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Kofi Adams Rallies Support For Black Stars

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Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Iddie Adams

As the race to qualify for the upcoming international football tournament intensifies, Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Iddie Adams, has issued a heartfelt goodwill message to the Black Stars, urging Ghanaians to stand united in support of the national team during this crucial period.

In a statement released in Accra over the weekend, Adams expressed unwavering confidence in the players’ strength and resilience for the upcoming matches.  “Our Black Stars have shown incredible determination and skill throughout this campaign,” he said and added, “I am optimistic about their ability to secure qualification and bring glory to Ghana. With your support through prayers, cheers, and positive thoughts, we can lift their spirits and motivate them to succeed.”

Ghana currently sits comfortably in the qualification standings with 19 points, positioning them favorably ahead of key upcoming fixtures. The final group matches include a pivotal showdown between Madagascar and Comoros, each fighting fiercely for the top spot and at least a second-place finish that could see them challenge Ghana for qualification.

The scenario remains promising for Ghana’s qualification prospects. If Madagascar beats Comoros, the latter will be out of contention for the top spot, and Ghana would only need a draw against the Central African Republic (CAR) in their next match to advance. Conversely, a victory for Comoros over Madagascar would mean Ghana’s qualification is secured with a win against CAR. Even in a more challenging scenario if Madagascar wins and Ghana also triumphs, the team’s chances of qualification are still high, considering their current points and remaining fixtures.

The upcoming match between Madagascar and Comoros is being viewed as a potential turning point. Only one of these teams can challenge Ghana’s top position, and if Madagascar wins, they will face Mali in their next fixture an encounter that may be tough, further favoring Ghana’s path to qualification.

Kofi Adams emphasized the importance of national unity and unwavering support. “Our journey to the tournament is within reach. With faith, collective effort and the relentless spirit of our Black Stars, I believe they will rise to the occasion and bring honor to Ghana.”

The nation’s fans are encouraged to continue rallying behind the team, praying for their success, and maintaining confidence that Ghana’s Black Stars will deliver the results that Ghanaians hope for.

As the countdown to match days 9 and 10 continues, all eyes are on the Black Stars, with the hope that their hard work and determination will lead to victory and national pride.

Go Black Stars! Ghana is behind you all the way!

Ada SHTS Gets Mechanised Boreholes -Courtesy KGL Foundation

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For years, students of Ada Senior High Technical School battled erratic water supply, often sacrificing class time to fetch water, a burden that disproportionately affected female students.

But that struggle has come to an end, thanks to a timely intervention by the KGL Foundation.

The Foundation has commissioned two mechanised boreholes on campus, ending the school’s reliance on costly and unreliable water tanker services that sometimes took up to two days to arrive.

The initiative is already transforming daily life for the school’s over 2,700 students, including 1,631 girls.

“We used to leave lessons just to get water. This project means we can focus on our studies now,” said Omega Sackey, Head Prefect of the school.

The boreholes are expected to significantly improve sanitation on campus, reduce absenteeism, and restore dignity to the learning environment.

The District Chief Executive for Sege, Jerry John Foreigner Amornortey Tanihu Mills-Nkrumah, described the project as a major boost to education and community health.

The school’s headmaster, Thomas Raphal Vroom, hailed the intervention as a “moment of hope” and thanked the KGL Foundation and its partners for their unwavering dedication to making the project a reality.

“This facility will make a lasting difference in the lives of our students,” Mr. Vroom said.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Nii Annorbah Sarpei, Programs Manager of the KGL Foundation, reaffirmed the Foundation’s broader commitment to social impact, revealing that they also support scholarships for brilliant but needy students.

The project also received praise from the school’s Parent Teacher Association (PTA). Rev. Nathan Akwereh, a PTA Executive, described the intervention as a “blessing” for both students and parents, assuring the Foundation that the facility would be well maintained.

With access to clean water now secured, Ada Senior High Technical can focus more fully on its educational mission empowering young minds in a safe and supportive environment.

