Former Deputy Executive Director,Mrs. Gifty Oware-Mensah.
The Criminal Division of the Accra High Court has adjourned to October 22, 2025, the trial of the former Deputy Executive Director of the National Service Scheme (NSS), Mrs. Gifty Oware-Mensah, who is facing multiple charges, including stealing, willfully causing financial loss to the state, using public office for profit, and money laundering.
The case, which was expected to commence on Friday, October 17, 2025, before Her Ladyship Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, was postponed after Oware-Mensah’s lawyers informed the court that their client was unwell and had been detained at the Police Hospital.
Her lead counsel, Mr. Gary Nimako Marfo, told the court that a medical report confirming her condition had been filed, adding that the report indicated she had been granted a two-day medical excuse.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mrs. Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, did not oppose the submission but prayed the court to adjourn the matter to the following week to enable the accused to recover fully.
Justice Kocuvie-Tay consequently adjourned the case to October 22, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., for the commencement of the trial.
Mrs. Oware-Mensah, a former top official of the National Service Scheme, is alleged to have misappropriated over GH¢31.5 million through an elaborate loan scheme she is accused of orchestrating while in office.
Prosecutors say the accused used her position to unlawfully obtain financial benefits, causing significant losses to the state.
She has since been charged with stealing, willfully causing financial loss to the State, using public office for profit, and money laundering.
The highly anticipated trial is expected to shed light on alleged financial irregularities at the National Service Scheme during her tenure.
The former Director-General of the National Signals Bureau (NSB), Kwabena Adu Boahene, his wife Angela Adjei-Boateng, and their company Advantage Solutions Limited, have suffered a major setback in court after the High Court dismissed their bid to stay proceedings and over ruled several objections raised by their counsel.
The three, represented by lawyer and a former Member of Parliament Samuel Atta-Kyea, appeared before Justice John Nyadu Nyante, who ruled that their arguments lacked merit and could not convince the court to halt the trial.
Mr. Atta-Kyea’s second setback was in relation a preliminary objection that Deputy Attorney-General (DAG), Dr. Justice Srem Sai, should have filed a motion—instead of a notice—to formally withdraw Mildred Donkor, the third accused (A3) and former Director of Advantage Solutions, from the prosecution.
Mr Kwabena Adu-Boahene
The objection sparked a heated exchange between the DAG and Elikplim Agbemava, counsel for the discharged accused person.
“My Lord, this is a premature discharge of the third accused to rehabilitate the case of the prosecution,” Mr. Atta-Kyea argued, insisting that the Attorney-General’s office should have filed a motion because “the High Court is a court of record.”
Justice Nyante, however, interrupted counsel several times to seek clarification, asking whether there were any judicial precedents prohibiting the Attorney-General from filing a notice of withdrawal at the High Court.
In response, Dr. Srem Sai described the objection as showing “a poverty of legal industry,” stressing that the Attorney-General (AG) acted within his constitutional powers under Article 88(3) of the 1992 Constitution.
“The AG’s power to choose whom to prosecute or discontinue prosecution cannot be curtailed by procedural technicalities,” Dr. Srem Sai argued. “A notice of withdrawal is the only known and accepted way of discontinuing prosecution in respect of an accused person.”
He added that the manner in which amendments were made—whether by pen or computer—was immaterial, describing the defense’s complaint as “fundamentally misconceived.”
Counsel for A3, Elikplim Agbemava, supported the DAG’s submission, citing legal authorities that a simple notice, and not a motion, was sufficient for the AG to discontinue a prosecution.
“Even in the case of nolle prosequi, the Attorney-General may withdraw orally or by notice,” he stated, adding that the AG’s discretion in such matters is political and not subject to judicial control.
After hearing the parties, Justice Nyante ruled that under Section 59 of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30), the Attorney-General or any prosecutor acting on his instructions may withdraw prosecution against any person without requiring the court’s consent.
“Once the Attorney-General has filed a notice of withdrawal, that suffices,” the judge held. “The court is satisfied that the AG has pursued the necessary processes and may bring the proceedings in conformity with his decision.”
He, therefore, dismissed the objection and ordered that A3, Mildred Donkor, be discharged, directing that her name be expunged from all court records.
