Global Update
Ghana News Live Blog: Key Updates Throughout Monday, January 26, 2026
Stay tuned! We’ll refresh this page as new developments emerge across politics, public safety, and civic affairs.
(Last updated: 7:30 pm on January 26, 2026. Check back for more stories.)
Court Dismisses Unauthorized Applicant’s Claim in Daddy Lumba Estate Case
A High Court in Kumasi has struck out an application related to the estate of the late highlife musician Charles Kwadwo Fosuh (Daddy Lumba) after a named applicant, his daughter Charlyn Fosuh, denied consenting to her inclusion in the legal action. The motion for misjoinder was upheld by Justice Hannah Taylor, removing her name from the application seeking letters of administration. Fosuh’s counsel emphasised that she had not authorised any affidavit in her name and preferred the family resolve estate matters privately to preserve unity while protecting her father’s legacy.
🔗 Read more: https://www.myjoyonline.com/court-strikes-out-unauthorised-applicant-from-daddy-lumbas-estate/
Prominent Figures Challenge Party Delegate Systems at Supreme Court
Elder statespersons including Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, and Dr. Christine Amoako-Nuamah have filed a constitutional writ at the Supreme Court challenging the delegate-based candidate selection systems used by Ghana’s major political parties — the NPP, NDC, and CPP. They argue these systems disenfranchise ordinary party members by limiting voting rights in internal elections to a small class of delegates. The plaintiffs claim such practices violate democratic principles under the 1992 Constitution and seek rulings to mandate broader participation and compliance by political parties and the Electoral Commission.
Minority in Parliament Questions Chief Justice’s Institutional Visits
The Minority in Ghana’s Parliament has criticised Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie’s ongoing visits to state institutions, alleging the engagements resemble a politically motivated “thank-you tour” following his appointment. Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin stated the caucus would boycott a planned visit to Parliament and called for direct engagement with the judiciary on substantive issues. Supporters of the visits say they are aimed at strengthening collaboration across government sectors.
🔗 Read more: https://www.myjoyonline.com/minority-questions-chief-justices-institutional-visits-labels-them-thank-you-tour/
NDC Government Draws Criticism Over Delay in Passing Anti-LGBTQ Law
The Minority in Parliament has accused the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) of hypocrisy and stalling on the anti-LGBTQ Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, which they say was championed by the party while in opposition. Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin highlighted that despite previous advocacy, the government has been quiet on advancing the bill a year after assuming office, using procedural delays as justification. Critics argue this represents a departure from earlier commitments made during electoral campaigns.
Ghana Law Society Postpones Press Conference Amid Legal Battle
The President of the Ghana Law Society (GLS), Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, has postponed a scheduled press conference due to an ongoing legal dispute. This follows a high court injunction application challenging the GLS’s recent accreditation and its claimed authority to issue practising licences — functions traditionally held by the Ghana Bar Association and General Legal Council. The postponement adds complexity to the unfolding legal tussle within Ghana’s legal profession. Read more: https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Ghana-Law-Society-postpones-press-conference-over-pending-lawsuit-2018942
(Last updated: 2:30 pm on January 26, 2026. Check back for more stories.)
Felix Kwakye: No Special Treatment for Ken Ofori-Atta Under the Law
Government Communications Minister Felix Kwakye Ofosu has stated that former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta cannot receive preferential treatment amid ongoing investigations into his tenure. Speaking on JOYNEWS’ AM Show, Kwakye stated that equality before the law applies to all, including Ofori-Atta, who faces probes by the Office of the Special Prosecutor over alleged financial mismanagement. He noted legal recourse exists for any unlawful institutional actions, amid Ofori-Atta’s detention by U.S. ICE following visa revocation. The comments follow public debates on fairness and potential extradition issues.
