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Mother and 3 children die in fire outbreak at Gyinyase

By
Adwoa Afranewaa
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fire outbreak

A mother and her three children have died, following a fire outbreak in their home in the early hours of Wednesday, February 12, 2025 at Gyinyaase, Kumasi.

The fire, which started started at about 3am in the morning trapped the mother, Linda Agyemang and her three children, Ivan Agyemang, Lordina Agyemang and Ebenezer Afriyie inside their room.

According to the deceased’s husband, he received a phone call from his wife at about 3:30 am telling him their house was on fire, while he was on a work trip. “Daddy we’re burning”, he recounted her voice. He called again after a few minutes and there was no answer.

On his return back home, he met the dead bodies of his family as a result of the fire outbreak.

“I have lost everything. I have no friend, my wife and children were my everything”, he lamented.

The bodies of the deceased mother and children have been deposited in the morgue.

Linda was 33 years old and worked as a nurse. Her children were 13, 10 and 3 years old.

Fire Ravages Two Shops At Kejetia

By
Adwoa Afranewaa
-

Two shops at the Kejetia market have been completely destroyed by a fire that broke out early Wednesday dawn.

The blaze reportedly started around 3 AM, reducing the contents of the shops to ashes.

The fire consumed various items, including chemicals used in the production of Parazone, soaps, detergents, and clothing.

While the cause of the fire remains unknown, there are speculations that it may have been ignited by the flammable chemicals stored in the shops.

Two other shops were affected, however the impact was minimal.

Traders around the area expressed their concerns about the recurring fire incidents and urged authorities to take immediate action.

“I struggle to sleep lately; how can I rest when the market keeps experiencing fires at night?” A trader Prince Oppong lamented.

He called on the market leadership to adopt proactive measures to address such situations.

Speaking with Orange Business News’ Fatawu Bayaga, Reuben Ameh, Secretary of the Combined Kejetia Traders Association, stated that this incident marks the second fire at the market in less than a month, which is alarming.

“I feel terrible and pained. Frankly, these days, whenever my phone rings after 10 PM, I get scared, fearing that the call will inform me of another fire at Kejetia,” he said.

Mr. Ameh also noted that some traders have chosen to relocate from the market due to fears of losing their merchandise to fire and other challenges.

He believes that increasing awareness about fire safety, enforcing fire safety measures, and implementing insurance policies could help mitigate the impact of future fire incidents.

Council of State elections: Ashanti Regional Police Commander Axed

By
Adwoa Afranewaa
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The Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Frank Abrokwa, has been transferred to the police headquarters in Accra following the violent incidents during the Council of State election in Kumasi.

DCOP Abrokwa was said to be in charge of the police team at the election venue when the chaos erupted.

According to Orange News sources, the current Commander of the Central West Police Region is set to assume his position.

The violence began when a group of heavily built men forcibly entered the venue, overturning tables, damaging ballot boxes, and scattering essential voting materials.

This disruption forced officials from the Electoral Commission (EC) to halt the election process.

The unrest is believed to have been triggered by the unexpected defeat of Yaw Owusu Obimpeh, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, who was widely anticipated to win.

Supporters of Obimpeh, reportedly angered by the election results, allegedly incited the violence and called for a review of the outcome.

Meanwhile, the police have launched a manhunt for the perpetrators involved in the unrest.

Prez. Mahama orders NIB to probe National Service scandal

By
Adwoa Afranewaa
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official-portrait-of-John-mahama :free tertiary education

President John Dramani Mahama has ordered the National Investigations Bureau(NIB) to launch an investigation into the National Service Authority operations under the previous government, following the ghost name on payroll scandal.

During a head count of active National Service personnels at the behest of the Minister for Finance as a prerequisite for the clearance of allowance arrears, dating back to August 2024, up to 81, 885 suspected ghost names were found to be on the National Service payroll. An amount of GHC 226,019,224 was released to settle 98,145 actual service personnels out of the 180,030 names presented by the authority.

President Mahama has therefore ordered the NIB to investigate the matter for clarifications.

He also tasked the new management to carry out urgent reforms to prevent the recurrence of the the phenomenon.

Written by: Cindy Adasah Boamah

Ashanti Regional Minister directs police to investigate council of State election chaos

By
Adwoa Afranewaa
-

The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, has directed the Ghana Police Service and National Security to immediately investigate the violence that erupted during the Council of State elections in Kumasi.

Chaos ensued when a group of heavily built men forcibly entered the venue, overturning tables, damaging ballot boxes, and scattering essential voting materials.

This disruption compelled officials from the Electoral Commission (EC) to halt the election process.