Following her discharge, the court also dismissed another objection raised by Mr. Atta-Kyea concerning the admissibility of a document tendered by the prosecution’s second witness, Edith Ruby Opokua Adumuah, Head of Finance at the National Signals Bureau.
Counsel for the accused had argued that admitting the document could compromise national security and that the matter ought to be referred to the Supreme Court.
Dr. Srem Sai, however, countered that the power to classify or declassify documents as state secrets lies solely with the Executive arm of government, not a private citizen.
To him, if the court were to grant such a request, it would open the floodgates for individuals to stall criminal trials.
Justice Nyante upheld the DAG’s argument, ruling that only the Executive can claim privilege over official documents on grounds of national security, and that such privilege cannot be invoked by private persons.
“It is only when the Republic claims this privilege and it is challenged that reference may be made to the Supreme Court,” he stated. “That not being the case here, the objection is overruled.”
The document was subsequently admitted into evidence.
Mr Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources
Two Ghanaian cabinet ministers are set to join a high-level global delegation at the 2025 Sector Ministers’ Meeting (SMM) in Madrid, Spain, on October 22–23, to address the urgent need for integrated water, sanitation, and climate action into national policies. Hon. Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, Minister of Works, Housing and Water Resources, and Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, will be among numerous government ministers from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the rest of the world attending the SWA ministerial meeting.
The 2025 SMM, co-convened by the Government of Spain, UNICEF, and the Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) partnership, will gather ministers of water, sanitation, environment, climate, and finance from over 60 countries. Its theme, “Breaking Silos: Uniting Political Leadership to Integrate Water, Sanitation and Climate Action,” highlights the importance of collaborative governance in strengthening climate resilience and safeguarding communities worldwide.
*From Compact to Action: Ghana Accelerates WASH Goals*
Ghana’s decision to include the Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs alongside the Minister for Water underscores the multi-faceted nature of global water and sanitation challenges. The involvement of the Chieftaincy Ministry is particularly significant from a sanitation perspective, recognizing the vital role of traditional leaders in disseminating best sanitation practices and driving behavioral change within their communities.
Meanwhile, in the opening remarks of Hon. Kenneth Gilbert Adjei at the Heads of State session at World Water Week in August, the Minister of Works, Housing and Water Resources recognized that “the absence of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services fuels preventable diseases, keeps children (especially girls) out of school, undermines gender equality, and erodes climate resilience.”
The current government is looking to build on the Presidential Compact on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) which was signed by Ghana’s former president in August 2024 to improve public health, increase climate resilience, and ensure access to WASH services, particularly in hard-to-reach communities.
With the relaunch of Ghana National Sanitation Day in September this year, the allocation of 80% of the District Assemblies Common Fund to eliminate financial constraints on sanitation activities, and its nationally owned Ghana WASH Compact framework, the nation continues to work toward real solutions with clear objectives. In a nutshell, Ghana looks to achieve universal and equitable access to safe water by 2030, drastically reduce open defecation, and ensure adequate WASH services in all schools and health facilities.
*SMM 2025: Expected Outcomes and Ghana’s Priorities*
At the 2025 Sector Ministers’ Meeting in Madrid, mapping out strategies to mobilize domestic resources, attract private investment, and increase climate funds will be an important item on the agenda. The goal is for “the SWA ministerial meetings to serve as a crucial avenue for global leaders to monitor progress and mobilize innovative access to clean water and sanitation”, as noted by UN Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed.
Consequently, the key outcome of the 2025 SMM is to present the High-Level Leaders’ Compact on Water Security and Resilience – a political declaration designed to better integrate water, sanitation, and climate action.
The Compact will be an essential milestone, leveraging Heads of State Initiatives as a game-changer to accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for water and sanitation. Furthermore, it will provide COP30 Brazil in November 2025 and the UN 2026 Water Conference in December 2026 with the African perspectives needed to help create a global framework meant to align governments, donors, and civil society for global solutions.
“African governments have shown that when political will meets partnership, results follow,” Acting CEO of Sanitation and Water for All (SWA), Muyatwa Sitali, underlined. “The SMM is where global commitments meet local realities — and Africa’s leadership will be critical to achieving lasting change.”
