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We won’t participate in Ghana Premier League until our demands are met - Kotoko

The Chairman of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of Asante Kotoko, Nana Apinkrah Akwasi Awuah, has made it clear that the club will not resume participation in the Ghana Premier League (GPL) until their demands for new security measures are addressed by the Ghana Football Association (GFA).

At a meeting with GFA leadership on Tuesday, February 11, Nana Apinkrah expressed frustration with the GFA’s handling of their requests.

He noted that they are unwilling to risk any more lives for the game.

 "We know that [Hearts and Kotoko] don’t matter to the GFA. But now, whether you like it or not, you will respect us. We will show you who we are. We will not return to football until all our requests for new security measures are fulfilled."

He further added, "It would have been ideal if GHALCA had joined this meeting before the IGP did. The GFA may not value us, but we will make you respect us. We will show you that we are Kotoko and Hearts."

In a joint statement sent to the GFA on Monday, February 10, both Kotoko and rival club Hearts of Oak demanded enhanced security at league venues and proposed measures to curb hooliganism, following the tragic stabbing death of popular Kotoko fan "Nana Pooley."

The statement is part of ongoing efforts to improve security at league matches, a crucial issue for both Kotoko and Hearts of Oak.

Meanwhile, the prosecution team has withdrawn the case against four individuals charged in connection with the stabbing death of Francis Yaw Frimpong (Nana Pooley). The case will now be refiled at the Sunyani District Court.

Isaac Fosu (28), Yeboah Augustine (35), Elizabeth Akosua Ntiwa (Akosua Black Chinese) (37), and Yaa Asantewaa (37) were previously charged with abetment of crime, specifically murder, under Sections 20(1) and 46 of the Criminal Offences Act of 1960 (Act 29). Two additional suspects, Briamah (Rasta) and Yaw Koshy, remain at large and are facing similar charges, with Briamah also facing an additional murder charge under Section 46 of the Criminal Offences Act.

Two Nigerian businessmen in court over alleged $20,000 fraud

Two Nigerian businessmen, Patrick Piniki, 57, and Adawale Julius, 52, have appeared before the Dansoman Circuit Court for allegedly defrauding a colleague of $20,000, equivalent to GH₵336,000.

The accused allegedly collected the money from the complainant under the pretext of securing a vessel loaded with crude oil from Nigeria.

Charged with conspiracy to commit a crime and defrauding by false pretenses, both pleaded not guilty.

The court, presided over by Halimah El-Alawa Abdul Basit, initially granted each accused person bail of GH₵200,000 with three sureties, who were to be public servants earning GH₵3,000 per month. The sureties had to reside within the court’s jurisdiction, while the accused were required to report to the police every two weeks and deposit their identification cards with the court registry.

However, they failed to meet the bail conditions, prompting a variation when the court resumed on Monday. The revised bail terms required three sureties earning at least GH₵2,000 monthly, with all sureties justified.

The case has been adjourned to April 2, 2025. Meanwhile, a third accused person, identified as Engineer Chidi, is at large.

 

Prosecution’s Case

According to Chief Inspector Christopher Wonder, the complainant, Sawine Menual, a resident of Kasoa in the Central Region, sought to venture into the crude oil business in November 2024. He contacted Piniki through a mutual acquaintance, Olowo, who had experience in the industry.

 

Piniki then reached out to Julius in Nigeria, and the two later traveled to Ghana to finalize the deal with the complainant. They held multiple meetings at a hotel in Tema, where they assured him they could secure a vessel loaded with crude oil from Nigeria.

They demanded an initial $10,000, which the complainant was instructed to pay to Engineer Chidi, allegedly a vessel manager. Chidi later traveled to Ghana and assured the complainant that the vessel would arrive soon.

Subsequently, the accused demanded an additional $10,000 for “vessel loading,” which the complainant paid in anticipation of a successful transaction. However, the deal never materialized.

In total, the complainant paid $20,000 (GH₵336,000) but only managed to recover $3,200 after demanding a refund, leaving a balance of $16,800.

In December 2024, Engineer Chidi left for Nigeria without informing the complainant. After multiple failed attempts to retrieve his money, the complainant reported the matter to the  Accra Regional Police Command, leading to the arrest of Piniki and Julius.

During investigations, Piniki denied any wrongdoing, while Julius admitted that they had collected the money for a crude oil deal that did not materialize.

 

 

GNA

GoldBoard Technical Committee calls on Lands Minister

The GoldBoard Technical Committee, led by Sammy Gyamfi Esq., Acting Managing Director of the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC), met with the Lands Minister, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, on Monday, February 10, 2025.