude also shared with viewers that Doyle had suffered physical and domestic violence as a teenager. The actress confirmed this, admitting that she had made some poor choices in her youth, including marrying at a young age to someone she now realizes was not a good match for her.
She candidly shared that she had no business getting married at that time, let alone to someone like her ex-husband. Doyle went on to detail the abuse she suffered, both physical and emotional, and how difficult it was for her to leave the situation.
The actress also spoke about her journey as a mother of six children. She shared that while it can be challenging, especially as a working actress, her children are her greatest blessings and she is grateful for each one of them.
The Tinsel actress said: “The truth of the matter is that I had no business being married at that time talk less of… let’s not even go to the choice of who I got married to.”
Ireti Doyle with her children
Among the movies she featured in include,
Tinsel (TV Series, 2008-2021) – Ireti played the role of Angela Dede in this long-running Nigerian soap opera, the Wedding Party (2016) where Ireti played the role of Obianuju Onwuka, the mother of the bride and Fifty (2015) in which she played the role of Elizabeth, one of four Nigerian women approaching the age of fifty.
Eight prisoners have reportedly escaped from jail at Nkwanta South.
Police officers at the Nkwanta South Divisional Police Station of the Oti Region are under pressure after the incident.
Information gathered by Adom News suggests that, the incident occurred at about 10:30 pm on Tuesday when a female police officer on duty was about to lock the cells.
According to reports, the suspects forcibly pushed the gate on the officer and fled.
Police in Nkwanta South have confirmed the incident but have refused to give further details.
In a daring prison break that shocked the nation, a convicted rapist who faked his own death is the target of a manhunt launched by police in South Africa, according to reports.
In May, Thabo Bester allegedly set himself on fire in a privately run prison in Bloemfontein, South Africa, according to authorities. However, at the weekend, police claimed DNA tests proved the charred remains found in the serial rapist’s cell belonged to someone else.
“At this point, our priority is to find this fugitive of justice and establish exactly how he faked his death,” police spokeswoman Athlenda Mathe told reporters on Monday.
Called the “Facebook rapist”, Bester allegedly lured victims on the social media platform before raping and robbing them. At least one victim was killed. In 2012, he was sentenced to life in prison for rape, robbery and murder.
On Sunday, police said an autopsy revealed the person found dead in Bester’s cell had died from blunt force trauma to the head before being set ablaze. A murder investigation has been opened.
The case has sparked outrage in South Africa, where women’s rights groups have long accused the government of not doing enough to tackle violence against women.
“The unfolding of this story has been like a movie and sent shivers down everyone’s spines. … I can imagine what it did to the victims,” said Bafana Khumalo, co-director of the NGO Sonke Gender Justice.
From October to December, police recorded more than 12,000 rapes across the country.
Doubts about Bester’s death were first raised by local media outlet GroundUp in November.
Photographs purportedly showing the convict grocery shopping in an affluent Johannesburg suburb have since surfaced. Some women have also come forward alleging the convict made contact with them on social media.
Before his escape, Bester also reportedly ran a scam media business from inside prison using a false name.
According to local outlet News24, he posed as head of 21st Century Media, a phantom event and production company that was a supposed subsidiary of the American company 21st Century Fox.
The media company promoted a 2018 event that advertised Hollywood superstars but turned out to be a scam, the paper said. A video of Bester addressing a company event via video call from behind bars while pretending to be in New York has gone viral.
“The escape of Bester … is testament to the incompetence of the Correctional Services system, and the endemic corruption in the sector,” the leftist Economic Freedom Fighters opposition party said in a statement.
Police have appealed to the public for any information relevant to the case.
“We want to find people who are directly involved in this matter as well as his accomplices,” Mathe said.
Bullhaus Entertainment’s Creative Director, Lawrence Nana Asiamah Hanson, also known as Bullgod, has revealed that his team is in discussions with the Inspector General of Police, George Akuffo Dampare, to construct state-of-the-art prison cells.
In a gbconline.com report, Bullgod, who claims to have been in and out of prison cells approximately ten times, expressed dissatisfaction with the current designs of prison cells.
“Cells are more challenging than prisons. Prisons are a bit easier because they resemble a compound house with cells. You can stretch your legs in the morning. In cells, you can’t move.
