Home Blog Page 14

Awudu Mahama: Why I’m The Right Choice To Lead PRINPAG

0
Awudu Mahama

At a time when the Private Newspapers and Online News Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG) is seeking renewed energy, credibility and growth, Awudu Mahama stands out as the ideal leader to guide the Association into its next phase of transformation.

Mr. Mahama has pledged to lead with integrity, humility, unity, and transparency—qualities that are indispensable for an institution that thrives on trust and credibility. He has made it clear that the welfare of members will remain his foremost priority, ensuring that publishers are better supported, respected, and empowered in Ghana’s ever-evolving media space.

His candidacy is not a personal ambition but the outcome of extensive consultations with colleagues across the media industry.

This demonstrates his deep commitment to inclusive leadership and his belief that PRINPAG’s strength lies in collective participation.

With over 25 years of professional experience in journalism, Mr. Mahama brings to the table a wealth of expertise and insight.

Having served as editor of several leading private newspapers, he understands firsthand the challenges faced by publishers and the opportunities that lie ahead.

His proven track record of resilience, credibility, and innovation makes him well-equipped to steer PRINPAG towards greater recognition and influence within Ghana’s media landscape.

Awudu Mahama is not just seeking to lead; he is offering a vision of an Association that is stronger, more united, and more relevant than ever before.

By entrusting him with your mandate, members will be endorsing a leader who is ready to uphold the dignity of PRINPAG while championing the interests of every member.

The choice before PRINPAG is clear: a leader who embodies experience, integrity and more importantly, temperament.

Awudu Mahama is the leader

Ho based Businesswoman loses GH¢2.4m in Alleged Maize, Beans Scam

0
Dansoman Circuit Court

A businesswoman based in Ho, Mary Lolo, has reportedly been defrauded of a staggering GH¢2,435,000 by a 46-year-old man, Koku Amedume Benedictus, who allegedly posed as a Special Aide to the  Volta Regional minister and Spokesperson for the School Feeding Programme.

According to documents presented before the Dansoman Circuit Court, Benedictus is facing four counts of defrauding by false pretence, contrary to Section 131(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

False Promises and Fabricated Positions

Benedictus is accused of using false representations to convince the complainant, Mary Lolo, to part with large sums of money under the pretext of supplying her with large quantities of maize and beans at discounted prices. Claiming connections with the School Feeding Programme and key government agencies, Benedictus allegedly gained Lolo’s trust and assured her of bulk deliveries.

The funds were allegedly paid across four transactions between January and March 2025, ranging from GH¢240,000 to GH¢800,000. Each payment was made into a CalBank account bearing the name “K. TITIS ENT,” provided by the accused.

Timeline of Alleged Fraud

3rd January 2025: GH¢500,000

16th January 2025: GH¢600,000

11th February 2025: GH¢240,000

13th March 2025: GH¢800,000

According to the prosecutor, Chief Inspector Christopher Wonder, the accused sent photos of stored maize as evidence of successful purchases.

However, when Lolo requested delivery, Benedictus allegedly gave various excuses regarding transportation and logistics.

Eventually, he claimed there were more stocks in Ejura available at a lower cost and requested additional payments.

After the final transfer, Lolo reportedly became suspicious and demanded her goods.

All efforts to retrieve the maize and beans proved futile, prompting her to file a police report.

Court Proceedings

At the Dansoman Circuit Court, presided over by Her Honour Basilia Adjei-Tawiah, Benedictus was granted bail in the sum of GH¢1 million, with three sureties.

Two of the sureties must be justified and the third must be a Public Servant earning at least GH¢5,000 per month.

The prosecutor, Chief Inspector Christopher Wonder, strongly opposed the bail application, arguing that the accused posed a flight risk and that his release could interfere with ongoing investigations. He also stressed the severity of the charges and the amount involved.

 

However, defense counsel countered that Benedictus had been cooperative during the police inquiry, had not fled, and voluntarily appeared in court. The defense also argued that the case leaned more toward a civil dispute than a criminal one.