The participation of Hon. Kenneth Gilbert Adjei (Minister of Works, Housing and Water Resources) and Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim (Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs) at the 2025 SMM is crucial: The duo is expected to leverage Ghana’s robust and accountable national framework and rally the international community behind President John Dramani Mahama’s push to solidify the link between political leadership and transparent financial accountability in the water and sanitation sector.
*About Sanitation and Water for All (SWA)*
For 15 years, the Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) partnership — hosted by UNICEF — has united governments, civil society, private sector actors, and development partners to advance the human rights to water and sanitation for all. With over 500 partners worldwide, SWA drives political commitment, strengthens institutions, and promotes accountability to achieve lasting results.
For more information on the 2025 Sector Ministers’ Meeting (SMM), visit www.sanitationandwaterforall.org/SMM2025
President John Mahama and Sammy Gyamfi, CEO of GoldBod
Ghana’s small-scale gold export sector has recorded a remarkable surge this year, generating more than US$8.06 billion in revenue between January and mid-October 2025.
Fresh data from the Ghana Gold Board (Goldbod) reveal that a total of 81,719.22 kilogrammes (kg) of gold were exported during the period—up sharply from 63,647.22 kg in 2024 and 37,454.01 kg in 2023.
The impressive performance is largely attributed to tighter regulation, strengthened export monitoring systems and renewed investor confidence in Ghana’s small-scale mining subsector, jointly overseen by Goldbod and the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC).
Goldbod’s monthly figures show consistent expansion in both the volume and value of exports throughout 2025.
In January, exports reached 6,178.69 kg, valued at US$506.41 million, nearly tripling the US$170.66 million recorded in the same month last year.
The momentum peaked in May, when small-scale exports climbed to 11,068.55 kg, generating a record US$1.17 billion, the highest monthly figure so far.
Strong performances continued into June and July, which brought in US$957.90 million and US$829.84 million, respectively.
In September, exports reached 10,533.56 kg, valued at US$1.16 billion, signalling sustained stability in the third quarter.
A comparison over the past three years underscores significant progress in the subsector. Between 2023 and 2024, small-scale gold exports rose by about 70 percent in weight and more than doubled in value, from US$2.19 billion in 2023 to US$4.61 billion in 2024.
The upward trend has continued in 2025, with exports surging by roughly 75 percent in both volume and value within a single year.
Analysts attribute this growth to improved traceability systems, digital documentation, and a series of structural reforms aimed at promoting transparency and accountability.
Goldbod, established to regulate and streamline small-scale gold exports has played a crucial role in rebuilding confidence in the sector. Working closely with PMMC, the Board has implemented stringent compliance standards to ensure all gold exports pass through official channels.
Goldbod officials credit the impressive results to enhanced digital monitoring, real-time tracking of gold movement, and increased community engagement with miners.
These interventions have drastically reduced smuggling activities and enabled miners to secure fair value for their products.
Gold remains Ghana’s leading foreign exchange earner, and the rise in small-scale exports is expected to bolster the country’s external reserves.
The US$8.06 billion generated so far this year comes at a pivotal moment as the economy continues to recover from recent fiscal challenges.
Economists believe the growth in gold export receipts could help stabilise the cedi, ease pressure on foreign reserves, and support the government’s fiscal consolidation efforts.
With small-scale miners now firmly integrated into the official export chain, the subsector is increasingly being recognised as a vital pillar of Ghana’s economic recovery and long-term resilience.
Party leader Alan Kyerematen delivering his speech
Founder and leader of the newly established United Party (UP+), Alan Kyerematen, says the formation of the party is the beginning of “a new dawn in Ghanaian politics,” pledging to end divisive governance, promote unity, and transform the economy through innovation, discipline, and ethical leadership.
Founder and Party leader Alan Kyerematen arriving at the venue
Speaking at the media launch in Accra yesterday, Mr Kyerematen said the UP+ would break Ghana’s political duopoly and usher in “a golden age of business and prosperity” for all citizens, regardless of their political affiliation, ethnicity, or religion.
“This new dawn will end the culture of winner-takes-all and bring economic transformation that translates into massive job opportunities,” he said.
United Party
He explained that the UP+ would serve as a centrist political movement, uniting all Ghanaians behind a shared vision of progress. According to him, Ghana has operated at “half strength” for decades because talented individuals have been excluded from national governance due to partisanship.