“There are people who sit in the same spot for 2-3 years, and nobody will feed you if you don’t have someone taking care of you,” he explained the difference between cells and prisons.
Bullgod further revealed that he and his team have designed aesthetically pleasing mini prison cells.
“It’s like a mini prison where you can stretch in the morning because it’s depressing,” he said.
According to Bullgod, his 11-month stay in cells over the alleged murder of Fennec Okyere, the former manager of Kwaw Kese, inspired him to build new cells.
A former hotel manager who was portrayed as a hero in the Hollywood movie Hotel Rwanda, Paul Rusesabagina, may soon be freed from a Kigali prison.
In what his supporters referred to as a sham trial, he was given a 25-year prison term for terrorism by a Rwandan court two years ago.
The sentence of Mr. Rusesabagina had been “commuted by presidential decree,” according to a government official.
Some 1,200 people are said to have been saved by Mr. Rusesabagina, 68, during the 1994 genocide.
In a statement his family told the BBC: “We are pleased to hear the news about Paul’s release. The family is hopeful to reunite with him soon.”
There have been international calls for Mr Rusesabagina’s release, especially from the United States, where he had lived since 2009. The Biden administration has said he was “wrongfully detained”.
His family say the Rwandan government lured him fromTexas, where he had permanent residency, back to Rwanda in 2020.
Mr Rusesabagina left Rwanda in 1996. His story remained largely unknown for a decade, while he worked as a taxi driver in the Belgian capital, Brussels.
It was featured in a section of journalist Philip Gourevitch’s 1998 book about the genocide, but it was the 2004 Hollywood movie, where he was played by Don Cheadle, that brought him global attention.
Rwanda’s 100 days of slaughter
The Hollywood hero convicted of terrorism
The Rwandan genocide lasted 100 days from April 1994, when 800,000 people, mostly from the Tutsi ethnic group, were slaughtered by extremists from the Hutu community.
Mr Rusesabagina – a hotel manager at the time – protected some 1,200 people from the violence, after they sought shelter in the building.
The following year he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by then-US President George W Bush for his efforts. But he became a fierce critic of Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame.
In a 2018 video message, Mr Rusesabagina called for a regime change, saying that “the time has come for us to use any means possible to bring about change in Rwanda”.
He was arrested in 2020, when, according to his supporters, a private jet he believed would take him to Burundi, instead landed in the Rwandan capital Kigali.
In September 2021 he was found guilty of backing a rebel group behind deadly attacks in 2018 and 2019 in Rwanda.
Mr Rusesabagina was freed alongside Callixte Nsabimana, spokesman of the Rwanda Movement for Democratic Change – an opposition political party.
A spokesperson for the Rwandan government said: “No-one should be under any illusion about what this means, as there is consensus that serious crimes were committed, for which they were convicted.
“Under Rwandan law, commutation of sentence does not extinguish the underlying conviction.
“Rwanda notes the constructive role of the US government in creating conditions for dialogue on this issue, as well as the facilitation provided by the state of Qatar.”
Private Legal Practitioner Captain (Retired) Nkrabeah Effah Dartey has narrated how he spent 11 months of his life in prison due to someone conspiring against him.
Speaking to the media, some individuals gave false testimony against him, thus led to his demotion from the Ghana Armed Forces.
According to him he was left in a situation in which he had no one to stand up for him.
“I was sent to prison for eleven months and was also sacked from the Ghana Armed Forces because someone lied against me. So it is not easy for someone to tell lies about you where you would have nobody to defend you”. Captain Nkrabeah Effah Dartey said this in an interview with Angel FM Kumasi over the week.
“There is nothing more painful than for someone to tell lie about you and you would have nobody to defend you, he stressed.
The legal practitioner and politician is a retired military officer who served in the Ghana Armed Forces. He was promoted to the rank of captain on 27th April 1983 and just after almost four months, he exited the military on 14 August 1983.
In a case that shook the US, disgraced ex-lawyer Alex Murdaugh was found guilty of killing his son and wife and was given a life sentence.
A jury found the 54-year-old guilty in less than three hours prior to the South Carolina hearing.
