News
“Okada man” in court for raping hawker in bush
A 20-YEAR-OLD “okada” operator, William Cephas, who allegedly sped with a hawker on the back seat of his motor bike to the bush behind the Ho Airport, and raped her, is standing trial at the Ho District Magistrate Court ‘2’.
The court, presided by Mr Akosah Agyare-Amoanpong Yaw, was told that prior to the criminal act; the accused subjected his victim to severe beatings with a club to weaken her, first.
Prosecuting, Inspector Clever Ayayee, revealed that the woman’s ordeal did not end after the brutal sexual assault as Cephas held her captive in the shrubs from morning (9am) till night (10:00pm) before releasing her.
He said that the accused seized all her goods, valued at GH¢700, before releasing her to go home.
When Cephas was arraigned at the court last Wednesday on a charge of rape, his plea was not taken.
The prosecutor said that on November 26, last year, the accused on his motor bike, stopped by the victim along the road at Sokode-Lokoe, near Ho and feigned interest in the blenders and other items she was selling.
He said that the accused told the woman that he did not have enough money on him so she should accompany him to his house where he would take money to buy the goods.
The unsuspecting victim obliged only for Cephas to take her through such an ordeal.
Inspector Ayayee said that the woman reported the matter to the police the next day, after which a search was mounted for the accused and with the assistance from some public-spirited individuals, Cephas was spotted at the Ho Civic Centre and arrested on December 16, last year.
The court remanded Cephas in police custody to appear again on January 13, 2021, as the matter was still under investigation.
From Alberto Mario Noretti, Ho
News
Craze for x’mas shopping: Crowded markets, low patronage
Vendors of food and other wares associated with the Christmas celebration have expressed surprise at the low patronage despite the increased number of visitors to some of the major markets across the capital.
Four days to the celebration(Christmas), the markets are filled with various products ranging from food, clothing, livestock and many other stuff, but according to the vendors, patrons are doing more ‘window’ shopping.
The Spectator on visits to some of the markets in the capital, notably the Odawna, Makola, Accra Central Business District, New Town and others made similar observations as shoppers crowd them but did little in terms of purchases.
The paper also observed that majority of vendors, originally selling other wares have switched to product related to the festive season.
What it means is that there are a lot more clothes, food and vegetables, livestock and poultry, toys, firecrackers, drinks of different types and many others on display.
The markets have also stretched to the pedestrian pavement, leaving very narrow spaces for commuters to move about freely.
That, in addition to a few of the female vendors dressed in coloured attires to reflect the occasion, has heightened the euphoria, leaving the low sales as the only headache for the vendors.
Speaking with this paper, they sounded very optimistic, believing that sales would improve in the last few days to the yuletide.
According to them, there was the opportunity to sell beyond Christmas as the New Year celebration offers similar opportunity to trade the same wares.
They urged patrons to throng the markets to shop since prices were quite moderate and products affordable for all.
News
Retirement service for Elder John Ackom-Asante,3 others
Retired Deputy Editor of The Spectator, Elder John Ackom-Asante, was last Sunday honoured by the Church of Pentecost Windy Hills District in Kasoa in the Central Region, with a retirement thanksgiving service, after serving for 26 year as an Elder of the church.
He was honoured with a citation and certificate of service along with three other elders who served in the capacity for various years.
Elder Ackom-Asante was baptised at the Darkuman Central Assembly in 1979 and ordained as an Elder in 1997.
The citation read “Your selfless service, zeal, willingness to relate wholeheartedly and your desire to effect change has gone a long way to shape the lives of many people in the church and the nation over the 26 years of your dedication to the service of the Lord.”
Elder Ackom- Asante held many positions at the Darkuman Central Assembly, Obuasi in the Ashanti Region and Tema, serving in various capacities as youth and evangelism ministry leader and marriage counsellor.
He was the founding member of the Darkuman Christian Fellowship, a member of the Greater Accra Christian Fellowship; member of Bible Society of Ghana; founding member Obuasi Chapter Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship International and founding member of New Times Corporation Christian Fellowship and Chaplain, Methodist University Tema Campus 2009- 2010.
As a professional journalist, Elder Ackom-Asante combined effectively and efficiently his duty as a member and elder of the church and the demands of his profession, with admiration from the church, kith and kin, till his retirement on December
From Alhaji Salifu Abdul-Rahaman, Kasoa