We either deal with illegal mining menace or perish –CSOs Warn Mahama

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RICHARD OWUSU-AKYAW
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Mr Ken Ashigbey, Member of anti-galamsey coalition

The Ghana Coalition Against Illegal Mining has delivered a searing call to President John Dramani Mahama to act with urgency and courage in halting what it calls an “ecocidal genocide” devastating Ghana’s land, water and people.

The coalition, representing a broad alliance of civil society organisations, presented its statement to the President during a meeting with CSOs at the Jubilee House on Friday, October 3, 2025. Their message was clear: the galamsey menace has gone beyond being an environmental problem; it has become a full-blown public health emergency, a human rights violation and a national security threat.

Drawing on hard scientific evidence, the group cited findings from the Mercury and Heavy Metals Impact Assessment conducted by Pure Earth and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), alongside testimony by the UN Special Rapporteur on Toxic Substances in 2023.

These reports, they said, provide “an irrefutable and alarming body of evidence” that Ghana is poisoning itself through unchecked illegal mining.
The assessment revealed mercury concentrations in Konongo Zongo soil at 56.40 ppm — more than 560 percent above the safety threshold. Arsenic contamination in the same community hit 10,060 ppm, exceeding permissible playground limits by over 400 times.

Even more alarming, water sources in Konongo Odumase contained arsenic levels 330 times above Ghana’s national limit. “This is a nation poisoning its own life-support systems,” the coalition stated.
The consequences are already visible in human lives. The coalition highlighted children diagnosed with kidney disorders, mercury pellets lodged in their bodies, and research linking hundreds of spontaneous abortions to placental contamination.

Mercury’s neurotoxic effects, they warned, are impairing the cognitive development of Ghanaian children — a generational loss that cannot be undone.
The devastation extends to agriculture and food systems. Over 1.2 million hectares of farmland have been destroyed, displacing more than half a million farmers and undermining food security. “From kontomire to tubers, the very crops we grow are becoming vectors of toxic metals,” the coalition warned.

Meanwhile, rivers across five regions — Central, Western, Eastern, Ashanti, and Western North — are contaminated, forcing water treatment plants to shut down or deliver unsafe water to millions of Ghanaians.
In the face of this crisis, the coalition demanded not more dialogue, but decisive action. They challenged President Mahama to present a concrete roadmap for ending galamsey, complete with clear benchmarks, timelines, and measurable outcomes.

Among their pressing demands were answers to four questions: What benchmarks will compel the President to declare a state of emergency? What progress has been made in prosecuting galamsey kingpins, including politically exposed persons identified in the Frimpong Boateng report?

When will the promised fast-track courts be established? And what performance indicators have been set for MMDCEs and police commanders in galamsey endemic areas — and what penalties exist for failure?
The coalition further urged the President to provide protection for anti-galamsey activists facing persecution, confiscate and reclaim lands destroyed by illegal mining, and investigate chiefs complicit in the practice.

They also called for an end to the mass deportation of foreign suspects, insisting that offenders be tried in Ghana under the country’s mining laws.
On transparency, the group pressed for daily publication of water quality data, monthly reports on rivers and forests, and quarterly studies on food safety in mining-affected areas.

They proposed a monitoring and accountability committee, with civil society participation, to oversee the execution of these measures.
Warning against the lure of short-term economic benefits, the coalition stressed that the long-term damage to health, food, and forests outweighs any perceived gains.

“We either deal with this menace or we perish. Without clean water, air and sustainable forests, we are done as a people,” the statement declared.
The coalition told President Mahama: “Not to act decisively and energetically to bring this atrocity to an end is to be complicit in this wilful ecocidal genocide of monumental proportion. History, we dare say, will judge you — and this entire present generation — harshly if we allow this opportunity to restore a wholesome environment to pass us by.”

Judiciary Urged to Join Fight Against Galamsey

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BERNICE BESSEY
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illegal mining (galamsey)

The Anglican Bishop of Accra, Right Reverend Dr. Daniel Sylvanus Mensah Torto, has called on judges and magistrates to actively join the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, instead of leaving it to the clergy, media and civil society organisations.