Read more: https://www.myjoyonline.com/ken-ofori-atta-cannot-receive-special-treatment-under-the-law-felix-kwakye/
Police Bust Suspected Cocaine Haul on Accra-Aflao Highway
A joint intelligence-led operation by the Volta Regional Police intercepted a black Liberty Jeep (registration FK692KF) near Kpotame on the Accra-Aflao road, seizing ten parcels of compressed substances suspected to be cocaine (each ~1kg) and half a kilogram of suspected Indian hemp hidden in the vehicle’s boot. The driver, 46-year-old Nigerian national Charles Adenkule, was arrested and is assisting investigations. The estimated street value of the cocaine is GH¢1,032,650, with exhibits sent for forensic analysis. Regional Police Commander DCOP Wisdom Akorli praised the officers’ professionalism.
Read more: https://www.myjoyonline.com/police-intercepts-vehicle-in-drug-bust-on-accra-aflao-road/
BREAKING: Abu Trica Re-Arrested by NACOC After Court Discharge
Ghanaian socialite Frederick Kumi, alias Abu Trica, was re-arrested by the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) shortly after the Gbese District Court discharged him when the state withdrew charges. The re-arrest followed an attempt to detain him in the courtroom, which reportedly upset the judge. Abu Trica and co-accused were taken to NACOC headquarters for what his legal team described as possible administrative purposes. The case relates to a U.S. indictment for an alleged $8+ million online romance scam using AI-generated profiles targeting elderly victims.
Read more: https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/BREAKING-Abu-Trica-re-arrested-2018893
Kpebu Alleges Some Ex-NPP Appointees Avoid Prosecution Due to NDC Campaign Funding
Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has claimed that certain former New Patriotic Party (NPP) appointees implicated in corruption are escaping legal action because they financed the National Democratic Congress (NDC) 2024 election campaign. In a TV3 interview, Kpebu described Ghana’s political scene as “dicey,” suggesting pre-election “horse-trading” where financial support secures protection. He argued the lack of prosecutions against expected targets points to such arrangements, common across administrations.
Read more: https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Some-Ex-NPP-appointees-walking-free-because-they-financed-NDC-campaign-Kpebu-2018837
Ghana Deploys Over 130 Health Professionals to Caribbean Under Labour Exchange Programme
Ghana has begun deploying health professionals to Caribbean nations to tackle unemployment among its qualified graduates, with over 130 workers sent to Antigua and Barbuda for midwifery, mental health, and general care roles under a three-year contract. Health Minister Kwabena Mintah-Akandoh explained the Labour Exchange Programme addresses a backlog of more than 80,000 unemployed health professionals, with future batches planned for Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad. The initiative creates jobs abroad while filling healthcare gaps in partner countries.
Read more: https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/health/Here-s-why-Ghana-is-deploying-health-professionals-to-the-Caribbean-2018910
Minority Accuses Chief Justice of ‘Thank-You Tour’ Over Ministry Visits
The Minority in Parliament has criticized Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie’s courtesy calls to ministries like Finance and Education, labeling them a “thank-you tour” for his appointment rather than genuine consultations. They questioned his impartiality and stated they would not participate, though open to formal engagement. The visits aimed to strengthen judiciary-executive collaboration, but the accusations raise concerns about perceived bias and judicial independence. Read more: https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Are-you-on-a-thank-you-tour-Minority-blasts-Chief-Justice-over-ministry-visits-2018909
(Last updated: 8:00 am on January 26, 2026. Check back for more stories)
American Streamer IShowSpeed Lands in Ghana to Massive Airport Welcome
American internet sensation IShowSpeed touched down at Kotoka International Airport on January 26, 2026, sparking scenes of excitement as stunt riders and crowds gathered in the precinct. The 21-year-old content creator’s arrival, part of his African tour following Nigeria, received support from the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA). GTA Deputy CEO Abeiku Santana shared enthusiasm on X, highlighting planned cultural and fun activities to ensure a memorable visit. The lively atmosphere quickly went viral online.