Prosecutors argued he killed his wife and son to divert attention from his financial crimes and gain sympathy.
Judge Clifton Newman called the case “one of the most troubling” he had seen and noted Murdaugh’s past “as a well-known member of the legal community”.
“You’ve practised law before me, and we’ve seen each other at various occasions throughout the years,” he said, calling it “especially heart-breaking for me” to learn of Murdaugh’s arrest and prosecution, more than a year after the murders were committed.
Alex Murdaugh headed a legal dynasty that for decades had occupied a powerful place – the jurisdiction was described by some as “Murdaugh Country”.
Judge Newman said he understood the decision by the state not to seek the death penalty, but noted that Murdaugh’s own family had had people executed for less.
“Your family, including you, have been prosecuting people here in this courtroom, and many have received the death penalty, probably for lesser conduct,” he said.
The disbarred attorney was convicted of two counts of murder after a six-week trial.
During the trial, investigators revealed how Murdaugh stole nearly $9m from clients, to fund an addiction to painkillers and a lavish lifestyle.
At Friday’s sentencing, Murdaugh spoke briefly twice, to maintain his innocence. His lawyers said they would appeal against the life terms within 10 days.
Murdaugh’s surviving son, Buster Murdaugh, dressed in a simple navy-blue blazer, sat still and silent throughout the proceedings – even as the judge sentenced his father to two consecutive life sentences.
The judge also suggested the murders may have been carried out under the influence of the drugs.
“It might not have been you, but it may have been the monster you became when you took those pills.”
Lead prosecutor Creighton Waters said the evidence against the South Carolina lawyer was “overwhelming” and showed him to be a “cunning, manipulative man who placed himself above all others, including his family”.
Murdaugh, meanwhile, restated his claim that he was not guilty.
“I would never hurt my wife and I would never hurt my son,” he said in brief remarks at the hearing. He stared ahead and did not react as his sentence was read.
A video filmed by Paul Murdaugh just minutes before he was shot featured the voice of his father in the background, dramatically contradicting his claim he was not there at the time.
A juror who convicted him told ABC News that was the moment he began to suspect the defendant was guilty.
A new mugshot released by the South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) shows that Murdaugh’s head has now been shaved.
According to local media, male prisoners normally undergo some sort of haircut upon arriving in prison.
The SCDC said in a statement that “like all inmates” he will spend the next 45 days in the intake process – during which time his medical and mental health will be assessed, as will his educational level.
After the 45-day period, he will be sent to a maximum-security prison.
Image caption,Murdaugh’s mugshot after his conviction
During a news conference after the sentence was handed down, Murdaugh’s lawyers said they did not believe it was a mistake for him to take the stand during the trial. They called Judge Newman’s decision to allow evidence related to Murdaugh’s financial crimes to be included in the murder trial “erroneous”.
The state’s case “was about character, not about motive”, defence attorney Dick Harpootlian said. Murdaugh had been cast as a “despicable human being”, he said.
The high-profile case has captured national attention and sparked true crime podcasts and documentaries.
After spending 40 years in Israeli prisons, Maher Younis, Karim Younis’ cousin, was finally set free.
Maher Younis, the second-longest-held Palestinian prisoner, was freed after 40 years inIsraeli jails.
On Thursday, just before 7 a.m. (05:00 GMT), Maher, 65, was freed from Eshel prison, close to Beer Sabe’ (Beer Sheva) in southern Israel.
He was detained in 1983 and later found guilty in Israeli courts, along with his cousin Karim Younis, of murdering an Israeli soldier in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights in Syria in 1980.
Karim, released two weeks ago, was the longest serving Palestinian prisoner, having been arrested earlier than Maher.
The cousins are from the Palestinian village of Ara in Israel, where large crowds of relatives and friends greeted Maher on Thursday.
Upon his release, Maher visited the grave of his father, who died in 2008. His mother showered him with petals when he arrived at his home, where he was arrested at 25.
She told Al Jazeera journalists before he son’s arrival that she would not cry but would spend every moment celebrating.
Maher Younis was convicted in 1983 of killing an Israeli soldier in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights [Ammar Awad/Reuters]
Maher and Karim were originally sentenced to death by hanging. Their sentence was changed to life in prison, which was then commuted to 40 years in 2011.