Delivering the sermon at the 68th Legal Year Church Service in Accra on Saturday, Bishop Torto challenged members of the judiciary to be vocal advocates for environmental protection, describing the illegal mining menace as a threat to Ghana’s survival.

The service was held on the theme: “Building the pillars of justice through leadership, innovation and technology.

“Our rivers are dying, our forests are being depleted and future generations will inherit poisoned lands if we do not act. Don’t leave this fight for the clergy, the media and CSOs alone.

“Be vocal in the fight. If other arms of government play politics with galamsey, the judiciary must make a difference,” he said.

The Bishop underscored that justice was the foundation of national stability and when it is shaken, the economy, education and security also crumble.

He reminded judges, lawyers and court officers that they are “guardians of the nation’s conscience,” urging them to uphold integrity, transparency and accountability in dispensing justice.

Bishop Torto also emphasised the importance of innovation and technology in modern judicial processes.

He said the judiciary must embrace digitisation and reform to make justice delivery more efficient and accessible.

“We cannot deliver justice with yesterday’s tools. Technology is not a luxury; it is the backbone of transparent justice,” he stressed.

Drawing inspiration from biblical texts such as Micah 6:8, Isaiah 1:17 and Amos 5:24, the Bishop reminded the congregation that justice and mercy are divine commands, not mere ideals.

He warned that corruption, inequality, and youth unemployment remain moral wounds that must be healed through fair leadership and righteous governance.

“If our laws do not protect the weak, our love is weak. Justice must roll down like waters and righteousness like a flowing stream. Let us build a just and fair society through leadership, innovation, and technology.”

The Acting Chief Justice, His Lordship Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, on his part charged members of the judiciary to ensure that Ghana’s courts remain bastions of fairness, impartiality, and accountability in the administration of justice.

Justice Baffoe-Bonnie expressed gratitude to God for His grace and protection throughout the past legal year and prayed for renewed strength and wisdom as the judiciary begins the 2025/2026 Legal Year.

“Ours is a country of laws, and collectively we are the essential tools in ensuring that it continues to remain so.

“The cause of justice, a fundamental ingredient of our Republic, is hinged on all of us doing our various jobs. That way, we make the promise of our nation evident in the lives of our people.”

He explained that the new legal year offers an opportunity for the judiciary to reflect on its mission and renew its commitment to upholding justice while embracing reforms that enhance efficiency and public trust.

He reaffirmed the judiciary’s theme for the year – “Building the Pillars of Justice Delivery through Leadership, Innovation and Technology” – as a guiding principle for modern judicial transformation.

Justice Baffoe-Bonnie stated that leadership in justice delivery extends beyond adjudicating cases; it encompasses moral courage, integrity and a commitment to reform.

“Judicial leadership is the moral compass that sets the tone for the administration of justice. Judges must model impartiality and humility, while court administrators and officers must provide guidance that inspires service and efficiency,” he noted.

On innovation, the Acting Chief Justice said the judiciary must find smarter ways to address persistent challenges such as heavy caseloads, case backlogs, and procedural delays.

He urged a culture of efficiency and openness, where court users “encounter not barriers but pathways.”

Justice Baffoe-Bonnie further underscored the crucial role of technology in the future of justice delivery, stressing that digital transformation is no longer optional.

“Virtual hearings, e-filing systems, electronic case management, and digital registries are no longer experiments – they are the new frontiers of justice,” he said.

While acknowledging the benefits of digitization, he cautioned against leaving behind citizens without access to technology, especially those in rural areas and the elderly.

He called for continuous training and capacity-building for judges, lawyers, and court staff to ensure that technology enhances, rather than hinders, access to justice.

The church service, which marked the official commencement of the 2025/2026 Legal Year, brought together members of the Bench, the Bar, and staff of the Judicial Service.

