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My Son Was Murdered – Late Law Student’s Father

THE FATHER of the late 20-year-old Central University Law student, Evans Baidoo, has described his son’s death as murder, not an accident.

During the reading of his tribute on Saturday, Mr. Baidoo broke down as he paid tribute to his son, Ivan Apprey Baidoo. ‘The circumstances of your sudden demise make me inconsolable. You did not die, son; you were murdered. Brutally murdered by a police officer, paid for with your parents’ taxes to offer protection to you. Who did this to you, and what was your crime?

‘Your death reflects the society we live in – disrespect for one’s fundamental human rights and the right to life, and inequality before the law. Our dreams were woven around your pursuit of legal education. You carried a deep passion to become a voice for the voiceless and an advocate for the oppressed. Yet, heartbreakingly, your own life has been cut short by the very ills you hoped one day to confront – injustice, fear, intolerance and violence.

‘Apprey, we are deeply saddened and devastated by the manner of your passing. I do not have the words to express it, except to say that just Lord, the judge of all creation, will avenge your loss. I have missed your calm and assuring presence. We cannot bring ourselves to fathom how we will watch Arsenal matches without you being part of the watch party,’ parts of the tribute read.

Ivan Apprey Baidoo, a Level 200 Law student of Central University, had boarded a Yango motorbike, ridden by Samuel Wesley Arthur, from Ashongman Estates to the East Legon AstroTurf Park to play football. At the UPSA traffic intersection, the rider allegedly jumped a red light.

Corporal Robert Katey Koranteng, 34, of the Traffic Management Enforcement Unit at the Police Headquarters, who was on duty at the intersection, gave a wild chase and signaled the rider to stop. The prosecution says the rider failed to stop and continued through the Okponglo traffic light and the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange onto the Tema Motorway. Beyond the Old Tollbooth on the Tema Motorway, Corporal Koranteng allegedly kicked the moving motorbike, causing the rider to lose control and crash into a concrete barrier.

The officer is accused of speeding away without stopping to assist the victims or arranging medical help. Members of the public later conveyed Baidoo and the rider to the Tema General Hospital, where Baidoo was pronounced dead on arrival. The rider was treated and discharged. A postmortem conducted on September 3 by Dr. Eric Dumfeh at Tema General Hospital gave the cause of death as haemorrhagic shock resulting from bilateral haemothorax and haemoperitoneum caused by blunt trauma to the chest and abdomen.

General Corporal Koranteng has since been arrested and charged with murder under Section 46 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29). He was arraigned before the Adabraka District Court on September 15 and remanded into custody to reappear on September 29, 2026.

New Fire Vehicles To Boost Emergency Response – CFO

Chief Fire Officer Madam Daniella Mawusi Ntow Sarpong says the commissioning of new fire tenders and equipment demonstrates a collective commitment to strengthening Ghana’s emergency response capacity and ensuring the safety of lives, properties and the environment.

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, she noted that the Ghana National Fire Service is operating in an increasingly complex environment.

‘Urbanisation, industrialisation, increased vehicular traffic, commercial activities and emerging technologies continue to create more challenging fire and emergency risks. These developments require a fire service that is properly equipped, adequately prepared and capable of responding rapidly and professionally to emergencies,’ she said.

According to her, the addition of the new vehicles and equipment comes at a crucial time and will enhance operational capabilities, improve mobility and response times, as well as enable personnel to perform their duties more effectively.

‘More importantly, they will contribute to our ability to save lives, protect properties and minimise the impact of disasters in our communities,’ she stated.

Madam Ntow Sarpong, however, emphasised that equipment alone does not make a professional fire service. ‘The effectiveness of these resources will depend on the competence, discipline, maintenance culture and commitment of the officers who operate them,’ she stressed. She therefore charged all personnel entrusted with the vehicles and equipment to handle them with the highest level of professionalism and responsibility.

The Minister for Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, led the commissioning of the fleet of vehicles and operational equipment under the Automated Fire Compliance and Safety System (AFCASS) to boost the Ghana National Fire Service’s (GNFS) operational capacity.