Dozens of Israeli police, who had warned people in Ara against holding any kind of celebration for days before his release, surrounded the house on Thursday morning.
The Palestinian flag was not allowed to be raised, according to new orders banning it in public by Itamar Ben-Gvir, who was recently appointed National Security Minister under a new right-wing government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
While the vast majority of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails are from the occupied West Bank, the Younis cousins are Palestinian citizens of Israel.
Ministers in Israel’s new government have been pushing for harsher measures against Palestinians in Israel and in occupied East Jerusalem who have carried out attacks in which Jewish Israelis are killed, such as revocation of residency and citizenship.
A heated exchange took place last week about the issue when a far-right minister said she “prefers Jewish murderers over Arab murderers”.
Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Jen Shah has received a six-and-a-half-year prison term.
The TV actor pleaded guilty in July for conspiracy to commit wire fraud for her involvement in a telemarketing scheme that targeted vulnerable people.
Shah has apologised for her role saying she would “work for the rest of my life to make it right”.
As a part of her plea deal, she agreed to forfeit $6.5m ( £5.3m).
She will also pay up to $9.5m (£7.8m) in restitution.
The 78-month prison sentence comes after Shah’s attorneys asked for three years in prison, while prosecutors recommended 10 years.
Prosecutors allege Shah, 49, and her former assistant Stuart Smith – who has also pleaded guilty – generated and sold lists of vulnerable victims, including the elderly, to other members of the fraud scheme. In court filings, authorities argued Shah was the “most culpable” person charged in the case.
The scheme defrauded thousands of people since 2012, according to prosecutors. Among the victims was a widow in her 70s who lost half of her life savings and another person with a health condition who became homeless after losing money to the scheme to pay for misleading business opportunities, according to victim statements.
Shah was arrested in March 2021 during the filming for the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, which airs on Bravo.
During the show, the reality star had frequently advertised her luxurious lifestyle, including her expensive clothing, jewellery and her team of several assistants, dubbed the “Shah squad”.
She initially pleaded not guilty and maintained her innocence during much of the third season of the show.
Shah’s previous descriptions of her job and financial situation frequently provoked confusion among fellow cast members and viewers.
“What I’ve done for the last 20 years is direct response marketing. I make millions,” she said in one 2019 interview.
Shah will surrender to federal prison on 17 February.
GucciMane has called for an investigation into Pooh Shiesty’s treatment in prison.
“We do not pay attention to how inmates in the US are treated!” Gucci wrote in an Instagram post that he captioned, “This is unacceptable!”
He explained that the incarcerated Florida rapper, who was sentenced to five years and 3 months in prison in April after he pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy charges, has been sent to the United States Penitentiary Pollock (USP Pollock) in Grant Parish, Louisiana, which is extremely far from his home. While there, Gucci says the rapper is facing extreme conditions.
“@PoohShiesty has been sent to a prison over 1500 miles from his home, 23 hr lock down and given empty food trays,” Gucci continued. “USP Pollack [sic] should be investigated immediately.” In the caption of the post, he tagged President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, and included the hashtags, “#movepooh” and “#prisonreform.”
Shiesty was transferred from Turner Guilford Night Correctional Center in Miami to the USP Pollock earlier this year, and is currently expected to carry out the remaining years of his sentence there. In May, it was confirmed that the Memphis native will be on supervised release for three years following his sentence, and he won’t be permitted to see any of his co-defendants or gang members during that time.
The rapper is behind bars in connection with a South Florida shooting that took place in October 2020. He was originally facing eight years in prison for the alleged shooting of 28-year-old Brandon Cooper, but accepted a plea deal for a reduced sentence.
The Russian paramilitary group Wagner acknowledged Tuesday that a Zambian student recruited in prison was killed in Ukraine, two weeks after Zambia demanded an explanation from Russia on the circumstances of the death of one of its citizens.
“Lemekhani Nathan Nyirenda, on September 22, was one of the first to enter the enemy trenches, showing courage and bravery,” greeted on his company’s social networks the head of Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin.
Oligarch reputedly close to Vladimir Putinand became a media personality of the conflict in Ukraine, Mr. Prigozhin said he “well remembered this guy” of 23 years, “died as a hero” in combat.