Dear, General-Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong

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Opinion

It is very amazing sometimes when you come on air to make statements, on behalf of the New Patriotic Party, which you are dragging the party into extinction.

You were barely ten years old when the NPP was founded, in an era where it was suicidal to trek into certain communities forbidden to the UP Tradition.

Our works, sacrifices and choice of the right flag bearer, H.E. J.A. Kufuor, won us power in 2000. All was going on well until 2008 when the Establishment took over the party and set all principles and standards aside.

The party laws are now compromised to suit the privileged few. NPP is now under a democratic dictatorship where one man’s word was a command and most of the elders went silent, except a few like Dr. Nyaho Nyaho Tamaklo. He would not tolerate the indiscipline and publicly say things as they are. He was suspended for boldly drawing attention to the wrong things going on in the NPP.

Many were hoping that things would change when your administration took over in 2022, especially when you warned that any party officer or government appointee who openly endorsed an aspirant would be punished according to the laws of the party. You had the opportunity when the party’s National Nasara Co-ordinator, Abdul Aziz Haruna Futa, openly endorsed then aspirant, Dr. Bawumia. You could only rebuke him. No form of punishment.

And since then, you never uttered a word of disapproval when party members in office, like Hon. Umar Farouk Aliu Mahama, could openly endorse Bawumia. Nothing came from your office to implement the party’s rules against such incorrigible party officers. However, officers who endorsed Alan Kyerematen were immediately suspended.

Today, the flag bearer race is on and at least two regional chairmen, Abronye DC of Bono and Wontumi of Ashanti are all over the place endorsing Dr. Bawumia. And not only that Abronye for example is out there attacking Hon. Kennedy Agyapong, using unprintable words to describe this important party member.

No word of caution came from you, knowing too well that attacks on party aspirants can lead to the party losing the numbers. You cannot pretend to forget that the attacks on Alan Kyerematen, which led to his exit from the party, resulted in 2.1 million party supporters staying away from the polls.

As it is today, Alan needs to be replaced and so Kennedy Agyapong was picked, because he could spoil Bawumia’s chances. So, you gladly watched on and enjoying the scene when lies were spewed out against Kennedy by Abronye, since you and your cohorts have endorsed Bawumia.

Is it not interesting that the moment Abronye said that the Disciplinary Committee recommended the expulsion of Kennedy Agyapong from the party, but you decided not to implement it, you took great offense and quickly came public to deny that any such thing happened and recommended him to the Disciplinary Committee?

General Secretary Justin Frimpong, are you saying that it is okay to break party rules, so long as it will help the one you and the Establishment openly endorse, but to crack the whip when you are personally wronged? So, if the party is wronged, it is okay but not when you, as an individual is wronged. Are you and the Establishment, the Untouchables?

There was this thing I heard about manipulation of the Party Album where names of delegates perceived to be pro-Alan were replaced and the fact that after knowing this, Alan gave out GH¢500,000.00 to you and NEC to correct your own mistakes and bring the Album back to its true and legal originality, but nothing was done. Please confirm! If it is true, then what happened to the money?

The fact that both Abronye and Wontumi are out there boasting of having the power to change the Album to weed out all delegates perceived to be anti-Bawumia, can confirm that manipulation of the Album was committed under your directives.

Are you aware that the recent National Delegates Conference organised by the party fell foul in planning and execution? The party’s constitution was not adhered to. I am forced to believe that this illegality was implemented to push an agendum that will not benefit the party.

The only reason you are implementing the Top-Bottom Approach is to make sure there is victory at all cost for Bawumia and also to secure your positions in the party. This will hurt the party because those who supervised the disgraceful performance of the NPP in 2024 are those going to lead the party into 2028.

For how come polling stations where the party secured zero vote, will still have their executives at post with imposition of parliamentary candidates on the constituencies? It only means that more seats will be lost.

Justin Frimpong, you and all the executive officers have failed the party and you need to humbly exit. Can I suggest that the reason you charged GH¢4.0 million development fee per  aspirant is to get paid your a good ex-gratia? What development are you intending to do in NPP?