Ghana Cedi Emerges as Africa’s Top-Performing Currency in 2025 – IMF Data
IMF analysis ranks the Ghana cedi as the best-performing currency in Africa for 2025, appreciating over 40% against the US dollar across more than 20 major economies. This outperformance stems from Bank of Ghana policies and IMF-supported reforms, bolstered by reserves nearing US$14 billion by year-end. The strength signals potential for further stability measures in 2026. Read more: https://www.myjoyonline.com/ghana-cedi-best-performing-currency-in-africa-for-2025-imf/
Devastating Fire Engulfs Mechanic Shops at Sofoline, Destroys Over 100 Vehicles
A massive fire swept through mechanic shops in Sofoline, Kwadaso Municipality (Ashanti Region), around 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, destroying more than 100 vehicles, engines, and upholstery materials. No casualties were reported, though the cause remains unknown—some artisans suspect refuse burning. The incident has caused significant economic losses for local artisans. Read more: https://www.myjoyonline.com/fire-sweeps-through-mechanic-shops-at-sofoline-destroys-over-100-vehicles/
Court Remands Man Over TikTok Claims of Military Plot to Assassinate President Mahama
Ahmed Hassan Abdul Razzaq, a 30-year-old laundry attendant, was remanded into police custody by an Accra court without plea after posting a TikTok video alleging two sergeants planned to kill President John Dramani Mahama. Charged with publishing false news to cause fear and panic, he admitted seeing the claim online but could not substantiate it. He returns to court on February 9, 2026. Read more: https://www.myjoyonline.com/court-remands-man-claiming-a-military-plot-to-kill-president-mahama/
President Mahama Expresses Shock at Rapid Economic Turnaround
President John Dramani Mahama described Ghana’s swift economic recovery as surprising and beyond expectations, noting he anticipated at least two years for visible progress. Inflation fell from 23.8% to 5.4%, and the cedi appreciated 37% in one year, earning praise from IMF and World Bank observers as a model of prudent management and discipline. Read more: https://www.myjoyonline.com/we-are-all-shocked-and-surprised-at-the-quick-turnaround-of-ghanas-economy-mahama/
Electoral Commission Confirms Full Readiness for NPP Presidential Primary
The Electoral Commission assured complete preparedness for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential primary on January 31, 2026, with logistics underway: ballot papers secured, materials distribution starting January 27 to regions and constituencies, and voter albums for delegates received. The process promises transparency and credibility. Read more: https://www.myjoyonline.com/ec-assures-readiness-ahead-of-npp-presidential-primary-on-january-31/
Registrar of Companies Announces Fee Increases Effective February 2
The Office of the Registrar of Companies will raise service fees from February 2, 2026, per the Fees and Charges (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations, 2025 (L.I. 2512). The adjustment aims to ensure sustainable operations and better customer experience. Full revised fee details will be available at ORC offices and online. Read more: https://www.myjoyonline.com/registrar-of-companies-to-increase-fees-from-february-2/.