Commissioned in Accra on September 18, 2026, Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka said the donation demonstrated the collective commitment of the government and its partners to protecting lives and property.

He said the GNFS played a critical role in Ghana’s security and emergency management system, with its personnel responding to fires, road traffic accidents, disasters and other emergencies, often under difficult conditions.

‘Their effectiveness, however, depends not only on their professionalism and courage, but also on access to modern equipment, reliable logistics, and operational tools necessary to respond swiftly and effectively whenever duty calls,’ he stated.

Mr. Muntaka said the newly commissioned assets would strengthen the Service’s ability to deliver. ‘These assets will strengthen operational readiness, improve emergency response time, support firefighting and rescue operations, and enable our personnel to serve the public with even greater efficiency, effectiveness, and professionalism,’ he explained.

According to him, investment in emergency response should not be viewed merely as government expenditure but as an investment in public safety, national resilience and sustainable development.

He urged the leadership and personnel of the GNFS to ensure that the newly acquired assets were properly maintained and responsibly deployed. The minister also called on Ghanaians to support the work of the Service by observing fire safety regulations, promoting safety awareness and cooperating with emergency responders.

Govt eyes ?2.68-B revenue from ‘sisig’ tariff tweaks

THE Philippine government could generate up to P2.68 billion in additional revenue by reclassifying frozen pork jowl and imposing higher tariffs, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

A local manufacturer that uses frozen pork jowl as a raw material warned that this move will trickle down to the cost of processed meat products, such as sausages and longganisa, with Filipino consumers feeling the pinch of higher prices. Frozen pork jowl is used for a vastly popular Filipino fare, ‘sisig,’ which is carried by both low-end and high-class restaurants.

The DA claimed that the government could potentially generate P1.34 billion to P2.68 billion in revenue if the corresponding tariff rate on swine meat is applied to frozen pork jowl through a reclassification.

The agency disclosed its estimates during the Tariff Commission’s public hearing on the DA’s petition to modify the tariffs levied on frozen pork jowl by reclassifying it as swine meat.

The DA based its figures on the average three-year tariff collection from frozen pork jowl of P893 million at the current 10-percent rate.

Should the government reclassify the commodity as swine meat and levy it with 25 percent as stipulated in the tariff scheme under Executive Order (EO) 62, this could grow to P2.23 billion.

When EO 62 lapses in 2029, the tariff scheme on pork imports will revert to 30 percent for in-quota and 40 percent for out-quota shipments. Revenues could then climb to P3.57 billion.

‘While we do acknowledge that the actual amount would depend on historical import volumes and the applicable tariff [rate], it illustrates how a seemingly technical classification issue can have substantial fiscal implications,’ the DA said.

It added that these revenues could contribute to government programs supporting the development and competitiveness of the domestic livestock industry, such as the P20-billion annual allocation under the Animal Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (Ancef).

The Animal Industry Development and Competitiveness Act (Aidca) created the Ancef, which comprises tariffs collected from livestock, poultry, and dairy imports.

Domino effect on consumers

Local manufacturer Mishie Tongson from PrimeAgri said reclassifying and imposing higher duties on frozen pork jowl would be ‘unfair’ for producers of processed meat goods, already subject to value-added tax (VAT).

‘If we impose a high tariff or reclassify it to be similar to the classification of [swine] meat, everything will have a domino effect on the supply chain,’ Tongson said.

She added that on top of imposed taxes, the increase in minimum wage and transportation costs would be added to manufactured goods, ‘which will ultimately be passed onto the consumer.’

‘The business owner is just processing it; everything that increases [along the supply chain] is passed on to the consumer. So if that happens, almost all of our pork products will become more expensive,’ Tongson added.

Government data showed that imports of frozen pork jowl increased to 138,000 metric tons (MT) in 2025, from 111,000 MT in 2023. Shipments of the commodity, however, declined by 24 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2026.