For several weeks, Yevgeny Prigozhin was accused by Ukraine of sending to the front thousands of fighters recruited directly in Russian prisons, against the promise of a salary and an amnesty.
Mr. Prigozhin admitted on Tuesday that his group had recruited Mr. Nyirenda, convicted in Russia, in a prison in the Tver region, northwest of Moscow.
He said the young Zambian had volunteered to join Wagner and fight in Ukraine.
Zambia had asked Moscow in mid-November for an explanation for the death of one of its nationals in Ukraine, where Russia has been conducting a military offensive since February.
According to the Zambian government, Lemekhani Nathan Nyirenda was initially a student of nuclear engineering at the Moscow Engineering Physics Institute (MEPhI).
He had been sentenced to nine years and six months in prison after being convicted of violating Russian law in April 2020, according to the same source.
South Africa’s prison service has said it will challenge a court decision that sent former president Jacob Zuma back to jail.
“Having carefully studied the judgement, Correctional Services is convinced that another court may arrive at a different conclusion,” the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) said in a statement
The Supreme Court of Appeal had on Monday ordered Mr Zuma to return to prison after upholding an earlier ruling that his medical parole had been unlawful.
The 80-year-old was given a 15-month sentence last year for contempt of court over his refusal to testify during an investigation into corruption.
But he was released after two months in jail, after his lawyers argued that he had an undisclosed terminal illness and needed medical care that could not be provided in prison.
A prison inmate, Richard Ofosu Dame has been confessing his evil deeds when he was a free man.
His confession included his attempt to kill his own mother but God had His hand on the life of the prayerful woman and protected her from her evil son who had been throwing snares at her.
Narrating his vile deeds to crimecheckghana.org, Dame said he had already killed three people spiritually, which he was contracted to do.
According to him, he became possessed by an evil spirit and he used the powers to cause atrocities including killing people.
He said when he was possessed, people consulted him to do evil for them and that became his job.
Dame said the evil powers he possessed enabled him to summon people’s souls through his chants.
He indicated that he even went to Peki in the Volta Region to buy a snake, which could vomit money.
However, his mother who was against his deeds hindered his acts with her prayers.
Dame said his mother’s prayers did not sit well with him so he attempted to kill her in the same manner he had done with the other deceased individuals.
He said his attempt failed and rather got blind while he was chanting to get her mother’s soul to appear in a calabash for him to stab her. He lost his sight for two years.
“I have a small stone under my bed which I worship. A man gifted it to me. When I want to kill, I get a small doll and pins around it with a red piece of cloth. After that, I put it in a calabash containing water. When the water turns reddish in colour, then it means that the person has been killed. I used the same method to kill three. I also summon people’s souls to kill them.
“It got to a time, my mother’s prayers were obstructing my work. She advised me to stop but I refused. I wanted to take her life the same way I did with the others but it was unsuccessful. I was chanting in a bid to summon my mother’s soul. She was praying that evening and when the incantations got intense, some sort of strange wind blew over my face and that ended my sight. I went blind for two years,” he confessed.
Like Apostle Paul in the Bible, Dame said he repented after his sight was restored.
“When I lost my sight, I realized that God’s power reigns supreme. I was taken to many places to seek help and through that I encountered God,” he said.
Persons in police or prison custody can report to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) for inhuman and degrading treatment.
Apart from torture or maltreatment, persons in custody can also complain to the CHRAJ about lack of basic amenities such as lack of toilet, beds or even quality food for redress.
According to Dr Isaac Annan, former Director of Human Rights at CHRAJ and a Consultant, Law and Governance Consult, provision of such amenities bordered on human rights of which many Ghanaians did not know about.
He was speaking to the Ghanaian Times during a meeting on “Strengthening Ghana Police Service and Civil Society Cooperation Towards Effective Case Management and Improved
Accountability”.
It was organised by CHRAJ in collaboration with the German Development Organisation (GIZ).
The overall objective of the two-day meeting aimed at enhancing police service accountability and improving cooperation between the Police Service and Civil Society Organisations(CSOs) leading to a more efficient and effective complaints management system.