Background

The complainant, Mary Lolo, was introduced to the accused through an intermediary after she noticed GH¢170,000 had mysteriously been deducted from her buffer stock account.

Benedictus allegedly presented himself as someone who could help her recover the funds, further strengthening his credibility before launching the maize and beans supply scam.

Benedictus remains on bail as the case continues. Investigations are still underway, and the court has adjourned for further hearing.

 

Man, 72, Allegedly Defrauds Banker and Businessman of GH¢1.05M

0
Court

Oscar Zowonu, a 72-year-old unemployed man, has been arraigned before the Dansoman Circuit Court for allegedly defrauding a banker and a businessman of GH¢1,050,000 under the pretence of selling a plot of land he had already lost in a civil court case.

Zowonu, who pleaded not guilty to the charge of defrauding by false pretence, was granted bail in the sum of GH¢100,000 with three sureties.

Two of the sureties are to be justified and the third must be a civil servant earning not less than GH¢5,000 monthly.

Presiding over the case, Her Honour Basilia Adjei-Tawiah, in a Friday hearing, ordered the accused to deposit all his travel documents, including his Ghanaian passport, with the court registry.

Zowonu is also to report to the case investigator once every two weeks.

Flight Risk Concerns

Chief Inspector Christopher Wonder, the prosecuting officer, objected to bail, citing the accused as a flight risk.

He told the court that the Adenta Circuit Court had earlier issued a bench warrant for Zowonu’s arrest after he failed to comply with court orders in a previous criminal trial.

According to the prosecution multiple attempts to arrest him had been unsuccessful.

C/Insp. Wonder argued that releasing Zowonu could provide him with another opportunity to evade justice or commit further crimes.

However, the defence counsel pleaded for leniency, asserting that the accused was of advanced age and not a flight risk.

The Alleged Fraud

According to the brief facts of the case, the complainants, Eunice Boateng, a banker, and Baffour Asamoah, a businessman, were allegedly defrauded by Zowonu under the false promise of selling them an unencumbered plot of land located at Kwabenya.

In 2024, the accused allegedly assured the two that, upon payment of GH¢1,050,000, he would transfer ownership of the said land to them.

However, it later emerged that the property was already the subject of a legal judgment in favour of another individual.

Investigations revealed that in 2020, Zowonu had been arrested by the Kwabenya Police for defrauding one Silace Sonfack of US$175,000. During the ensuing civil case, Zowonu ceded the same Kwabenya property to Sonfack in partial settlement of the defrauded amount.

Sonfack and his legal team later won a judgment and successfully attached the property.

Despite the pending legal complications, Zowonu allegedly sold the land again in 2024 to the current complainants for GH¢1,207,500 out of which GH¢1,050,000 was paid up front.

After receiving the money, the accused reportedly went into hiding and began evading trial at the Adenta Circuit Court, prompting a bench warrant for his arrest. He was eventually apprehended by the Greater Accra Regional Police Command.

During interrogation, Zowonu allegedly mentioned accomplices, and police say investigations are ongoing to arrest them.

The case has been adjourned to October 13, 2025.

Editorial: Scholarship Secretariat Should Encourage Students To Pursue Studies Within Ghana

0
Editorial

The University of Memphis has confirmed that a $1 million payment from the Ghanaian government has temporarily secured the stay of nearly 200 Ghanaian students on its campus, preventing possible eviction and deportation. The payment, however, only partially covers the $3.6 million debt accumulated under the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat (GSS) programme, leaving an outstanding balance of $2.2 million.

Speaking at a press conference in Accra, GSS Registrar Alex Kwaku Asafo-Agyei assured that Ghanaian students would not face deportation, adding that $400,000 had already been paid. He attributed the delays to an ongoing audit and explained that the transfers were being processed through the Controller and Accountant General Department and the Bank of Ghana.

The University of Memphis had previously warned that without full settlement, students risked losing scholarships, accommodation and legal residency by August 9, 2025. University President Dr. Bill Hardgrave linked the payment delays to Ghana’s political transition following the December 2024 elections but expressed optimism about resolving the situation. Most of the affected Ghanaian students are enrolled in Science, Engineering and Business programmes. Meanwhile, the university has opened a fund to solicit donations to provide emergency support for the stranded students.

