Courtroom or Shrine; Party Ally Urges Curses, Not Law, for Ashanti Regional Minister in Galamsey Row

AsanteRegionalMinister

A significant political and legal confrontation is unfolding in Ghana's Ashanti Region, pitting legal redress against traditional practices in a high-stakes dispute over reputation.

Dr. Frank Amoakohene, the Ashanti Regional Minister, has filed a defamation lawsuit against Wendell Nana Yaw Yeboah of the group Democracy Hub, as well as against Aluta 92.1 FM and its presenter, Agyaba Owusu. The suit, filed on December 4, 2025, by lawyer Ibrahim Halidu, stems from comments made during the “Anopa Koko” morning show on November 18.

According to court documents, Yeboah, appearing as a guest, "falsely and with malicious intent" alleged in both Twi and English that “the Ashanti Regional Minister is into galamsey.” Dr. Amoakohene maintains the illegal mining accusations are baseless and designed to damage his reputation.

In a striking counterpoint to the legal action, a figure from the Minister's own party has publicly challenged his approach. Paul Kwabena Yandoh, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Communications Director, argued that Dr. Amoakohene should forgo the courts and instead invoke traditional curses to prove his innocence.

Galamsey

Speaking on Oyerepa TV, Yandoh stated, “As an Ashanti, when such allegations are levelled against you, must you go to court? You must invoke curses to prove your innocence so that all of us will know you are not involved. There is no need for court; it is curses that must prove your innocence.” He added, “If Frank Amoakohene doesn’t invoke curses, nobody will believe that he is innocent.”

Yandoh's comments, widely circulated on social media, directly reference the lawsuit and draw a parallel to previous allegations against other prominent figures, noting that the Minister's name "has been mentioned the same way Wontumi’s name was mentioned."

The lawsuit signifies Dr. Amoakohene's choice to seek legal remedy for what he claims is defamatory content broadcast by Aluta FM—a station noted for its substantial online audience—and subsequently shared on social media platforms.

As of now, Dr. Amoakohene has not publicly responded to his party colleague's unconventional challenge to settle the matter through traditional means. The situation presents a stark contrast between modern legal jurisprudence and deep-seated cultural practices, unfolding amid serious political accusations.

DAFFIAMA-BUSSIE-ISSA DISTRICT ASSEMBLY DISBURSES GH₵200,000 TO EMPOWER PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

BUSSIE-ISSA DISTRICT

The Daffiama-Bussie-Issa District Assembly has disbursed a total of GH₵200,000 in financial aid to 41 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to support the establishment of sustainable trades and businesses.

The significant disbursement, made on Wednesday, December 10, 2025 was drawn from the District Assembly Common Fund. Individual beneficiaries received cheque amounts ranging from GH₵2,500 to GH₵10,000, marking a substantial investment in economic empowerment.

At the presentation ceremony, District Chief Executive Hon. James Wor emphasized the program's strategic shift beyond temporary relief. “This enhanced funding is specifically intended to move beyond small handouts and help our PWDs start sustainable trades and businesses,” Hon. Wor stated.

He reinforced the core message of the initiative, declaring, “Disability is NOT Inability.”

The Assembly has urged all beneficiaries to utilize the funds judiciously to achieve financial independence and self-reliance. Officials confirmed the Assembly's commitment to continuing and improving the support, with plans already underway to make the next disbursement cycle even more impactful.