President John Dramani Mahama has urged Ghanaians to fully embrace the government’s Free Primary Healthcare programme, particularly the home-visit component designed to bring essential healthcare services directly to households.

Speaking at a Free Primary Healthcare durbar at the Zuarungu Health Centre during his Resetting Ghana Tour of the Upper East Region, President Mahama described the home visits as a critical part of the programme and called on residents to cooperate with health workers who visit their homes.

Under the programme, community health nurses and trained volunteers will visit households to provide basic health screenings and identify people who may require further medical attention.

President Mahama said the screenings would include checks for conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, while health workers would also identify pregnant women, newborns and other vulnerable persons who may need additional care.

He urged households to welcome the health workers and take advantage of the services being offered rather than waiting until illnesses become severe.

The President also encouraged patients who are referred for further medical attention to follow up on the referrals, stressing that early detection and timely treatment could prevent serious health complications and save lives.

He said the initiative forms part of the government’s broader commitment to expanding access to quality healthcare and ensuring that people can receive basic medical services regardless of their location.

President Mahama emphasised that healthcare should be accessible to every Ghanaian, regardless of whether they live in an urban centre or a remote community.

“People should not die because of where they were born or where they live. Everybody has a right to good healthcare,” he said.

The President therefore called on communities across the country to support the Free Primary Healthcare programme and actively participate in the home-visit initiative.

The government’s approach seeks to strengthen primary healthcare by taking preventive and basic medical services closer to where people live, while encouraging early detection of diseases and prompt referrals for cases requiring specialised attention.

The Free Primary Healthcare programme is expected to make healthcare more accessible at the community level and contribute to the government’s goal of achieving universal healthcare coverage in Ghana.

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A 22-year-old man, Christian Owusu, has been sentenced to a minimum of 10 years in prison with hard labour after being convicted of robbery in Kumasi.

The conviction was secured by the Ashanti Central District Police Command on Friday, August 14, following a robbery incident reported on July 21.

According to the police, the victim was on her way to Konkromase Township on the afternoon of July 21 when she was attacked. At about 12:21 p.m., she was allegedly threatened and robbed of her handbag, which contained personal belongings and cash.

The police commenced investigations into the case and subsequently arrested Owusu on August 4.

He was arraigned before the Atasemanso Circuit Court on August 7, with the case presided over by His Lordship Kwaku Baah Frimpong.

Owusu was charged with robbery and pleaded guilty when he appeared before the court. Based on his plea, the court convicted him of the offence.

Before the court delivered the sentence, Owusu appealed for forgiveness and pleaded for leniency. However, after considering his plea, the court sentenced him to a minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment with hard labour.

The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Dzifa Gomashie, has called for the immediate removal of unauthorised structures around Ghana’s forts and castles, warning that growing encroachment could undermine efforts to preserve the country’s cultural heritage.

Speaking at a symposium on the Korea-Ghana Heritage Project in Accra, Ms Gomashie expressed concern about the increasing number of illegal developments around some of Ghana’s historic monuments.

She noted that several heritage sites were under significant pressure from structures that had been erected within designated buffer zones meant to protect the forts and castles.

According to the Minister, urgent action was needed to clear the affected areas and prevent further encroachment on the country’s heritage assets.

However, she stressed that demolition exercises must be accompanied by meaningful engagement with communities living around the heritage sites.

Ms Gomashie explained that residents would be more likely to support conservation measures if they were properly educated about the historical and cultural importance of the monuments.

She said community engagement was often neglected, making it difficult for residents to understand why government would seek to remove structures around the forts and castles.

The Minister described the level of encroachment at some locations as alarming and said the situation required immediate intervention.

She used a strong expression to highlight the seriousness of the problem, saying: “If I show you pictures of the encroachment on the buffer for the forts and castles, you will join me in doing Aluta.”

Ms Gomashie further emphasised that the protection of Ghana’s heritage sites should not be considered the sole responsibility of government.

She called for stronger cooperation between traditional authorities, local communities, state institutions and other stakeholders to protect the country’s historic sites.

The Minister said a collective approach would be critical to preventing further encroachment and ensuring that Ghana’s forts, castles and other heritage properties are preserved for future generations.

The Ghana Police Service has foiled a planned robbery attack targeting three banks in Labone, Accra, resulting in the deaths of two suspected robbers and the arrest of another.

According to the Police, the incident occurred on Thursday, August 13, 2026, after it received intelligence that a robbery syndicate was preparing to attack the GCB Bank, Ecobank and Zenith Bank, all located in the Labone area.

At about 10:45 a.m., a police team was immediately deployed to the area to intercept the suspected robbers. Upon arrival, the team spotted members of the gang in vehicles parked close to the banks.

The Police said one of the vehicles sped away after the suspects noticed the presence of the security team. Officers pursued the vehicle and successfully arrested one of the occupants, identified as Augustine Okechuku Maazi. The other occupant, however, managed to escape.

According to the Police, occupants of the second vehicle also attempted to flee while firing at the officers. The Police engaged the suspects in a shootout, during which two of the suspected robbers were shot dead.

Following the operation, the Police recovered two vehicles believed to have been used by the suspected robbery gang. They were a Toyota Highlander with registration number GS-1434-18 and a Hyundai Tucson with registration number GS 7915-17.

A blow pistol was also recovered from the suspects.

The arrested suspect, Augustine Okechuku Maazi, remains in Police custody and is assisting with investigations. The bodies of the two deceased suspects have been deposited at the morgue for preservation, identification and autopsy.

The Ghana Police Service commended the response team for its swift intervention, which successfully prevented the planned robbery attack on the banks.

The Service also expressed appreciation to members of the public for providing credible information that assists the Police in identifying and preventing criminal activities.

The Police said investigations are ongoing, while efforts are expected to continue to apprehend the suspect who escaped from the scene.

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GCB Bank has clarified that no robbery or attempted robbery took place at its Labone Branch in Accra, following reports of a robbery incident in the Labone area.

The bank, in a statement issued on Thursday, August 13, said its Labone branch was neither attacked nor breached during the incident.

“At no point was the branch breached, and no customer, member of staff, funds or property of the Bank was affected,” GCB Bank stated.

The clarification follows an earlier statement by the Ghana Police Service that it had foiled a robbery attempt at the GCB Bank in Labone on Thursday, August 13, 2026.

According to the Police, the operation resulted in two suspected robbers being shot dead, while another suspect was arrested.

The development led to reports linking the incident to the GCB Bank Labone Branch, prompting the bank to issue a clarification on the circumstances.

GCB Bank, however, stressed that the alleged robbery did not take place at its branch or on any of its premises.

The bank assured customers that the Labone Branch remains secure and that they can continue conducting their banking transactions with confidence.

GCB further stated that it takes the safety and security of its customers, employees and facilities seriously and continues to maintain robust security measures across its network.

The bank added that it remains in contact with the relevant authorities and will continue to monitor developments regarding the incident.

GCB Bank concluded by reassuring its customers and stakeholders that the institution remains safe, secure and fully committed to serving them.