The near-crisis at the University of Memphis, where almost 200 Ghanaian students risked eviction and deportation, should force us to reflect on the sustainability and efficiency of our foreign scholarship policy. While government intervention averted immediate disaster, the fact that $3.6 million in arrears could accumulate reveals deep structural flaws.

Across the world, many international students fund their own education through savings, loans or part-time work, while governments prioritise scholarships for only the most critical and specialized fields unavailable locally. In Ghana, however, we continue to spend millions of dollars annually sponsoring students abroad, even for programmes that are fully available in our own universities. This raises uncomfortable but necessary questions: Why should scarce public resources fund foreign tuition in disciplines such as Science, Engineering and Business programme, when reputable local alternatives exist?

Beyond cost, there is the troubling issue of return on investment. Too often, beneficiaries of such scholarships do not return home, depriving the nation of the very skills our taxes financed. Ghana ends up subsidising the economies of wealthier nations while struggling to meet pressing domestic needs – such as equipping our own universities, improving healthcare and addressing youth unemployment.

This is not to say international scholarships should be scrapped altogether. They remain vital for areas where local capacity is limited specialised medicine, advanced engineering or emerging technologies. But they should be tightly targeted, transparently managed and tied to agreements ensuring students return to contribute to national development.

The Ghana Scholarship Secretariat should prioritise local tertiary education by encouraging students to pursue studies within Ghana and reducing the number of foreign scholarships.  The University of Memphis episode is a wake-up call. Ghana must reform its scholarship policies to prioritise sustainability and accountability. Investing more in strengthening local institutions, while strategically sending only a limited number abroad would save millions, reduce recurring debt embarrassments and ensure real value for the nation. The time has come to rethink our approach because education abroad should be an investment, not a liability.

Eastern Regional House of Chiefs Mourn Victims of Tragic Helicopter Crash

0
Nene Sakite II, President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs and Konor of Manya Krobo

The Eastern Regional House of Chiefs has expressed deep sorrow and solidarity with the nation following the tragic military helicopter crash that claimed the lives of two Ministers of State and six others.

The traditional leaders described the incident as a national tragedy that has left the entire country in mourning.

In an official statement signed by Nene Sakite II, President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs and Konor of Manya Krobo, the House extended its heartfelt condolences to the President of the Republic, bereaved families and the Ghanaian public.

“With deep sorrow and heartfelt sympathy, the President Nene Sakite II and Members of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs extend their condolences following the devastating helicopter crash,” the statement read.

The chiefs lamented the untimely loss of what they called distinguished sons of the land”, recognising the immense contributions the deceased made to national development.

“This tragedy has left the whole country shaken. As traditional leaders, we mourn not only the lives lost, but also the many families, colleagues and citizens whose lives they touched in their selfless service to Ghana.”

Calling for unity and prayer, the House urged the nation to stand together during this difficult period, offering spiritual support to those directly affected.

“We pray that the Almighty God will comfort every broken heart and bring healing to a grieving nation.”

In closing, the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs paid a solemn tribute to the fallen, expressing hope that their legacy of service and sacrifice would continue to inspire future generations.

“May their souls rest in perfect peace, and may their memory continue to inspire us all.”

The crash, which has drawn nationwide mourning and international attention, has sparked renewed conversations around the safety of public officials and national security protocols.

A formal investigation is currently underway.

 

Stakeholders in Private Sector schooled on land governance and anti-corruption issues

0
Michael H. Okai interacting with the media.

Transparency International Ghana (TI-G), in partnership with Lands Commission, has organised a national dialogue on land governance and anti-corruption for stakeholders in the private sector.

Prince AkwasiSasu interacting with the media.

The strategic forum was aimed at engaging private sector stakeholders in discussions around Ghana’s land governance reforms, anti-corruption commitments and the implications of the Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036), as well as providing an opportunity to strengthen organisational compliance capacities, identify corruption risks in land-related processes and shape practical policy recommendations through collaborative dialogue.