The unrest is believed to have been triggered by the unexpected defeat of Yaw Owusu Obimpeh, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate who was widely anticipated to win.

Supporters of Obimpeh, reportedly angered by the election results, allegedly incited the violence and called for a review of the outcome.

In a statement, the Minister condemned such acts, stating that they undermine the democratic process and must not be tolerated.

He urged for calm, respect for the rule of law, and the maintenance of peace and stability in the region.

Office of the Special Prosecutor Declares Ken Ofori-Atta a Fugitive

By
Ivy Hollys
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the office of the special prosecutor

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has declared former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta a fugitive after he failed to honor investigations. Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng made the announcement at a press briefing, stating that Ofori-Atta had refused to return to the country for questioning.

According to Agyebeng, the Office of the Special Prosecutor directed Ofori-Atta to confirm a reasonable return date by February 10, 2025. However, his lawyers responded with a medical letter claiming he was undergoing tests and possible surgery in a foreign country. The OSP rejected this letter, insisting that Ofori-Atta must appear in person for questioning.

The Special Prosecutor emphasized that legal representatives could not answer questions on behalf of someone under investigation. “The lawyers are not under investigation. I don’t need lawyers to answer questions on your behalf,” Agyebeng stated. He stressed that Ofori-Atta’s indefinite stay abroad was unacceptable. “Mr. Ofori Atta lawyers transmitted to the OSP  a generic letter procured by Mr. Ofori Atta purporting to be from a doctor in a foreign jurisdiction, stating that Mr. Ofori Atta had been seen and evaluated, and that he was undergoing further testing and management and possible surgical intervention at an indicated future time.”

On February 11, 2025, Ofori-Atta’s lawyers sent another letter to the OSP. They inquired whether the office had authorized a raid on his residence that same morning. According to the lawyers, 12 men, including one police officer, four military personnel, and seven others in plain clothes, stormed the house. They allegedly searched every room, office, and gym by force. “at 4.16 p.m. the very next day, Tuesday 11 February 2025, before we could respond to the letter that came on Monday, the Office of the Special Prosecutor received another letter from Mr. Ofori atta’s lawyers. This time, it was an inquiry.”

Kissi Agyebeng categorically denied the Office of The Special Prosecutor’s involvement in any such operation. He said, “Mr. Ofori Atta, the OSP did not raid your house on Tuesday, 11 February 2025, or on any other day. Mr. Ofori Atta, the OSP did not cause any persons, however uniformed or bedecked, to raid your house on 11 February 2025, or on any other day. Mr. Ofori Atta, that could not have been the OSP, and that is not our style.”

He described the supposed raid as a staged act or an imposter action aimed at tarnishing the OSP’s reputation. “If the OSP enters your premises, you will not be in doubt. We have unique methods and insignia,” Agyebeng asserted.

The Special Prosecutor further questioned the credibility of Ofori-Atta’s medical excuse, stating that no serious law enforcement agency would accept such claims without solid evidence. He insisted that the former minister was using illness as a pretext to avoid returning. “We are of the firm conviction here that this is only a ruse employed by Mr. Ofori Atta in aid of his intention to avoid returning to the jurisdiction and to personally answer questions in respect of the investigations.” 

The OSP’s intelligence suggests that Ofori-Atta had no intention of returning. His first communication, sent on January 31, 2025, stated that he had left the country indefinitely. This, according to the Special Prosecutor, proves his unwillingness to cooperate with the investigation. “We are convinced that the real intention of Mr. Ofori Atta is what was communicated to the OSP in the very first letter transmitted by his lawyers on 31 January 2025,” Agyebeng declared.

Following these developments, the Office of the Special Prosecutor has officially declared Ken Ofori-Atta a wanted person. Agyebeng announced that all necessary legal steps would be taken to secure his return. “You have two choices,” he warned. “You can either return to the jurisdiction voluntarily, or the OSP will enforce your return.You have two choices.”

Ghana Fire Service Urges Public to Store Gas Cylinders Safely

By
Adwoa Afranewaa
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Assistant Divisional Officer (ADO1) Antwi Bosiako of the Ghana Fire Service in the Ashanti region has issued a critical safety advisory, recommending that the public store gas cylinders outside the kitchen to minimize the risk of property damage in the event of an explosion.

ADO1 Antwi Bosiako advises checking cooking gas cylinders expiry dates to prevent fires. That is every five years and dispose after twenty.
ADO1 Antwi Bosiako speaking on the Orange Sunrise

In an interview with Alfa Ali on the Orange Sunrise show, ADO1 Antwi Bosiako explained that gas cylinders contain chemicals that can ignite when exposed to heat, leading to devastating explosions.