The European Union is the Philippines’s top supplier of frozen pork jowl, accounting for 79 percent of shipments in the reference period.

Torres, Veguillas, Arrogante break through with bronze in team kata

Rebecca Cyril Torres, Samantha Veguillas and Ysabelle Arrogante delivered a historic milestone at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games after they clinched a bronze medal in women’s team kata on Tuesday at the Aichi-Nagoya 20th Asian Games at the Toyohashi Gymnasium.

They beat Southeast Asian rival Thailand’s Ramitar Terananon, Monsicha Sakulrattanatara and Phatcharin Plangplai, 4-1, for the Philippines’s first-ever medal in team kata event in the Asian Games.

On Sunday, Princess Catindig, Noelle Mañalac and Christy Sanosa bagged bronze in soft tennis not only capturing the Philippines’s first medal in these games but also securing the sport’s first medal in the quadrennial multi-sport competition.

The Filipina karatekas set the tone early with a flawless 5-0 sweep of Cambodia’s Sreynuch Puthea, Oun Sreyda and That Chhenghorng, but went down to a 0-5 loss to powerhouse Iran in the semifinals.

‘We dared not think which team we were up against,’ Arrogante said. ‘What was important was we got the medal.’

The emotional triumph was the culmination of years of quiet sacrifice.

‘It has been a long journey. The team has been through so much,’ an emotional Torres said. ‘We suffered losses after losses over the years, but we kept on performing, fighting to the end.’

Adding fuel to their fire was the news they received just a day prior that the Philippines officially qualified for the Karate World Cup this November in Hangzhou.

‘We were inspired by that development and that rubbed off here [team kata],’ Arrogante said.

Head Coach Sonny Montalvo commended his athletes for their immense dedication, highlighting how the girls temporarily left their families and put their university studies on hold just to train.

The trio also credited their success to the unwavering support of their coaches and officials, specifically former Karate Pilipinas president the late Pocholo Veguillas, father of current president Richard Lim, also Team Philippines chef de mission in these games.

Karate has contributed consecutive bronze medals in the Asian Games starting with Junna Tsukii in Jakarta 2018 and Sakura Alforte in Hangzhou 2023.

Alforte, an individual kata specialist, missed this year’s Asiad due to a new ruling requiring all squad members to compete in the team event.

Govt seeks new dump site to replace Buyala

The government is considering relieving Kampala of waste dumping in favour of recycling and material recovery as it seeks an alternative to the Buyala landfill in Mpigi District.

The move follows President Museveni’s directive to find an alternative waste disposal system after concerns were raised about the proximity of the Buyala landfill to the newly launched Kampala Storage Terminal (KST).

The President last week flagged off the construction of the 320-million-litre terminal, which is expected to increase Uganda’s fuel storage capacity to 360 million litres.

He said the government should consider technologies that can process waste and generate energy rather than maintaining conventional dumping sites.

‘We have been debating converting waste into manure. This has been one of the many proposals. Now, one smart proposal I got, which would solve all this, was the one of incineration and generating electricity using the steam from there,’ President Museveni said.

‘We shall not allow a dumping site near here. That is suicide. That’s very dangerous,’ he added.

State Minister for Kampala Kabuye Kyofatogabye said the government was considering modern waste-treatment technologies, including incineration, as part of efforts to address the capital’s growing garbage problem.

‘He directed us to look for alternatives, but more so to insulate garbage as a future plan,’ Mr Kyofatogabye said.

He said the government’s plan was also intended to protect wetlands from pollution associated with poorly managed waste.

‘We are working within that advice. It was more of a guidance that, for the future, we should safeguard our environment, especially wetlands, bearing in mind that garbage is also an environmental hazard,’ he said.

Mr Kyofatogabye said the government hoped to expedite the establishment of a modern waste management facility and have a recycling solution in place within the next year.

Despite the directive, waste collectors said they were still using Buyala because no alternative disposal site had been officially designated.