Nollywood Star Tonto Dikeh Announces Reconciliation with Ex-Husband After 10 Years
Nollywood actress Tonto Dikeh has publicly revealed her reconciliation with ex-husband Olakunle Churchill, the father of her child, a decade after their separation filled with public disputes and personal challenges. Sharing the news on Instagram, Dikeh attributed the healing to divine intervention, humility, and prayer, writing that “what human effort could not fix, God healed by salvation” and transforming their relationship into one of peace and respect. She urged followers facing difficulties to persist in faith, love, and trust in God. Read more: https://www.myjoyonline.com/tonto-dikeh-reconciles-with-ex-husband-10-years-after-separation/
Gold Surpasses $5,000 per Ounce for the First Time in Historic Rally
Gold prices have broken the $5,000 (£3,659) barrier per ounce for the first time, extending a remarkable 2025 rally of over 60%. Factors driving the surge include geopolitical tensions (US-NATO over Greenland, US tariffs threats), persistent inflation, a weaker US dollar, central bank purchases, anticipated Fed rate cuts, ongoing wars, and gold’s role as a safe-haven asset amid financial uncertainty. Experts note its scarcity and cultural demand in markets like India and China. Read more: https://www.myjoyonline.com/gold-tops-5000-for-first-time-ever-adding-to-historic-rally/
Worst Floods in a Generation Devastate Mozambique: Thousands Affected, Dozens Dead
Mozambique is grappling with its worst floods in a generation, triggered by heavy rains and the Inkomati River bursting its banks, affecting over 642,000 people since early January, mainly in southern and central regions including Maputo and Gaza provinces. At least 12 deaths have been confirmed from the floods (part of 125 total rainy-season fatalities), with tens of thousands rescued—some clinging to treetops or rooftops—amid submerged homes, farmlands, and roads. International teams from Brazil, South Africa, and the UK are assisting, though challenges persist with food shortages and isolated communities. Read more: https://www.myjoyonline.com/people-cling-to-treetops-as-worst-floods-in-a-generation-sweep-mozambique/
Reckless Driving and Overspeeding Drive Surge in Ghana’s 2025 Road Crashes – NRSA
Ghana recorded 14,743 road traffic crashes in 2025, resulting in 2,949 deaths—a sharp rise from the previous year—according to the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA). Director-General Abraham Amaliba attributed the increase primarily to reckless driving and overspeeding, stressing driver behavior over road conditions. Funding constraints limited the Stay Alive campaign, but renewed efforts are expected with the Road Maintenance Fund. Read more: https://citinewsroom.com/2026/01/reckless-driving-overspeeding-behind-surge-in-2025-road-crashes-nrsa/
Ghana Urged to Speed Up Shift to Clean Transport for Climate and Health Gains
The UK–Ghana Jobs and Economic Transformation (JET) Programme has called for accelerated adoption of clean transport under the Ghana Automotive Development Policy (GADP). With transport contributing nearly half of energy-related emissions and air pollution costing $3 billion annually (4% of GDP), the push aims to cut greenhouse gases, improve public health, create jobs, and meet Ghana’s 15% emissions reduction target by 2030. Recommendations include fast-tracking GADP revisions for electric vehicles and supporting financing for low-emission fleets. Read more: https://citinewsroom.com/2026/01/ghana-urged-to-accelerate-clean-transport-transition/
Kennedy Agyapong Stands Firm: No Apology for Calling Bawumia a ‘Liar’
NPP flagbearer aspirant Kennedy Agyapong has defiantly refused to retract or apologise for labeling Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, his main opponent, a “liar,” responding to pressure with:
“I will not apologise. I will apologise my foot. I don’t fear anybody.”
The controversy arose amid the NPP’s Peace Pact signing for unity, where Agyapong resisted until document errors were fixed. His campaign denied circulating fake apology reports, as the row risks deepening party divisions ahead of primaries. Read more: https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/I-will-apologise-my-foot-Kennedy-Agyapong-defiant-over-Bawumia-is-a-liar-claim-2018820
Ghana Armed Forces Dismiss HIV-Positive Claims Among Recruitment Applicants as ‘Fake News’
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has strongly refuted circulating reports alleging that approximately 60 percent of applicants undergoing military medical screening tested HIV positive. In an official statement, GAF described the claims—first published by classfmonline.com—as completely false and misleading. The military emphasized that the ongoing recruitment medical screening process has not yet concluded, and no results have been released or declared to date. GAF warned that such misinformation undermines public trust and the integrity of the institution, vowing to trace the originators while urging media outlets to verify information from credible sources before publication. Read more: https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/GAF-breaks-silence-on-alleged-HIV-positive-claims-among-applicants-2018814
One Killed, Two Injured in Truck Overturn Accident at Breku Forest on Accra-Kumasi Highway
A tragic road accident claimed one life and left two others injured when a cement-laden Howo Sinotruk truck (registration AS-4114-24) overturned in Breku Forest near the Pra River along the Accra-Kumasi Highway on Sunday, January 25, 2026. The truck sustained severe damage to its front section. A joint rescue operation by the Ghana National Fire Service teams from Konongo-Odumase and Juaso, led by Siaw Richardson, successfully extricated the injured victims, who were rushed to Juaso Government Hospital via ambulance (GV-589-20). The body of the deceased was recovered and handed over to the police for further action. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Read more: https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/regional/One-killed-2-injured-in-Breku-forest-accident-2018821
Last updated: 8:00 am on January 26, 2026. Check back for more updates
Two female students at the Autonomous University of Morelos disappeared within days of each other in March. Both were later found dead. Since April of last year, at least seven students from the same university have been murdered, five young women and two teenage boys.