Justin Kodua Frimpong, please set aside the January 26, 2026 primaries and let the right things be done, then you and your cohorts should humbly exit your positions.

Please, you  should not destroy the NPP, but learn from us and preserve the party’s principles and standards.

By Hon. Daniel Dugan

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect The Chronicle’s stance.

Editorial: TMA Must Learn From AMA’s Missteps; It Is Not Enough To Demolish Unauthorized Structures

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Editorial

According to a story published by Graphiconline, the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) has begun a decisive crackdown on unauthorised structures across the city, citing safety, accessibility and public interest as the key motivations behind the exercise.

Led by the Metropolitan Chief Executive, Ebi Bright, the operation, which coincided with the National Sanitation Day on October 4, 2025 targeted makeshift structures around schools, health facilities, security installations and utility service corridors.

Ms. Bright explained that the exercise is grounded in the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936), the Land Use and Spatial Planning Act, 2016 (Act 925) and relevant TMA by-laws. The clean-up saw the demolition of illegal structures and restrictions on trading and transport operations until midday.

She reassured affected traders that a transparent regularisation programme would soon be introduced to balance economic livelihoods with orderly development. “Tema must grow in an organised and orderly way,” the MCE stressed, urging residents to support the effort and refrain from erecting new unauthorised structures.

This initiative by the TMA is commendable and long overdue. For years, Tema, once a model industrial hub has struggled with the chaotic sprawl of unregulated structures, poor sanitation, and deteriorating public spaces. The Assembly’s renewed focus on urban discipline, environmental cleanliness, and enforcement of planning laws is a necessary step toward reclaiming the city’s lost glory. However, while the intent is laudable, the bigger question remains: will this exercise be sustained, or will it fade away like countless others before it?

Recent history offers cause for concern. The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) embarked on a similar decongestion exercise earlier this year, clearing hawkers and traders from the pavements, bus stops and market surroundings. For a brief period, the city looked cleaner, pavements were walkable and traffic flowed more freely. Yet, within weeks, traders had returned to the very same spots, selling on pavements and blocking access roads once again. The effort, once hailed as bold, has since collapsed under the weight of weak enforcement and public apathy.

This pattern of short-lived enforcement has become a national embarrassment. We cannot continue to launch high-profile clean-up campaigns and demolition drives only to relax the very laws we claim to uphold. It does not portray seriousness as a country when institutions initiate laudable policies but fail to sustain them. The cycle of “launch today, forget tomorrow” must end if Ghana is to achieve true urban discipline.

The TMA must, therefore, learn from the AMA’s missteps. It is not enough to demolish unauthorised structures; there must be a consistent monitoring mechanism, community education, and sustained enforcement.

The Assembly should work closely with local leaders, traders’ associations, and transport unions to ensure that those displaced are properly relocated, not left to return out of desperation. Moreover, regular public updates on enforcement actions will enhance accountability and maintain public trust in the process.

Beyond enforcement, citizens must also take responsibility. A clean and orderly city cannot be achieved through government action alone. Residents must support the Assembly by keeping their surroundings clean, avoiding the erection of unauthorised structures and respecting designated trading and transport zones. Civic discipline, not just law enforcement, is what will ensure lasting transformation.

Tema’s new direction under Ms. Bright offers a fresh opportunity to restore sanity and order to one of Ghana’s most strategically important cities. The MCE’s assurance that the exercise is not about punishment but fairness, planning and dignity is the right tone. But that tone must be matched with action.

If this exercise ends up being another photo opportunity without sustained results, Tema will remain trapped in the same cycle of disorder that has plagued so many Ghanaian cities. But if it is followed through with integrity and persistence, it could mark the beginning of genuine urban renewal.

For once, let’s prove that we mean business.

Ashanti Regional Health Directorate launches HPV Vaccination campaign

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Dr. Fred Adomako-Boateng addressing the gathering

The Ashanti Regional Directorate of the Ghana Health Services (GHS), in collaboration with its partners, has held a stakeholders’ engagement on Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination introduction in Ghana.