“If Ghana is an army, then we have been marching on half strength. Some of our best minds have been side-lined because of the nature of our politics,” he noted.
Vision 2040: Ghana as Africa’s economic powerhouse
Mr Kyerematen unveiled the party’s vision, dubbed “Vision 2040 – The Paradise Project”, which seeks to make Ghana the economic powerhouse of Africa by 2040. The UP+’s mission, he added, is to build “one united, peaceful, secure and prosperous country” that offers equal opportunity to all citizens.
He emphasized that national unity, peace, and security are prerequisites for economic prosperity.The former Trade and Industry Minister said the UP+ would focus on providing every Ghanaian with the chance to realize his or her full potential, whether in carpentry, medicine, or engineering, while prioritizing youth, women, and the vulnerable.
National Chairman Abubakar Saddique Boniface and Party leader Alan Kyerematen
Outlining the core values of the UP+, Mr. Kyerematen said the new political movement would be anchored on integrity, ethical leadership, discipline, meritocracy, and excellence.He also pledged to promote tolerance, patriotism, entrepreneurship, and respect for the rule of law, while fostering decent political discourse in the media space.
A section of the media at the event
The UP+, he explained, would operate as a “Centre party” bridging the ideological gap between the center-left National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the center-right New Patriotic Party (NPP)—and championing what he described as “UP+,” an evolved version of the historical United Party tradition.
Economic transformation through GTP
Mr. Kyerematen announced that the United Party’s policy framework would be guided by the Great Transformational Plan (GTP), first developed during his leadership of the Movement for Change.
Interim General Secretary of the United Party, Yaw Buabeng Asamoa
The GTP, he said, contains detailed strategies for stabilizing the macroeconomy, reducing national debt, and promoting industrialization, with a focus on ten strategic industries that will position Ghana as “Africa’s new manufacturing hub by 2040.”
He warned that Ghana’s debt repayment challenges would intensify between 2026 and 2028, calling for prudent financial management and industrial diversification.
Agriculture, education, and health priorities
National Chairman of United Party Abubakar Saddique Boniface addressing the gathering
On agriculture, the UP+ leader said his government would promote both food security and cash crop development, introducing a new initiative known as “Licensed Private Food Markets” to enhance food supply, reduce costs, and empower local agribusinesses.
He also pledged to align education with industry needs, shifting focus from theoretical learning to skills-based, practical training.“By 2029, young people will prefer trade and technical schools to traditional degrees, because that’s where the jobs will be,” he asserted.
In health, the United Party plans to introduce Universal Health Coverage and strengthen primary health care through a neighbourhood-based system, similar to general practitioner (GP) models in advanced economies.
He added that the party would integrate herbal and traditional medicine into the national healthcare framework, acknowledging that up to 70% of Ghanaians currently depend on it.
Pan-Africanism and foreign policy
Some enthusiastic members of the United Party
Mr Kyerematen also reaffirmed his Pan-Africanist commitment, saying Ghana’s development must align with the broader prosperity of the continent.He concluded by emphasizing that all UP+ policies including those on energy, digitalization, governance, security, and tourism are comprehensively outlined in the Great Transformational Plan.
“The United Party is the future of our country. We bring renewed hope for a united, peaceful, and prosperous Ghana,” he declared to applause.
The Party’s official colours are yellow, symbolizing Ghana’s gold wealth; black, representing the Black Star of Africa; and white, signifying purity and ethical leadership.
Mr. Kyerematen, who previously served as Ghana’s Trade and Industry Minister and led the Movement for Change, said the transition to the United Party marks a step toward consolidating his reform agenda and “putting Ghana first.”
Telecel Ghana has taken note of the press conference by the Minority in Parliament regarding the telecommunications sector and seeks to clarify its position to the public.
The National Communications Authority (NCA) directed the migration of network traffic from AT Ghana (AT) to Telecel Ghana’s network following the shutdown of AT’s sites by ATC Ghana in August 2025, due to long overdue debts of AT to ATC Ghana.
Telecel Ghana has since September 1, 2025 been providing, national roaming services to AT as an interim measure.
Without this intervention, AT customers would not have been able to use mobile voice and data services across the country.
Telecel Ghana, like all stakeholders, awaits the outcome of the work by the transaction advisor, KPMG, appointed by the government.