Among them was an exchange student from Spain, killed last month just weeks after arriving in Mexico.
“When we hear that another student has disappeared or been killed, we all see ourselves in her. We think, that could have been me,” said Yugi Milan, a student activist in Morelos, speaking to The World’s Tibisay Cea and colleague Axel Hernandez.
The killings have exposed a deepening crisis of gender-based violence at Mexican universities, and a system that activists say is failing to protect students, investigate complaints, or deliver justice.
A University Under Pressure
The Autonomous University of Morelos responded to the high-profile murders with calls for investigation and promises of tighter security: more guards, cameras, and panic buttons.
But activists say those measures do not address the root of the problem, sexual harassment on campus.
“They can’t even respond to complaints of gender violence against professors and fellow students on campus,” Milan said, speaking in Spanish.
The problem extends far beyond Morelos. A recent study found that nearly one in five female university students in Mexico has experienced sexual harassment — but only about 10 percent file a formal complaint.
Fear of Retaliation
Ana Buquet, a gender studies researcher at Mexico’s largest public university, UNAM, says fear keeps victims silent.
“I think basically they are afraid,” Buquet said. “First, many times they feel alone.”
Victims fear retaliation from professors, including lower grades or obstacles to graduating, she said.
Ameyali Ramirez, a UNAM student, remembers a teaching assistant who had been accused of harassing female students — yet continued working with them. Ramirez says she had to take exams alone with him, behind a closed door. Nothing happened to her, but she questions why the exams were conducted that way.
While Ramirez acknowledges universities have made progress, including better reporting procedures and courses on gender violence, Buquet says many reforms focus on responding to harassment rather than preventing it. Universities need more education on gender equality and better training for professors and staff, she said.
Danger Beyond Campus Gates
For many students, the threat follows them home.
Lorena Ruiz Rojas, a 19-year-old anthropology student at UNAM, says she worries about disappearing during her commute. She regularly shares her live location with her family on WhatsApp.
Mexico has a widespread disappearance crisis, with more than 130,000 people officially listed as missing. Security analyst Eduardo Guerrero says organized crime is behind many disappearances involving young women and girls.
“Many times it is young women who disappear, and it has to do with human trafficking markets, sexual trafficking,” Guerrero said.
Some criminal groups abduct young women for sexual exploitation, he said.
Harassment Is Everywhere
Even in everyday life, women in Mexico face harassment in public spaces.
In Mexico City, the subway reserves some cars for women and young children only. Carmen Cuevas, waiting for the next train with her five-year-old son, says the measure exists for safety reasons, she says men have touched her when traveling in mixed-gender cars.
Another passenger, 64-year-old Patricia Ponce de León, says harassment does not stop as women grow older. She has seen men masturbating in front of her on the train.
Justice Denied
For women who report abuse, getting justice can be another ordeal.
Becky Bios is a survivor of domestic violence. Her former husband beat her to the point of deforming her face and causing internal injuries — just because she wanted to leave the relationship. She was hospitalized in critical condition for several days and was afraid to report him.
When she finally filed a formal complaint nine years ago, she says the case never led to prosecution. Her aggressor remains free.