To ensure safety, Mr. Antwi Bosiako advised that gas cylinders stored outside the kitchen should be protected from direct sunlight, which can also cause explosions. “Shield the cylinder from direct sunlight using a metal cage or a cover,” he recommended.

ADO1 Antwi Bosiako’s safety advisory comes amid a surge in fire incidents in the region since January 2025. He attributes the alarming trend to a lack of awareness about basic safety precautions.

A/R: PURC recovers over GH¢260,000 from utility companies as refund for consumers

By
Adwoa Afranewaa
-

The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has successfully retrieved a total of GH¢262,558.53 from utility companies, including the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Ghana Water Limited, as refunds for consumers in 2024.

This initiative is designed to promote equitable utility usage and hold service providers accountable for their operations.

It also serves to motivate utility companies to meet their obligations more diligently.

At a press conference in Kumasi, Mr. Richard Asiedu, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) for PURC in the Ashanti region, explained that the refunds were necessitated by various consumer grievances, including overbilling, inaccuracies in metering, unlawful disconnections, and damage to household appliances caused by voltage fluctuations.

Mr. Asiedu also revealed that the PURC has also collected GH¢396,010.00 from construction firms as compensation for damages inflicted on the Ghana Water Limited’s infrastructure during roadworks.

He noted that the Ghana Water Company has made significant progress in repairing the majority of the damaged transmission pipes.

An amount of GH¢178,368.42 was also recovered as revenue.

In terms of service improvements, the Ashanti Regional Office reported the completion of 18 pole replacements, 31 faulty meter replacements, 4 new service connections, 12 transformer replacements, and 30 pipe repairs.

Meanwhile, in 2024, the Ashanti Regional Office received a total of 1,101 complaints against the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Ghana Water Limited (GWL).

Of these, 1,050 complaints, representing 95.4%, were resolved.

1,043 complaints (94.7%) were lodged against ECG, while 58 complaints (5.3%) were filed against GWL in the Ashanti Region.

Mahama Orders Finance Minister to Fix $156M USAID Funding Gap

By
Ivy Hollys
-
official-portrait-of-John-mahama :free tertiary education

President John Mahama has directed the Finance Minister to resolve a $156 million United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funding gap.

The shortfall follows the suspension of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) program in Ghana.

A February 11 statement from the Presidency warns of serious risks to essential health and social intervention programs.

A $78.2 million deficit threatens malaria prevention, maternal and child healthcare, family planning, reproductive health, and nutrition services.

The funding gap also jeopardizes Ghana’s HIV/AIDS response, limiting access to antiretroviral drugs, testing, and preventive care.

To prevent disruptions, Mahama has instructed the Finance Ministry to prioritize urgent funding solutions for affected programs.

Background of USAID

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is an independent agency of the United States government that is primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance.

USAID was established in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy to unite several existing foreign assistance organizations and programs under one agency. Statute law places USAID under “the direct authority and policy guidance of the Secretary of State“.[4] It implements programs in global health, disaster relief, socio-economic development, environmental protection, democratic governance and education. 

With average annual disbursements of about $23 billion since 2001, USAID is one of the largest official aid agencies in the world and accounts for more than half of all U.S. foreign assistance—the highest in the world in absolute dollar terms. USAID has missions in over 100 countries, primarily in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe.

In 2025, the second Trump administration announced sweeping changes to USAID. President Donald Trump ordered a near-total freeze on all foreign aid.

See statement below:

USAID

Police on manhunt for thugs who disrupted Council of State elections in Kumasi

By
Adwoa Afranewaa
-

The Ghana Police Service has launched an investigation to identify the alleged NDC thugs who vandalized electoral materials, leading to the suspension of the Council of State elections in Kumasi.

In a statement, the police indicated that they are currently reviewing footage from the incident to help apprehend those responsible and ensure justice is served.

Witnesses described a chaotic scene as the intruders forcibly entered the facility, overturning tables, damaging ballot boxes, and scattering essential voting materials.

This disruption forced officials from the Electoral Commission (EC) to halt the election process.

The unrest is believed to have been triggered by the unexpected defeat of Yaw Owusu Obimpeh, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate who was widely expected to win.

Supporters of Obimpeh, reportedly angered by the election results, allegedly incited the violence and called for a review of the outcome.

Security personnel stationed at the center faced difficulties in managing the escalating tensions, which ultimately led to the temporary suspension of the electoral proceedings.

In response, additional law enforcement officers have been deployed to restore order and protect the electoral materials.

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