The Ghana Police Service has arrested four suspected drug peddlers and recovered a locally manufactured pistol alongside various suspected narcotic substances during an intelligence-led operation at Kunsu Township in the Mankranso District of the Ashanti Region.

The operation was carried out in the early hours of Friday, 26th June 2026, as part of ongoing efforts by the Police Service to clamp down on drug trafficking and related criminal activities in identified communities.

The suspects have been named as Issaka Musah, 22, Amankwah Emmanuel, 25, Kwame Boateng, 32, and Appiah Prince, 23. They were picked up during the targeted operation conducted by officers acting on intelligence within the area.

According to a statement issued by the Police, items retrieved from the suspects include a locally manufactured pistol loaded with two BB rounds of ammunition, quantities of suspected Tramadol tablets, red capsules, dried leaves believed to be Indian hemp, and a whitish powdery substance suspected to be cocaine. An amount of GH¢5,647.40, believed to be proceeds from the alleged illegal drug trade, was also recovered.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects allegedly admitted ownership of the seized items. They are currently in Police custody assisting with investigations and are expected to be put before court upon completion of the investigation process.

The Ghana Police Service reiterated its commitment to fighting drug-related offences and organised crime, while urging the public to continue providing credible and timely information to support law enforcement efforts in identifying and arresting offenders.

The operation forms part of broader security measures aimed at curbing the trafficking and abuse of narcotic drugs across the Ashanti Region and beyond.

A widow in her late 60s whose livelihood was destroyed in the devastating Odawna Market fire has made an emotional appeal to the government and charitable organisations for urgent assistance after losing everything she owned.

Madam Esther Tibu, one of the victims of the June 29, 2026 fire at Odawna Market in Accra, said the blaze reduced her three shops to ashes, leaving her hopeless just months after the death of her husband.

Speaking to KPD online’s Maurice Otoo at the scene, the grieving trader revealed that the shops were her only source of income and had been financed through loans she was still struggling to repay.

The fire, which followed heavy flooding and reportedly destroyed more than 3,000 shops, has left thousands of traders counting their losses.

Madam Tibu estimated that goods worth about GH¢200,000 were destroyed in the inferno, wiping out her years of hard work and investment.

Fighting back tears, she said the tragedy has shattered her hopes of rebuilding her life and appealed to the government, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and other well-meaning Ghanaians to come to her aid.

“I have lost everything. I am pleading with anyone who can help me in this difficult moment,” she said.

The Odawna Market disaster has sparked renewed calls for stronger fire prevention measures, improved drainage infrastructure, and emergency support for affected traders as many victims struggle to recover from the devastating losses.

Gomoa Central MP Kwame Asare Obeng, popularly known as Kwame A Plus, has proposed sweeping reforms to Ghana’s land administration system, calling for a ban on the sale of lands that have not been properly planned and approved.

Speaking during a live broadcast on the country’s recurring flooding crisis, A Plus argued that the lack of proper land-use planning is one of the biggest contributors to illegal developments and annual floods.

He proposed that no chief, family head or landowner should be allowed to sell land unless a detailed planning scheme or layout has been approved by the appropriate authorities. According to him, every parcel of land should clearly indicate roads, drainage systems, public facilities, schools, hospitals and other essential infrastructure before it is put on the market.

The Gomoa Central lawmaker further suggested that the government revoke leases on large parcels of land that have not been developed with approved planning schemes, rather than waiting until people construct buildings that later have to be demolished.

A Plus also called on the Lands Commission, district assemblies and planning authorities to tighten enforcement of existing regulations to prevent the indiscriminate sale of land.

He maintained that Ghana’s current system allows developers to create communities first before the government is forced to provide roads, electricity and drainage infrastructure, a practice he described as unsustainable.

According to him, implementing stricter land planning laws would help prevent future flooding, improve urban development and reduce the need for costly demolitions in the years ahead.

Story by: Abena Nyame