Mexico has one of the highest rates of femicides in the world. According to the National Statistics Agency, more than 93 percent of crimes are either never reported or never investigated.
A Regional Reckoning
The report comes amid renewed global attention to campus sexual violence, following recent gang rape allegations at Cornell University in the United States. In Mexico, students have spent years demanding better protection from sexual harassment and gender-based violence, and say the urgency has never been greater.
For students in Morelos and across Mexico, the fear is personal and constant.
“When we hear that another student has disappeared or been killed, we all see ourselves in her,” Milan said. “We think, that could have been me.”
Global Update
Space Wars: New NOVA Documentary Warns Militarization of Orbit Could Spark Next Global Conflict
Astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell says the world’s 12,000 satellites are now indispensable, and increasingly vulnerable, as anti-satellite weapons, space jammers and a rising tide of orbital debris threaten the systems that run modern life
A new PBS documentary is sounding the alarm about the growing militarization of space, warning that the satellites underpinning everything from cell phone connections and GPS to ATMs and battlefield communications have become both indispensable assets and prime targets in a new era of potential conflict.
The NOVA film Space Wars, featuring astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell, explores how the roughly 12,000 satellites now in orbit have become central to modern military operations — and why a war in space could have consequences lasting decades to centuries.
“Without them, commanders are blind,” the documentary notes, describing how satellites are essential for battlefield communication, surveillance, intelligence and targeting. “The more sophisticated these space-based systems, the greater edge they provide. And the more valuable targets they become.”
McDowell, who retired from the Smithsonian Observatory earlier this year, told The World that militaries are now as dependent on satellites as civilian society.
“As much of the world is, the satellites network us. They feed us information. They connect us,” he said. “For the military, a lot of communications across the world goes across satellites. Surveillance, of course. Intelligence, what are your opponents up to? And navigation. GPS was developed originally for weapons guidance. All of those things are absolutely integral to the way that a modern military operates.”
Anti-Satellite Weapons and the Debris Threat
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine saw Moscow jam satellites over the country, but McDowell warned that countries possess far more destructive capabilities — including kinetic anti-satellite weapons designed to physically strike orbiting spacecraft.
“It doesn’t need any explosive on board because the satellite’s traveling at 17,000 miles an hour,” he said. “If you can just get in the way of it, it’s going to completely smash. And that would generate enormous amounts of space debris and space junk that would be very bad for everyone using space.”
Space debris is already a mounting hazard. McDowell said more than 30,000 pieces a few inches across or larger are being tracked, while centimeter-sized debris could number as much as a million pieces in orbit.
“We’ve been seeing a concerning increase in the number of small incidents,” he said, citing a recent strike on China’s space station that hit an evacuation module, though no lives were lost. “The worry is that that’s a rising level that indicates that the bigger pieces of space debris are not far behind and that we could start losing satellites soon. I think it’s a real problem and a real risk.”
The documentary features Paul Graziani, CEO of the aerospace company Comsbox, who describes how space junk ranges from spent rocket stages and defunct satellites to lost astronaut gloves and errant screws.
Space Jammers: The Next Front
Rather than destroying satellites outright, which would create debris harmful to all space users, McDowell said major powers are increasingly turning to “space jammers” that can drown out satellite signals with competing radio frequencies.
“You can put a satellite next to the GPS satellite and broadcast really loud so as to disable it for all users, or maybe even to take out the satellite if you can drown out its control frequencies,” he said. “These space jammer weapons, I think, are likely to be the focus in the years to come.” He noted rumors that the United States has already deployed such systems.
A Militarized History, and a Fragile Peace
The idea of militarizing space is not new, McDowell said, it predates the first satellite launch.
“In the 1940s, before we even launched the first satellite, space has been militarized, I’m afraid, since the very earliest days.” Within a couple of years of Sputnik, the CIA was launching spy satellites, and the first space weapons test came in 1959.