Nana Boakye Yam Ababio addressing the gathering

The Health Directorate has also launched the HPV Vaccination campaign, which commences from October 7 to 11, 2025 targeting 379,609 females from 9 to 14 years old, at the nearest vaccination point in schools and community outreaches.

HPV is a common viral infection, often sexually transmitted, spread through skin-to-skin contact and can cause warts or precancerous cell changes that may lead to various cancers, such as cervical, anal, penile, vulvar, vaginal and throat.

Dr. Fred Adomako-Boateng, Regional Director of GHS indicated that the introduction of the HPV vaccination into the nation’s routine immunisation programme was one of the public health milestones achieved by the country.

He noted that the HPV vaccination was not just a health campaign, but a national duty that talked about protecting the future generation of women.

Dr. Adomako-Boateng indicated that cervical cancer was one of the leading causes of cancer deaths, which are highly preventable, stressing that the introduction of the HPV vaccination would offer a unique opportunity to “protect girls early before they are exposed to the virus” that causes cervical cancer.

Acknowledging the indispensability of stakeholders’ role to a successive vaccination exercise, the Regional Health Director called for support to provide accurate information to students, mothers and all involved, to help facilitate the vaccination process within schools, markets and all other places.

He urged stakeholders to support a nationwide education and mobilisation campaign to galvanise support for the vaccine introduction, assuring that his team would work closely with schools to ensure the vaccines are delivered “safely, efficiently, respectfully and together make history by  ensuring that the girls we teach today, grow into strong and healthy women of tomorrow.”

A section of the participants

Nana Boakye Yam Ababio, Chief of Nkwantakese, who presided over the launch ceremony disclosed that cervical cancer was sadly taking the lives of too many women, noting that every year more than 3,000 Ghanaian women are diagnosed with cervical cancer – 2,000 of whom, including mothers, daughters, wives and queen mothers don’t survive.

Nana Ababio, however, assured that there is “hope”, which is the vaccination, said to be safe and effective way of protecting girls from the risk of contracting HPV.

The Chief urged parents and guardians to ensure that every eligible girl in various communities are vaccinated, noting that vaccinating a girl today means “protecting a mother tomorrow”.

Nana Boakye Yam Ababio also urged health workers, teachers, religious and traditional leaders to join hands to ensure that no child had been left behind.

From Oswald P. Freiku, Kumasi

AGA constructs GH¢20.8M 24-unit classroom block for New Nsuta Cluster of Schools

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Edmund Oduro Agyei breaking the ground for the start of the project

A ground breaking ceremony has taken place for the construction of a 24-Unit Classroom Block with various facilities for the New Nsuta Cluster of Schools at Obuasi in the Ashanti region.

Stakeholders of the programme in a group photograph

The project, which is being executed by two local contractors and funded by AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) Obuasi Mine, is expected to be completed by December 2026 at a contract sum of GH¢20,887,643.

Mr. Edmund Oduro Agyei, AGA Community Relations Manager noted that the New Nsuta Cluster of Schools is characterised by old blocks, hence the company, in collaboration with the Education Directorate and the Municipal Assembly, decided to put up the 24-Unit Classroom Block.

He noted that every business needs a peaceful environment to thrive and called on people in Obuasi to support the company so that it could deliver more infrastructural projects to improve their living standards.

Mr. Oduro Agyei said this is the first time such a monumental project has been initiated for the Education Sector in Obuasi and expressed hope that the project will go a long way to improve standards of pupils and students.

An artistic impression of the 24-Unit Classroom Block

Mr. Anthony Kwenin, Obuasi West Municipal Coordinating Director, said the Assembly should have provided facilities like classrooms and said it gladdens his heart when AGA comes in to do that for the people of Obuasi.

He also praised the company for awarding the project on contract to local contractors to execute, noting that the initiative would help improve the local economy, since indigenes will be employed.