The forum, which drew its participants from real estate developers and surveyors, Agribusiness firms and commercial farmers, financial and insurance institutions, construction and logistics companies, legal practitioners and land professionals, featured a series of interactive and outcome-driven activities.

Mr Michael H. Okai, Coordinator, Land and Corruption in Africa (LCA) Project of TI-G revealed the workshop was about risk mapping and assessment training for the private sector actors in the land sector, noting that the workshop became necessary because whenever policies are made, the private citizens are excluded from the process, resulting in land ownership issues.

He said the risk mapping assessment (a diagnostic tool) helps to identify the potential of corruption in the land sector for the private sector (farmers, communities, etc) and that the identified issues aid in “prioritising and mapping-out” to find solutions to these issues.

The Coordinator further indicated that prior to the implementation of LCA, hardly would one come by a research document (which provides evidence) that tackles land corruption in Ghana and Africa as whole.

He said the project (LCA) is having an enormous impartation following its instrumentality in the passage of the Land Act 2020 (Act 1036).

The Coordinator also revealed that his outfit (TI-G) had other processes of identifying potential corruption in all sectors of Ghana’s economy, including the Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre (ALAC) where victims and witnesses to corruption can assess, make complaints and also have their issues resolved, noting that “empowered citizens take empowered decisions”.

Dignitaries and participants pose for the camera

Mr. Prince Akwasi Sasu, Deputy Ashanti Regional Head, Civil and Mapping Division of Lands Commission indicated that the workshop was “important and dear” to Lands Commission (LC) because it advocates and educates, which are part of LC’s primary goals, noting that the Commission is supposed to educate and enlighten the public on land laws and the processes of land acquisition and registration.

He, however, stressed that due to financial constraints and other administrative issues, the Commission could not carry out such mandate frequently, hence the need to capitalise on the workshop to educate the public on their “rights, obligations, liabilities, and everything concerning land”.

Touching on the instrumentality of Land Act 2020 (Act 1036) in the fight against corruption, the Deputy Regional Head  indicated that the Act entails a plethora of provisions that “guard against corruption and bribery” in land transactions, indicating that  the preamble to the last page of the Act, guard against corruption in one form or the other.

He revealed that Section 277 of the Act highlights offenses and their respective punishments in all forms of land corruption and land-related illicit trading, citing that when an Officer of the Commission altered a land record from the Commission’s register, he or she could serve a number of years in penitentiary.

MrSasu further revealed that the Act also guards against the double-sale of land, explaining why the Commission could not register a piece of land in the name of two individuals or entities, even if the grantors (landowners) have issued allocation to that effect.

The Land Commission official further indicated that Sections 38, 47 and 97 of the Act gives protection to spouses, be it the man or wife, from taking advantage of, during their marriage period when a land was acquired, stressing that Act 1036 is “well-built and structured” and will go a long way in curtailing  corruption to its barest minimum.

He also touched on the importance and usefulness of digitalisation in the fight against land corruption, following provisions for “electronic conveyancing”, which facilitate the reduction of human-interface as well as paperwork, noting that per the law, it is supposed to be initiated by an attorney via “the system”.

The Deputy Regional Head stressed that it also reduces the frequent visit to the Commission’s offices, thereby, reducing corruption, as seeing an Officer for assistance, which in itself is illegal and unwarranted by the law, is eliminated.

Mr.Sasu also revealed that in the shortest possible time, the Commission would be able to convert all hard copies of documents and maps into digital forms to fully embrace digitalisation and urged the government to make resources available to the Commission to facilitate the transition.

From Oswald Pius Freiku, Kumasi

Stay Away from Asanko Concession – A/R Minister Cautions Tontokrom Youth

0
Dr. Frank Amoakohene - Ashanti Regional Minister

The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, has asked the youth and traditional leaders of Tontokrom in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti region to stay away from the disputed mining concession of the Asanko Gold Mines, until further notice. The concession in dispute is currently under military protection.