“We’ve managed to stay just on the right side of peace in space, but there’s been a strong military thread throughout the history of space exploration,” he said.
Asked whether the world is in an arms race in space, McDowell said the dynamic is broader:
“Not just an arms race, but also a military support race, a spy satellite race, a navigation satellite race, a communication satellite race, to support the militaries operating on Earth by more and more sophisticated space assets, giving them an edge over their opponents. Along with that, there has been the development of actual space weapons, but not their deployment, not their use.”
He attributed the restraint to political incentives and the severity of escalation:
“It would be such an act of war to destroy someone else’s satellite. It would be seen as a real escalation. No one actually wants to start a war in space. But if a war does break out, then it will spread to space. That’s what’s different now.”
Treaties and the Case for a New Agreement
The 1967 Outer Space Treaty prohibits nuclear weapons in space, but no comparable agreements bar conventional warfare in orbit. McDowell argued a new accord is necessary because 21st-century society depends so heavily on space technology.
“If you have a war that spreads to space, then you start losing all of that high-tech capability,” he said. “And if you really have a real war in space with debris generation and so on, then you lose the use of space for decades to centuries because of all the debris whizzing around.”
Despite the risks, McDowell said it is not too late to change course, and that the United States and China, the main players in space, hold the key.
“I worry about it because I feel like there’s still time to change direction here,” he said. “A decision to switch the rhetoric around and actually more seriously work towards: how do we trust each other? How do we verify that we’re not about to attack each other? — rather than all of the ranting going on right now about how we need to be able to kick the other guy’s butt in space. Then I think you could still stave this off.”
Space Wars is available to stream now on YouTube, produced by NOVA.
Police in Ghana’s Northern Region have launched a murder investigation into the deaths of three young children whose bodies were discovered in the boot of a vehicle at the Koblimahagu Zoo in the Tamale Metropolis, after a preliminary autopsy indicated they did not die of natural causes.
The children, Dauda Abdul Aziz, 3; Saani Alsharaf, 5; and Dauda Fadilan, 7, were found dead on Monday morning, Oct. 5, in a black Hyundai Tucson with registration number AS 1770-14.
They had reportedly left home on Sunday to attend Islamic classes but never returned.
According to reports, preliminary autopsy findings suggest the children may have been murdered. However, a toxicological examination is still required to establish the full circumstances and possible cause of death.
“The autopsy revealed they did not die a natural death,” a source familiar with the investigation told Joy News. “There is a need for toxicological examination to be conducted to fully establish the facts.”
Vehicle Owner Arrested
The owner of the vehicle, a member of the Ghana Immigration Service, has been arrested and transported to Accra to assist with investigations. The officer reportedly told police that the vehicle had been stuck in mud for five days.
Police said the vehicle was found stuck in mud, with the driver’s door and rear passenger door open, while the boot and other doors were locked. The vehicle has been secured for further forensic examination as investigators work to determine how the children ended up inside the boot.
National Response
The Inspector-General of Police has deployed forensic and crime scene experts to Tamale to support the investigation. Homicide investigators and intelligence officers have also been dispatched to assist the Northern Regional Police Command.
The teams are expected to examine the vehicle and other evidence at the scene as investigators work to establish the circumstances surrounding the children’s deaths.
The case has generated widespread concern in the Northern Region, where residents are calling for a thorough and transparent investigation.
Key Facts
- Location: Koblimahagu Zoo, Tamale Metropolis, Northern Region, Ghana
- Victims: Dauda Abdul Aziz (3), Saani Alsharaf (5), Dauda Fadilan (7)
- Discovery: Bodies found in the boot of a black Hyundai Tucson on Monday morning
- Suspect: Vehicle owner, a Ghana Immigration Service officer, arrested and transported to Accra
- Official Status: Murder investigation opened; toxicology results pending
- Response: Inspector-General of Police deployed forensic and crime scene experts to Tamale