Mr. George Alfred Koomson, Obuasi West Municipal Director of Education said AGA had initiated various interventions in the Educational Sector in Obuasi and that such interventions have helped to improve standards and praised the company for the gesture.

From Frederick Danso Abeam, Obuasi

Chinese firm set to establish power generation plant, industrial park in Ogun

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Mr Guo Xianda and Governor Dapo Abiodun

A Chinese power generation firm, CCETC, has expressed its readiness to establish a power generation plant as well as an industrial park in Ogun State.

Chairman of the company, Mr Guo Xianda, disclosed this at the weekend during an extensive meeting between his team and the Ogun State Governor, at the Governor’s office in Abeokuta, pledging the company ‘s readiness to install a 3MW power plant at the Gateway International Agro-Cargo Airport, Iperu-Ilishan, free of charge, in order to accelerate economic activities at the arena.

The investment pledge comes on the heels of the recent visit of Governor Dapo Abiodun to China, in continuation of his investment drive across the globe.

The Governor, who led a powerful economic team from Ogun State to China, had engaged numerous investors on partnerships and collaborations in different areas of investments, raging from tech, energy and manufacturing, among others.

According to Mr Guo Xianda, the company based in Jiangsu, China, already has a substantial investment footprint in Nigeria and Africa, with over 250MW projects operating in Nigeria, and is now seeking to expand its operations further across Africa, with its capacity standing in excess of 5,000MW for distribution.

Xianda stated that the interest of the group in Ogun State covers power generation and distribution, investment in a dedicated state transmission network, and the establishment of an Industrial Park that will attract more Chinese manufacturers to Ogun State.

Responding, Governor Dapo Abiodun thanked the group for bringing such strategic investment opportunities to Ogun State.

According to him, “The company will strategically focus on three fundamental areas of intervention, namely: strengthening power generation and distribution within the state, investing in the State’s transmission network, and establishing an Industrial Park that will attract more Chinese manufacturers to the state while integrating power projects.”

Credit: dailypost.ng

NDLEA Foils Six UK-Bound Cocaine Shipments, Arrests Six suspects

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NDLEA

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency says it it has dismantled two major drug cartels behind six cocaine consignments destined for the United Kingdom.

The operations, carried out over three weeks across Lagos, led to the arrest of six suspects, including the alleged kingpin, Alhaji Hammed Ode.

NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

He said the operation began on September 16, 2025, when NDLEA officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, intercepted 174 parcels of cocaine weighing 13.4 kilograms hidden in cocoa butter body cream containers.

He said the syndicates concealed the drugs in stainless cups, body cream, and hair gel containers.

Babafemi said a cargo agent was arrested, and further investigation linked the consignment to Ode, who was later apprehended with the cooperation of the police.

According to him, during interrogation, Ode admitted ownership of the drugs, which he claimed to have purchased for over ₦150 million.

“In series of intelligence led operations that lasted over three weeks across Lagos, operatives of the NDLEA have successfully dismantled two major drug cartels behind six different consignments of cocaine concealed in walls of stainless cups, body cream and hair gel containers, leading to the arrest of five suspects and ultimately the arrowhead of the syndicate, Hammed Taofeek Ode, who parades as a businessman and real estate developer.

“The beginning of the end of the criminal syndicate’s operations began on 16th September 2025, when NDLEA operatives at the export shed of the MMIA, Ikeja, Lagos, intercepted 174 parcels of cocaine weighing 13.40 kilograms concealed in walls of cocoa butter body cream containers.”

Babafemi also said two other suspects, Ogunbiyi Taiwo and Popoola Olumuyiwa, were also arrested after NDLEA officers intercepted consignments containing crayfish and stainless cups used to conceal 2.6 kilograms of cocaine.

The NDLEA is Nigeria’s federal agency charged with combating the trafficking, distribution, and abuse of controlled substances.

Over the years, it has made several high-profile drug busts involving consignments destined for the UK and other countries, often using concealment techniques.

Credit: channelstv.com

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