Telecel’s Investments and Operational Performance
Telecel Ghana is profitable and has posted a year-to-date Net Profit of multiple hundreds of millions of Ghana cedis. The company continues to record strong operational performance, contrary to what has been put out in the media.
Over US$240m in financial relief and investments has been made by Telecel since the acquisition in 2023 and not $10m as has been stated at the press conference. This includes reducing legacy debts of the company and making significant investments in network expansion, infrastructure modernization, and digital services nationwide consistent with our investment plan.
Till date none of the over 600 employees in the organization have been made redundant as promised, and the company has been certified Top Employer year on year.
Telecel remains committed to the long-term view of its investment appetite in Ghana and will continue to invest in the network, service offerings, people and social good.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Telecel Ghana’s social interventions in health, education, and community development, through the Telecel Ghana Foundation, have been consistent over many years and have impacted the lives of many across the country.
The recent donation of advanced cervical cancer screening equipment to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Tamale Teaching Hospital, and Sefwi Wiawso Government Hospital by Telecel Group was in fulfillment of a commitment publicly announced by Telecel in May 2025, following the launch of The Ghana Medical Trust Fund by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana.
Telecel is one of first corporate institutions to deliver on the commitments made after the launch. The support by Telecel Group to the One million Coders Programme was also announced in May 2025.
The attempt to project these social interventions as ”an apparent attempt to strengthen Telecel position and gain goodwill” is disingenuous, unfortunate and should be disregarded by the public.
Telecel will continue to invest in the communities in which we operate as we have done over the years.
Likewise, Telecel has consistently sponsored cultural and traditional festivals across the country over the years as part of its community engagement strategy.
This year, Telecel has supported festivals in Kwahu, Osu, Ningo, Prampram, La, Cape Coast and Gomoa Dawurampong, amongst others.
All requests for sponsorship have come from the various Traditional Councils and not the Minister.
It, therefore, beats one’s imagination that our support for this year’s Homowo Festival, one among many other sponsorships to traditional rulers across the country, could be interpreted as an attempt to influence decisions concerning AT.
Telecel’s CSR and community partnerships are grounded in long-term social impact, not political expediency.
Telecel Ghana, is a legal entity operating with the registered name Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited with Government of Ghana holding 30% shares on behalf of the people of Ghana.
Telecel remains open to engage constructively with all relevant stakeholders to provide factual information and ensure that public discourse on this matter is guided by fact.
We remain focused on expanding digital access, improving network quality, and serving millions of Ghanaians with reliability and innovation.
We operate with professionalism, transparency, and adherence to the law and are committed to preserving the interests of all stakeholders, being customers, partners, employees and shareholders.
We encourage the public to disregard any statements that misrepresent Telecel’s role, integrity, or intentions.
Dr. Fatnmtu N-Eyare Sulemanu, an Islamic scholar and lecturer at the University of Ghana
A new wave of leadership is sweeping across Ghana, driven not by seasoned politicians or corporate elites, but by women and young people determined to transform their communities and reclaim their place in the nation’s leadership landscape.
At the centre of this movement is the GrowLead Foundation, a mentorship-based initiative founded by Ghanaian women professionals to promote women and youth empowerment through education, digital inclusion, leadership training, and entrepreneurship.
Youth as the Heartbeat of Ghana
Speaking at the launch of the foundation in Accra, Dr. Fatnmtu N-Eyare Sulemanu, an Islamic scholar and lecturer at the University of Ghana, described Ghana’s young population as the nation’s greatest untapped asset.
According her, more than one in every three Ghanaians is between 15 and 35 years old. That, to her, is not just a statistic, but is the heartbeat of our nation.
Fatimatu Abubakar, former Minister of Information
She warned that if Ghana fails to invest in its young people, the country risks wasting an immense pool of talent and potential.
“We are sitting on a time bomb if we ignore this, but also a powerhouse of potential if we choose to invest in it,” she added.
According to the Ghana Statistical Service, nearly 30 percent of Ghanaians aged 15–24 are underemployed, while a significant proportion of those employed remain in vulnerable, low-paying jobs with limited social protection.