Participants, mainly Police and CSOs, were also familiarised with quantitative and qualitative data collected by CHRAJ, CSOs and the media to improve Police Professional Standard Bureau’s (PPSB) complaints handling and management system.
Dr Annan indicated that CHRAJ would investigate any torture or maltreatment cases brought to it and ensure offending officers were dealt with for justice to prevail.
Stressing the need for the empowerment of the average Ghanaian with knowledge about human rights, he urged the CHRAJ to go out there with such education.
Commissioner of CHRAJ, Jospeh Whittal, earlier in a presentation, indicated “if we able to understand the bottlenecks to complaints handling against police misconducts, we would achieve a lot of progress”.
He said CHRAJ as a constitutional body “has oversight responsibility over the Police Service”.
Realising that sometimes there seemed to be a discord between the Police, the CSOs and the Media stemming from misunderstanding of each other’s role, he said, the purpose of the engagement was to ensure how critical accountability institutions could understand each other’s role, point out misunderstandings in order to forge democratic relations together.
Among the topics treated were principles of good administration and accountability (internal and external), human rights-based approach to complaints management, legal and policy framework for ensuring police accountability in Ghana, roles of civil society and the media in ensuring police accountability.
An Islamic State group militant from the UK has been sentenced to life in prison by a US court for his involvement with a terror cell.
El Shafee Elsheikh, 34, was convicted in April of hostage-taking, conspiracy to murder US citizens, and supporting a terrorist organization.
Addressing the Sudanese-born Londoner, the judge called his actions “horrific, barbaric, brutal and criminal”.
Elsheikh was the highest profile IS fighter to stand trial in the US.
His actions are said to have resulted in the deaths of four US hostages.
Journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff and aid workers Kayla Mueller and Peter Kassig were all kidnapped and killed at the hands of the cell.
Hostage families expressed a mixture of gratitude and disappointment for the outcome. Standing outside the courthouse on Friday, James Foley’s mother, Diane, called the sentencing a “hollow victory,” but said that it did show that “US justice will find you wherever you are”.
“Our country has lost four of its very best citizens. We families lost loved ones forever,” she said.
The sentencing came on the eight-year anniversary of Foley’s death. Mrs Foley told the BBC that when she first heard of her son’s death she thought it was “some cruel joke”.
Hostages said Elsheikh was part of a notorious cell nicknamed “the Beatles” – after the band – because of their British accents.
Robert Sylvester Popularly known as R-Kelly has been cited on social media singing in prison to entertain himself.
The video has however attracted emotional responses.
In the video, the shameful child molester was in the prison with another man nearby and decided to serenade either himself or those close to him.
Kelly sang in his beautiful and angelic voice, showing his talent is still as strong as ever.
The emotional video saw the singer passionately displaying the vocal range that made him one of the most famous and successful RnB singers of all time.
Unfortunately, talent is never enough and it appears Kelly is a really garbage human being, hence being in prison.
The video was shared on Tiktok with the caption: “R Kelly singing for a honey bun,â€
Ghanaian blogger itellmymind reposted with the caption: “Talent is talent, no matter where you find yourself nobody can take it away from you. R.Kelly sings from jail. Guy looks happy 😃â€
A fan replied: “What a voice. Woooow nti bibini koraaa b3y3 de3n wo wiase ne agumbia voice yi,â€
Some residents in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis have expressed discontent about the daily feeding fee of prisoners in the country and called on government to review it.
They said to reduce the pressure on government and decongest the prisons, non-custodial sentences could be considered to promote healthy living among the inmates.
These concerns came in the wake of agitation by some inmates of the Sekondi Prisons for improved nutrition and dieting.
The inmates were reported to have chanted war songs and boycotted their food, which they said did not offer any nourishment.
Each prisoner is allocated GHc1.80p daily by government.
Mr Joseph Assifuah, a former Unit Committee Member of Nkenya in Takoradi, told the Ghana News Agency that crimes such as pilfering, theft and stealing must not see offenders in remand but should be given some communal jobs amid counselling to reform them.
Mrs Nana Adjoa Pew, an Organisational Development Officer, called for change management in Ghana’s prisons to ensure they reformed rather than harden the offenders.