 

The admonition was issued when youth leaders and elders of Tontokrom presented a petition to the Minister, citing alleged intimidation by military personnel deployed to protect the concession belonging to Asanko Gold Ghana Limited.

 

In a video sighted by The Chronicle, Dr. Amoakohene is seen recounting that he has received two separate petitions from the youth and the traditional council which are calling for government intervention to compel Asanko Gold to cede part of its concession to the community.

 

The petitioners claimed the land had served as a major source of livelihood for them over the years.

The youth also alleged that the concession in question has not been formally gazetted by Asanko Gold, arguing that if the company truly owned the land, resettlement and other community benefits would have been provided by now.

The Regional Minister, however, revealed that neither the youth nor the traditional leaders could produce any legal documentation such as a land title to support their claims.

 

“I asked them directly if they have any license or title to the concession as a youth group, but they could not provide any. Their main concern was that removing them from the area would leave them jobless,” Dr. Amoakohene stated.

He added that, having listened to their concerns, he would now consult with Asanko Gold and the Minerals Commission to verify ownership of the land before any final decision is taken.

 

“If the Minerals Commission confirms that the concession belongs to Asanko, then as a government, our options are limited. The only possible path forward would be to engage Asanko and prevail on the company to consider ceding a portion of the concession to the community,” he said.

Dr. Amoakohene also cautioned the youth against taking any actions that could destabilize the area, assuring them that their concerns would be addressed through due process and that the outcome would be duly communicated to all stakeholders.

Women traders pray for free movement to unlock AfCFTA promise

0
The AfCFTA Secretariat in Accra

Members of the Cross-Border Women Traders Association (CBWTA) has urged the government to urgently make free movement a reality, to unlock the African Free Trade Continental Area (AfCFTA)’s promise of empowering grassroots commerce.

According to them, for decades, African leaders have spoken passionately about dismantling trade barriers and uniting the continent. Yet for the thousands of women, whose livelihoods depend on moving goods across African borders, the reality of free movement remains painfully elusive.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency, Mr. Oscar Akaba-Norvixoxo, National Coordinator of the Cross-Border Women Traders Association (CBWTA), said the African Union’s Free Movement Protocol and ECOWAS’ Protocol on Free Movement of Persons already exist on paper, but slow and fragmented implementation continues to strangle cross-border commerce.

“Every delay at the border, every unnecessary inspection, and every demand for unofficial payment cuts into profits, wastes time, and undermines the dignity of hardworking traders,” he noted.

Women account for more than 60 per cent of informal cross-border traders in West Africa. They transport fresh produce, textiles, and daily essentials, often trekking long distances under extreme heat, only to face lengthy queues, red tape, and sometimes harassment.

For them, free movement is not an abstract policy — it is the difference between profit and loss, safety and risk, progress and stagnation.

Fully implementing free movement, Mr. Akaba-Norvixoxo  said, would reduce delays, lower transaction costs, expand access to wider markets, protect perishable goods from spoilage, and create safer trading conditions by reducing exposure to corruption and abuse.

CBWTA is calling on the African Union, ECOWAS, and national governments to fast-track measures that make free movement a lived reality.

“Including grassroots women traders in planning and monitoring will ensure that policies reflect actual conditions on the ground,” he stressed.

A flagship initiative the Association is championing is the Women Traders Border ID Card, which will formally recognise registered women traders, streamline customs procedures, and reduce harassment.

The card would also connect traders to digital tools – including e-trader registration, e-duty compliance systems, online market access and e-finance services – to professionalise and scale up women-led cross-border businesses.

The CBWTA says it is ready to train members on their rights under free movement protocols, provide policymakers with data on trade barriers and harassment, Partner in gender-sensitive border modernisation projects, Roll out the Women Traders Border ID Card in partnership with border agencies.

“Free movement in Africa is not just about trade — it is about dignity, opportunity, and economic justice,” Mr. Akaba-Norvixoxo said.

“The AfCFTA and ECOWAS have laid the groundwork. Now governments must deliver – and support innovations like the Women Traders Border ID Card that put policies into practice. For the women who power Africa’s markets, the time to act is now,” he added.