Mr Abu Ssonko, a director and project manager at Nabugabo Updeal Joint Venture, a garbage collection company, said: ‘We are still waiting for the final decision from the authorities to come up with a new site where we can dump garbage, but for now, we are still using Buyala.’

He urged the government to urgently identify and gazette an alternative site, saying collectors were ready to comply once a new facility was provided.

KCCA spokesperson Daniel Nuwabine said the planned facility would move the city away from conventional dumping by incorporating material recovery and other waste-treatment technologies.

‘This is a waste management facility that involves material recovery and not just a dumping site. Government has already committed resources for preliminary works towards a modern facility,’ Mr Nuwabine said.

He said KCCA’s long-term goal was to establish a facility where garbage could be processed and converted into useful materials.

KCCA estimates that Kampala generates between 2,000 and 2,500 tonnes of waste daily, while between 1,200 and 2,000 tonnes are transported out of the city.

KCCA secured 230 acres at Buyala on February 14, 2025, when it signed a land acquisition contract for the landfill.

However, the government had earlier acquired 300 acres in the area in 2008 for the Kampala Storage Terminal.

Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja had said Cabinet would consider where government could secure land for an alternative waste disposal site following the development of the oil storage facility.

Independence Marathon build-up gathers pace

Preparations for the inaugural Independence Marathon have gained momentum after hundreds of runners and fitness enthusiasts took part in a build-up activation at Metroplex Shopping Mall in Naalya on Saturday.

The marathon, sponsored by Stanbic Bank Uganda, will be held on October 4 at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, with proceeds going towards the establishment of a cold storage facility at the Mengo Rotary Blood Bank.

The facility is expected to improve blood storage capacity and help provide lifesaving transfusions to mothers and other patients.

Marathon organiser Robert Kabushenga said the event will combine fitness, patriotism and community service as Ugandans celebrate Independence.

‘The Independence Marathon is more than a race. It is a movement that brings together healthy living, national pride and giving back to the community. Every person who registers, runs or walks is contributing towards saving the lives of mothers across Uganda,’ he said.

Marathon kits cost Shs70,000, with registration available through FlexiPay, MTN Mobile Money and Airtel Money. All finishers will receive medals.

Stanbic Bank’s Corporate Social Investment manager, Diana Ondoga, said the partnership seeks to address maternal health challenges, particularly postpartum haemorrhage.

‘At Stanbic, we believe Uganda is our home, and we drive her growth. Supporting initiatives like the Independence Marathon demonstrates our commitment to partnering with communities to solve real societal challenges and create sustainable impact,’ she said.

Franco Ariho, who is in charge of blood donation at Mengo Hospital, urged Ugandans to become regular voluntary blood donors, saying increased blood storage capacity could help reduce preventable maternal deaths.

‘Postpartum haemorrhage remains one of the leading causes of maternal mortality in Uganda, yet many of these deaths are preventable when safe blood is available,’ Ariho said.

Sri Lanka Tourism strengthens presence in Middle Eastern market

Successful participation at Arabian Travel Market 2026 strengthens industry engagement and partnerships

Sri Lanka Tourism successfully concluded its participation at the 33rd Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026, held from 14 to 17 September at the Dubai World Trade Centre, further strengthening Sri Lanka’s presence and engagement in the Middle Eastern tourism market.

Held under the theme ‘Travel 2040: Driving New Frontiers Through Innovation and Technology,’ ATM 2026 brought together global tourism stakeholders, providing an important platform for destinations, travel professionals and industry partners to explore new opportunities, foster partnerships and shape the future of travel.

Organised by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB), Sri Lanka’s participation reflected its continued efforts to expand engagement with the Middle Eastern travel trade, strengthen business relationships and position Sri Lanka as an attractive destination for travellers from the region.

The Sri Lanka pavilion was inaugurated in the presence of Sri Lanka Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Arusha Cooray, Consul General of Sri Lanka in Dubai Alexi Gunasekera, and Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Deputy Managing Director Chamila Jayarathna. Officials from the SLTPB, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Dubai also participated in the occasion.