She said the feeding fee was woefully inadequate and must be increased as soon as possible, while calling on the public and benevolent organisations to support.
The Deputy Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Prisons Service ASP. Samuel Kofi Opoku says there will not be special treatment in jail for actress Akuapem Poloo.
It comes after speculations that celebrities are treated differently from other inmates in jail.
“The constitution of the land and the rules that govern the operations of the Prisons Service does make preservations for separate treatment to celebrities who commit offences and are found guilty by the court of law,†he told Koforidua-based Daddy FM.
He explained the actress was charged with obscene publication and sentenced to 90 days imprisonment which entitles her to the 1/3 remission system as a citizen of the land.
According to the corrections communicator, the Akuapem Polo is likely to serve sixty out of the 90 days if she puts up a good behaviour jail.
He noted musicians like Geeman, Ramzy, the late Ibrahim Sima (Exopa) and Kwaw Kesse have experienced the prison system and culture in Ghana and can attest to the fact that all inmates are treated the same.
“Undertaking effective safe custody and reformation of inmates in a developing country is not ordinary as professionalism, strict adherence to human rights and constant support from stakeholders are required in achieving results and the Prisons Service has for the past decades performed its duties on this tangent to ensure public safety.
“He reiterated that the prison remission system is earned by deserving inmates through a study industry, good conduct, and positive attitude of inmates as they serve their sentences and not a favor designed for celebrities or influential figures who are sentenced to prison by the court of lawâ€.
The actress is appealing the sentencing. The application for bail pending appeal will be heard on Wednesday, April 21.
Information gathered by MyNewsGh suggests that a convict Enoch Mamfe has broken out of jail at Adomi Senchi.
According to our sources, Enoch Mamfe broke out of jail through the ceiling and then destroyed parts of the asbestos roofing sheets of the washroom of the cell he was occupying and bolted.
Enoch Mamfe is said to have been convicted by the circuit court Krobo Odumasi for forty- eight months for stealing.
The runaway convict is said to have been awaiting COVID 19 test results but has since bolted.
The Police is a manhunt for him and is hopeful of apprehending him.
This is the second time in a week convicts have broken jail in the country.
MyNewsGh.com during the week reported a similar story of three convicts who were waiting for their COVID-19 results in Walewale but broke out of jail. The police officers who were in charge of the station have since been given ten days to find them.
For many men, after becoming successful in life, they tend to forget about the women in their lives they toiled with to reach their current status.
Their monies and wealth now control their moves at the detriment of their family and no one seems to be able to advise them on what to do.
Such is the story of Ohene Kofi Agyekum, a man who seems to have learnt his lessons in life after he was convicted.
Agyekum who spoke to Crime Check TV monitored by MyNewsGh.com, said while at home, he never respected his wife who is a nurse by profession because he had money.
He said he never spent on his wife but rather, he spent on other women, alcohol and friends who never advised him to do the right thing.
However, he ended up in jail when he invested the money into a business venture with another friend which involved car sales but it flopped.
After his conviction, he noted that although he treated his wife unfairly while he was a free man, his wife did not pay him back with the same coin because she sacrificed her time and energy to ensure that he was ok.
“When I got the problem, I could not tell my wife because I was shy about it and the fact that I never respected and treated her right was another thing. But my wife provided me with all the support. She visited me and we spoke on phone often. I had to tell her not to come here because she can use that money to take care of our four children,†he told Crime Check Television in an interview monitored by MyNewsGh.com.
He called on all men to respect their women because they are their backbones and without them men are nothing.
Prisoners in the country could easily be infected with the COVID-19 if overcrowding in the cells is not addressed, says the Perfecter of Sentiments (POS) Foundation, facilitators of the Justice for All Programme.
The Foundation regretted what it described as worsened congestion of inmates in prisons across the country, and called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to grant pardon under Article 72 of the 1992 Fourth Republican Constitution.
It is also proposing exclusion of Convicted Non-Violent Drug Users (not Trade/traffickers) serving below 10 years from the old PNDC Law 236 which enforces, controls, and sanctions offences relating to narcotics.
Mr. Jonathan Osei Owusu, the Executive Director, POS Foundation, called on the Ministry of Interior to speed up processes for the passage of the Community Service Bill, which seeks to give offenders chances for reformation, instead of incarceration.