Women Leading the Informal Economy, but Missing from Policy Tables
Ghana continues to lead Africa in women’s entrepreneurship, with nearly 46 percent of businesses owned by women. However, the story changes when it comes to decision-making spaces and representation in governance.
Currently, women occupy only 14.5 percent of parliamentary seats, which is well below the global average of 26 percent.
“We build homes and run markets, but we are not seated where national policies are made,” Dr.Sulemanu observed adding that “this is not just a gap in numbers—it is a gap in power.”
Women also face persistent challenges in education and technology.
Over 30 percent of Ghanaians above the age of six cannot read or write, and women make up 58 percent of this group.
Additionally, studies show Ghanaian women are 25 percent less likely to use digital technology and four times less likely to know basic computer programming skills.
“Leadership today is tied to information,” Dr.Sulemanu argued and also contended that “If we leave women and youth out of the digital revolution, we risk leaving them behind altogether.”
The GrowLead Foundation was established by a network of accomplished Ghanaian women, including Fatimatu Abubakar, former Minister for Information and Nazifatu Mohammed Abdulai, the foundation’s Executive Director.
For Fatimatu, the journey from Moshizongo, a small community in the northern region, to national prominence as a lawyer and public servant, was one shaped by self-determination and the absence of mentors.
“Until I became a lawyer, I had never been to Accra or even met a lawyer. That absence of role models shaped my mission,” she said.
This personal journey inspired the creation of GrowLead, to serve as a platform where young girls and women could find the mentorship and exposure she never had.
The foundation’s activities revolve around three key pillars – mentorship, empowerment and opportunity—all designed to help women and young people reach their full potential.
Under its educational support arm, GrowLead offers scholarships and financial aid to girls from underprivileged communities, helping them to remain in school and pursue higher education.
It also runs a structured mentorship programme, connecting young women with professionals and role models who guide them through academic, career and leadership pathways.
In addition, GrowLead provides entrepreneurship and digital skills training, particularly for women engaged in small-scale businesses, to enhance their competitiveness and sustainability.
The foundation also offers career guidance and internship placements, giving students and young graduates the opportunity to gain practical work experience and industry exposure.
To expand its reach, GrowLead plans to launch an online mentorship platform that will connect mentors and mentees virtually, ensuring that even girls in remote communities can benefit from the same opportunities as those in urban centres.
“We’re not here to host events and disappear. We are building a pipeline of women leaders – one cohort and one community at a time,”said NazifatuAbdulai, Executive Director of the foundation.
Focus on the North and Marginalized Communities
GrowLead’s initial focus is on Ghana’s five northern regions and Zongo communities—areas often excluded from national development conversations.
The foundation’s leaders stress that their mission is not charity but equity—ensuring that girls and young people in these underserved communities have access to the same opportunities as those in urban centres.
Research shows that every additional year of education for girls increases their earning potential by 20 percent, while youth participation in leadership results in stronger governance systems and improved social outcomes.
The Dansoman Circuit Court, presided over by Her Honour Halimah El-Alawa Abdul-Bassit, has remanded a 48-year-old unemployed man, Ernest Benieh, after he pleaded guilty to defrauding two members of the St. Theresa’s Parish Catholic Church at North Kaneshie under the pretext of securing Canadian visas for their relatives.
Ernest Benieh was charged with two counts of defrauding by false pretences, contrary to Section 131 of the Criminal and Other Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
He pleaded guilty to both counts when he appeared before the court on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.
According to the brief facts presented by the prosecutor, Chief Inspector Christopher Wonder, the complainants — Christiana Ayiku, a Secretary at St. Theresa’s Parish and Nina Mbeah, a Caterer at the same church — were close friends.
The accused, Benieh, was said to be in a romantic relationship with Nina.
During their courtship, Benieh allegedly told Nina that he was the Deputy Managing Director of “Embridge Oil Refinery” located at Tema Community 12 and that his company was recruiting workers to train and send to Canada for employment.
He offered to help Nina’s younger brother, Charles Mbeah, secure a visa and demanded GH¢25,000, of which she paid GH¢8,000 upfront.
The accused later convinced Nina to inform her friends about the supposed opportunity, leading Christiana to express interest in helping her husband travel to Canada.
Benieh then demanded GH¢25,000 from Christiana, followed by an additional GH¢4,600 as a “tip” for a supposed white man who would issue the visa. In total, she paid GH¢29,600.