The Sri Lanka pavilion brought together 58 representatives from the Sri Lankan travel and tourism industry, showcasing a diverse range of tourism products and experiences to international buyers, travel professionals and visitors. The pavilion highlighted the island’s rich cultural heritage, pristine beaches, scenic landscapes, wildlife, wellness experiences and other distinctive tourism offerings.

Sri Lanka Tourism also engaged with international and regional media throughout ATM 2026 to enhance awareness of the destination and its tourism offerings. A dedicated press conference was held during the event, bringing together media representatives to highlight Sri Lanka’s tourism products, emerging market opportunities and initiatives aimed at strengthening the destination’s appeal among Middle Eastern travellers.

As part of its participation at ATM 2026, Sri Lanka Tourism further strengthened strategic cooperation with leading international airline partners. Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) signed with Emirates and Qatar Airways marked an important step towards strengthening airline partnerships, supporting destination promotion and enhancing connectivity between Sri Lanka and key international markets.

The four-day event provided Sri Lanka Tourism and its industry partners with valuable opportunities to engage with regional and international travel trade representatives, media and other key stakeholders, while strengthening existing relationships and exploring new avenues for collaboration.

Sri Lanka’s successful participation at ATM 2026 reaffirmed its continued commitment to the Middle Eastern market and to promoting the country as a diverse, welcoming and year-round destination. The engagement also supports Sri Lanka’s broader efforts to strengthen international tourism partnerships, enhance destination visibility and contribute to the continued growth of the country’s tourism sector.

Makati Medical Center earns significant certification in hearing concerns

MAKATI Medical Center (MakatiMed, www.makatimed.net.ph) has been certified as a Category D Newborn Hearing Diagnostic, Intervention, Surgical and Rehabilitation Center, the highest classification under the Newborn Hearing Screening Reference Center.

MakatiMed is only the second hospital in the Philippines to receive the distinction. The certification is significant as Category D Centers go beyond newborn hearing screening.

They have the capability to provide a full range of care for children identified with hearing concerns, including confirmatory hearing tests, hearing aid fitting, ear surgery such as cochlear implantation, and speech rehabilitation.

This means that a newborn who requires further assessment after screening can access the next stages of evaluation and treatment through a coordinated team within the same institution. Rather than treating hearing concerns as a single diagnostic issue, the Category D classification recognizes the need for care that may extend from diagnosis to medical or surgical intervention and rehabilitation.

The certification follows a collaborative effort among MakatiMed’s Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Pediatrics-Section of Developmental Pediatrics, and Speech Language Pathologists of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Their combined expertise covers the medical, developmental, surgical, and communication needs that may arise in children with hearing difficulties.

For families, the designation means access to a broader range of specialized services as their children’s needs become clearer. For MakatiMed, it adds another level of capability to its Pediatric and ENT services and strengthens its role in the early identification and management of childhood hearing concerns.

Unbeaten Scrap Buyers lead three-horse pool title race

Scrap Buyers are setting the early pace in what is already shaping up as a three-horse race for the Nile Special National Pool League title.

The unbeaten side moved to 18 points after another productive weekend, edging Roxberry by one point, with Upper Volta a further point adrift on 16.

Scrap Buyers’ latest charge was built around a strong showing at Adi’s Kireka, where they beat Corporate Shooters 15-5, Pot It 16-4 and former champions Mbale 13-7.

Habib Ssebuguzi, who missed the first match day, and Glorious Ssenyonjo were particularly influential, winning all four of their designated games to help the leaders maintain their perfect start.

Roxberry, however, remain within striking distance and have shown plenty of firepower of their own.

Roxberry keep pressure on

Defending champions Roxberry crushed E-Play and Nakawa 18-2 and Club 408 12-8 at Amigos in Kansanga.

Their consistency is reflected in the individual standings, where four of their players feature among the top eight scorers. Ian Kazibwe has 33 points, Simon Lubuulwa 30, Joseph Kasozi 30 and Ibra Ssejjemba 30.