He made the call when the Foundation presented Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other items worth GH¢39, 000.00 and a cheque of GH¢2, 000.00 to the Sunyani Central Prisons.
Some of the items included Vitamin C, thermometer gun, veronica Buckets, automated hand washing machine, liquid soaps, bins, tissue, gloves, and food items would be supplied to the Duayaw-Nkwanta and Kenyase Prisons Camp in the Ahafo Region.
Mr. Owusu indicated that it would be suicidal if the COVID-19 hit the various prisons in the country due to the overcrowding of inmates in cells, saying, instead of the 815 designed capacity, the Nsawam prisons currently contained 3,305 inmates.
The Kumasi Central Prisons were also designed to accommodate only 800 inmates, but currently, the cells have more than 1,880 inmates.
“There is nothing like social distancing in the prisonsâ€, a situation he observed places the life of prison wardens and inmates in danger.
This, he explained, was the reason why the POS and its funding Agencies- German Development Cooperation (GIZ) and Open Society for West Africa (OSIWA) was undertaking COVID-19 Response Prisons Outreach Project in the country.
Under the project, the implementers would donate several PPE to Prisons and support them with cotton materials to produce one million nose masks to protect personnel of the Ghana Prison Service (GPS).
The project engages prison inmates in tailoring and dressmaking to sew the nose masks.
Deputy Director of Prisons (DDP) Kwasi Asamoah Fenning, the Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo Regions Commander of the GPS said overcrowding was also a major problem in the prisons, saying, the prison was built in 1960 and instead of 350 inmate capacity, it now has 866 inmates.
He thanked the Foundation for the support and appealed to other corporate organisations to emulate the patriotic gesture.
The Management of Crime Check Foundation (CCF) together with its partners and donors have presented 100 pieces of student mattresses to the Ghana Prison Service.
The donation, which is worth GHC 12,000 is in response to the distress call of the Prisons Service to support inmates with some mattresses.
Mr Ibrahim Oppong Kwarteng, the Executive Director of CCF presenting the mattresses the donation was in response to the call by the Director General to support the Service with some mattresses for inmates.
He said the Management thought it prudent to talk to donors of our Foundation to quickly come to the aid of the Ghana Prisons Service, hence, the presentation.
He said the mattresses were to help the inmates in prisons especially at this crucial time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said “we know that in order for the Service to carry out its mandate of reformation and rehabilitation agenda, it is the responsibility of all Ghanaians to support them.”
He said no government was able to adequately cater for the needs of the Prison Service over the years and the presentation was the contributions from the Foundation’s donors and partners.
“We hope that other well-meaning Ghanaians will also follow suit,” he added. He said the welfare of inmates should not be ignored especially in this COVID-19 period and for the Prisons Service to effectively execute its mandate, it must be adequately equipped.
Mr Kwarteng, who is also the Ambassador Extraordinaire of Ghana Prisons appealed to all Ghanaians globally to help support the Prisons Service. “They need sanitizers and other PPE and this is not the time we should turn our back to them, but rather fulfill our Goldy responsibility, which is enshrined in both the Bible, Quran and all other religious books on the need to go the aid of prisoners,” he said.
Mr Kwarteng assured the Service of the Foundation’s continuous support to the Prisons.
The Director of Prisons in Charge of Welfare, Mr Leopold Kwame Amoah Ansah, who received the mattresses expressed gratitude to the Management of CCF for responding to their call for support.
He said the presentation was timely as it would help improve and bridge the gap, where most inmates had to sleep on bare floor because of lack of space and mattresses.
He appealed to corporate bodies to assist the Service to improve its service delivery and called on government to increase the feeding fee of inmates. “I add my voice to corporate Ghana and indeed organizations, which are interested in corrections to come on board and assist the Service,” he added. He said in addition to the PPE, the Service would need nutritious meals for inmates to boost their immune system.
The DOP said the few medical infirmaries the Service had would need support to renovate and refurbish and appealed to government to increase the feeding rate of inmates.
CCF has been instrumental in facilitating the execution of the reformation and rehabilitation mandate of the Ghana Prisons Service through its support programmes that seek to improve the welfare of prison inmates.