From Maxwell Awumah, Ho

GNA

Integrated Pest Management: Ghana’s Quiet Revolution Against Cocoa’s Climate Threats 

0
Farmer Samuel Torbi engages journalists on his 17-acres farm at Otabil Nkwanta near Assin Fosu

Ghana’s cocoa belt is fast becoming a frontline laboratory of climate change, where erratic rains, rising heat and surging pests threaten farmers’ livelihoods.

Black pod disease, mirids and capsids now devastate yields at unprecedented scale, but farmers are not defenceless.

A quiet revolution, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), is arming cocoa growers with science to fight back.

By blending ecology, agronomy and climate knowledge, IPM reduces chemical dependence, builds resilience and safeguards the world’s favourite crop.

Science on the Farm

Climate change is redrawing Ghana’s cocoa map. Irregular rainfall, hotter dry seasons, and shifting humidity are altering pest life cycles, fuelling outbreaks once tamed by routine spraying. Farmers now face pesticide resistance and dwindling results.

IPM, however, offers a smarter alternative. Instead of blanket spraying, farmers observe, diagnose, and act with precision.

Natural predators such as ants and parasitic wasps suppress pests. Pruning, mulching, and shade regulation manage microclimates.

Breeders supply resilient seedlings that endure droughts and floods. Chemicals, when necessary, are applied sparingly and at the right time.

“IPM has changed the way I farm,” says 37-year-old Samuel Torbi, who cultivates 17 acres of cocoa at Otabil Nkwanta in the Assin Fosu Cocoa District of the Central Region.

Torbi made the remarks to a group of young journalists during a field visit to his farm, as part of a capacity-building workshop on cocoa production organised under the auspices of the European Union, GIZ and COCOBOD.

“We don’t just spray chemicals. We first look at the problem, identify the pest, and decide the safest, most effective method.”

From Resilience to Market Access

Torbi is one of more than 3,000 farmers in the Assin Fosu GIZ Cocoa Project, where IPM is tied directly to international trade. The project’s four pillars – traceability, child labour elimination, living income and farmer advocacy – are anchored in climate-smart practices like IPM.

Through COCOBOD’s Cocoa Management System (CMS), every bag of cocoa is GPS-mapped, ensuring compliance with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Healthy, pest-resilient farms deliver stable yields that international buyers trust. Payments go directly to farmers’ mobile wallets, with digital traceability proving their compliance. For Torbi, the link between IPM and digital systems delivers both resilience and recognition.

Knowledge at the Farm Gate

At the Cocoa Health and Extension Division (CHED) at Assin Fosu, Coordinator Ayiku Abdul Rahman Tetteh, said IPM had grown beyond pest control into a frontline climate adaptation tool.

“We train farmers to understand pest life cycles in relation to rainfall and temperature patterns. Shade trees restore microclimates, agroforestry reduces drought stress and natural pest control keeps ecosystems balanced. Chemicals are our last resort,” he said.

By integrating seasonal climate forecasts into training, extension officers now help farmers to anticipate pest pressure and prepare in advance instead of reacting in panic.

Living Proof

For farmers like Torbi, the results speak louder than theory. His yields have stabilised, input costs are lower, and his farm withstands droughts and floods with greater ease.

IPM as Ghana’s Climate Shield

As climate change tightens its grip on West Africa’s cocoa belt, Ghana is proving that adaptation is not a luxury but a necessity.

By embedding IPM into national traceability and sustainability systems, the country is building a cocoa sector that is resilient, low-carbon and competitive.

From dew-soaked mornings in Assin Fosu to chocolate shelves in Europe, every bean harvested under IPM tells a story of science and stewardship, a proof that adaptation and market competitiveness can grow on the same tree.

Let’s Respect The Feelings Of The Bereaved Families!

0
Opinion

The dull morning sky of August 6, 2025, became dimmed when news broke out that a helicopter carrying eight Ghanaians to Obuasi on a national assignment, had crashed, killing all on board. Boamah, Muhammed, Limuna, Sarpong, Aboagye, Anala, Ampadu and Mensah, all perished.