However, after several excuses and failed promises, the accused went into hiding. Suspicious of his conduct, Nina visited Tema to verify his claims, only to discover that no company called Embridge Oil Refinery existed.
She later lured him out under the guise of introducing new clients, leading to his arrest.
In his caution statement to the police, Benieh admitted to committing the offence.
The court, after considering his guilty plea and confession, ruled that his explanation did not absolve him of wrongdoing.
Her Honour Abdul-Bassit therefore remanded him into custody, stating that his plea was consistent with his admission of guilt.
Benieh is expected to reappear before the court on October 27, 2025, for sentencing.
A 33-year-old driver’s mate, Seth Okai, has been bonded by the Circuit Court at Dansoman to be of good behaviour for two years, after he pleaded guilty to unlawful entry with intent to steal.
Seth Okai was charged with unlawful entry to commit crime, namely stealing, contrary to Sections 152 and 124(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
He admitted to the offence when he appeared before Her Honour Halimah El-Alawa Abdul-Bassit.
Presenting the facts of the case, Chief Inspector Emelia Mensah told the court that the complainant, Abass Dawud, a businessman residing at McCarthy Hills, detected the accused on his premises through a CCTV camera.
On October 5, 2025, around 2:00 a.m., Okai unlawfully entered the complainant’s house by scaling the fence wall, intending to steal mobile phones or any valuable items he could find. While moving around the compound, he encountered the complainant’s son and frightened, jumped over the wall again to escape.
Later, the complainant reported the incident to the police and submitted CCTV footage showing Okai entering and leaving the premises.
During investigations, Seth Okai admitted to the offence, explaining that he had hoped to steal a phone or laptop.
In sentencing, Her Honour Abdul-Bassit considered the fact that Okai pleaded guilty simpliciter and did not waste the court’s time.
The court also took into account his remorse, the fact that he was a first-time offender, a dependent father of a 10-year-old girl, and that he had shown regret for his actions.
However, the judge noted that the crime was premeditated and needed to be punished to deter others from committing similar offences.
After listening to defence counsel Joseph Tetteh’s plea for leniency, the court ordered the convict to sign a bond of good behaviour for two years, warning that any breach would attract a custodial sentence.
The Dansoman Circuit Court, presided over by Her Honour Halimah El-Alawa Abdul-Bassit, has granted bail in the sum of GH¢800,000 with three sureties, one to be justified with land title deeds, to a 43-year-old businessman, Thomas Mensah, who has been charged with three counts of defrauding by false pretences.
Thomas Mensah, who pleaded not guilty, is accused of defrauding a businesswoman of a total of US$62,000 under the pretext of importing and supplying various goods, including second-hand bags, diapers, and bathroom slippers.
According to the court’s bail conditions, all three sureties must reside within the jurisdiction of the court. Thomas Mensah is also required to report to the police once every week and deposit his Ghana Card and passport at the court’s registry.
The court further directed that the case docket be forwarded to the Attorney-General’s Office since the amount involved exceeds the substantive prosecutor’s limit.
The case was adjourned to November 17, 2025.
The Charges
Thomas Mensah faces three counts of defrauding by false pretences, contrary to Section 131 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Christopher Wonder, told the court that the complainant, Akua Adubofour, is a businesswoman residing at Adjiringanor, but operates at Kantamanto, Accra. Thomas Mensah, the accused, is also a trader living at Santa Maria.
In 2023, the complainant’s business partner introduced the accused to her as an importer of second-hand bags and other goods from China.
Thomas Mensah allegedly confirmed this and claimed he worked with several Chinese companies capable of supplying any products she requested.
Relying on his representations, Adubofour reportedly paid US$10,000 to Mensah to supply diapers, but he failed to deliver.
Later, she allegedly gave him an additional US$50,000 to import 750 to 800 sacks of second-hand bags from China, but he again defaulted.
In January 2024, Mensah allegedly took bathroom slippers valued at US$2,000 from the complainant, claiming he would sell them to customers in Kumasi and return the proceeds. He failed to do so and went into hiding.
The complainant subsequently lodged a report with the police, leading to Thomas Mensah’s arrest.
After investigations, he was charged and brought before the court.