Greater Mukono’s Julius Ssemanda currently leads the individual chart on 37 points after winning 10 of his 12 frames during the second match day at Upper Volta.

The new star’s form provided a bright spot for Greater Mukono, who defeated Tororo 12-8 and Capital Night 14-6 before suffering a 14-6 defeat to hosts Upper Volta.

Captain Najib Yiga believes Mukono can still compete despite losing some of the strength that carried them last season.

‘We’re not as strong as we were last season but we remain a team. We play for each other and we are happy with the performance,’ Yiga said.

Upper Volta refuse to blink

Upper Volta are refusing to let the leaders escape.

Caesar Chandiga’s side won all three of their matches at their Kasubi home, beating Capital Night 13-7, Tororo 15-5 and Mukono 14-6.

The captain says their position in the title chase is no accident.

‘Our start is very promising. We have won all the key games for us and we shall keep focused to win the league,’ Chandiga said after the victory over Mukono.

While the top three have opened a small gap, Club 408 are emerging as an intriguing side further down the table. They sit sixth on 12 points after a much-improved start, having struggled near the bottom last season.

Alfred ‘Blacksheep’ Gumikiriza has provided much of the spark, collecting 29 points. But his much-anticipated clash with Roxberry at Amigos proved a difficult outing as he won only one frame losing the others to Kazibwe, Ssejjemba and Lubuulwa.

Patrick Ssekilime, though, produced a strong individual performance for Club 408, winning three frames, including a break-and-finish against Arnold Ssemukwano and a decider against Ssejjemba.

The league resumes this weekend with all 16 teams divided into four groups, with each side playing three matches on the day.

The women’s league is also expected to begin, with seven teams set to make their opening appearance.

Weekend results

Upper Volta – Kasubi: Capital Night 7-13 Upper Volta, Mukono 12-8 Tororo, Upper Volta

15-5 Tororo, Capital Night 6-14 Mukono, Upper Volta 14-6 Mukono, Tororo vs

Capital Night (Forfeit)

Pacify Hotel – Wakaliga: Sinkers 10-10 Kireka, Wakiso City 5-15 Adi’s, Kireka 12-8 Adi’s,

Kireka 9-11 Wakiso, Adi’s 16-4 Sinkers

Amigos – Kansanga: E-Play 2-18 Roxberry, Club 408 15-5 Nakawa, Roxberry 18-2 Nakawa, E-Play 7-13

Club 408, Nakawa 7-13 E-Play, Club 408 8-12 Roxberry.

Adi’s Kireka: Mbale 14-6 Pot It, Scrap Buyers 15-5 C. Shooters, Pot It 4-16 Scrap Buyers, C.

Shooters 7-13 Pot It, Scrap Buyers 13-7 Mbale.

GUYANA-COURT-Deported Guyanese national appears in a court on murder charge

A Guyanese national, who was deported from the United States last weekend, appeared in a Magistrate’s Court on Monday charged with the murder of a sex male worker 1 years ago.

A police statement said that Kanand Ojha had been charged with the murder of Noel ‘Nephi’ Luther on July 22, 2015.

He was detained by US authorities on September 8, 2025 and arrested by local police on his arrival at the Eugene F. Correia ‘Ogle’ International Airport last Friday.

Ojha was not required to enter a plea to the charge after it had been read out to him by Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. He has since been remanded into custody until October 12, 2026.9.22

Ojha was arrested in Queens, New York as a result of continuous collaboration and cooperation between the Guyana government through the Guyana Police Force, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Attorney General’s Chambers and authorities in the U.S. under the Hemispheric Network for Legal Cooperation n Criminal Matters.

A wanted bulletin had been issued for Ojha in July 2019 in relation to the killing of Luther, who was shot once to his chest during a confrontation with the accused and his friend Ron ‘Andel’ Forde on July 22, 2015

Forde was sentenced to 20 years in prison in June, 2017 after pleading guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter for the killing of Luther.