This was a loss that strangled the soul of the nation and one could only imagine how the wives and children of our dearly departed are feeling, today, because it cannot be explained.

This is the moment they will need the nation to rise up united in prayer and consolation for them, in these times of grief and sorrow.

Yet, some people have turned the situation into a carnival, using that tragic occasion to celebrate their wickedness overlooking the pains these families are going through.

Social media is flooded with reasons about what happened and putting the blame on H.E. John Mahama and his NDC, even though there is and was no proof.

A video of South African prophetess, Rachel Masabata, of Kadosh International Ministries warning Ghanaians on January 1, 2025 about catastrophic events Ghana would face if John Mahama became president, resurfaced. And people are making capital out of this. If indeed God spoke these words to her, how come the prophecy came after the event? For Ghana had gone for elections, twenty-four days early and the people made their choice, and presidential swearing-in would be in six days, so what could be done, except a coup d’etat.

Rev. Isaac Owusu Bempah gave the same warning in 2020 but four years later he came to say God had changed His mind. God made John Mahama our president, and we must acknowledge that in fear of the Most High.

Another irresponsible prophecy is being told of how the late President Mills’ fingers were holding back H.E. John Mahama, meaning we should expect calamities. If Atta Mills had powers, he would have prevented Mahama from winning the elections in the first place. It was the will of God that Mahama became president, period.

While wives and children are wailing the loss of their husbands and fathers, most Ghanaians have become very gullible and are believing prophecies that are not from God with some making political capital out of this. This shows no respect to the families of our perished heroes.

This moment is not for false prophecies or politics. It is about a woman whose birthday fell on her wedding day and was looking forward to celebrate both events with her husband this year but alas, he is no more. It is about a woman who cherished the day her husband held her hands when she was delivering their first child two months ago, but that daughter would never see or know her father.

It is about a woman who cherished that occasion just a month ago when she looked into the eyes of her man while they both exchanged marital vows, but would not celebrate their first wedding anniversary. It is about a woman who was inseparable with her man, from courtship to marital life, who is now forced to accept that the setting sun of Wednesday August 6, 2025, took him away, forever. It is about children who suddenly realised that their sweet father and hero who they dearly cherished his presence, will no longer be around.

So how can people be so insensitive not to accord these bereaved families, respect?

These false prophets are just creating confusion and Cardinal Peter Appiah Tuckson, had this to say: “If a prophecy reveals the possibility of a disaster, your first duty is to intercede with God before announcing it. In any case whenever prophecies occur and God makes His knowledge known to you, consider the content carefully. If it requires intervention, please do that before communicating it to anyone.” This confirms that the Catholic Church has command over prophecy, so Apostle Abraham Lincoln Larbi must note this.

One Torgbi Axorlu II also had this to say. ‘The Prophet’s Calling Is Not a Client’s Invitation: In Scripture, prophets did not run offices where you booked an appointment to receive a word. They were God’s messengers, sent on His initiative. They stepped into palaces and market squares, not by invitation, but because God’s voice compelled them.

Intercession Is Not Conditional: The prophets of the Bible did not withhold prayer until the endangered party made contact. Intercession, for them, was an act of duty and love.

Theological Flaws in the “No One Called Me” Claim: When a so-called prophet says, “I could have acted, but no one reached out,” the statement carries deep theological problems. First, it limits God’s sovereignty. Second, it makes prophecy transactional. Third, it excuses inaction in the face of preventable loss. By shifting responsibility to the deceased or endangered, it allows the prophet to escape the uncomfortable truth that silence can be disobedience.’

He added that “True Prophets Move Before Men move them.”

If this country is truly a country of the wise and stately, then we must condemn all those who are making mockery out of this sad event, coming out with false prophecies and seeking political capital out of this tragedy. Everyone must show respect to the memories of the eight perished heroes, their surviving wives, children and families. They need our prayers.

Blessed be Jesus in the Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Amen!

Hon. Daniel Dugan

Editor’s note: Views expressed in this article do not represent that of The Chronicle

The Ghanaian Chronicle