The appointed executives, who will serve a two-year mandate, are tasked with the responsibility of steering the region’s Armwrestling association towards greatness, culminating in an elective congress at the end of their tenure.

At the helm of the new leadership is DCOP Lydia Donkor, already a board member of GAF, who takes on the role of Chairperson. A seasoned sports administrator and law enforcement professional, DCOP Donkor brings a wealth of experience to the table.

Others on the leadership are: ACI Gordon Saah of the Ghana Immigration Service as Vice Chairman, Mr. Henry Quarshie, as Secretary, Mr. Percy Kwesi Amuah, as Treasurer, Mr. Alberto Paa Nii Aryee, a Brand and Communication consultant as Public Relations, Mr. Kendrick Aryee, a Marketing Consultant and Miss Osman Maaida, as Women’s Commissioner.

As regional executives, their mandate includes Promoting and developing the sport of armwrestling in the Greater Accra region, Identifying and developing talent in the region, Organizing regional armwrestling competitions and events, Collaborating with national and international armwrestling organizations to create opportunities for regional athletes, Increasing participation and engagement in armwrestling across the region, Providing training and capacity-building programs for coaches, officials, and athletes, Formation of armwrestling clubs in schools, communities, and workplaces to increase participation and develop grassroots talent.

The new executives have hit the ground running, with plans already underway to develop the sport of armwrestling in the region.

“We are excited to take on this challenge and contribute to the growth and development of armwrestling in the Greater Accra region,” said DCOP Lydia Donkor, Chairperson of the Greater Accra Armwrestling Association.

“We look forward to working with all stakeholders to achieve our goals and make armwrestling a force to be reckoned with in the region.”

The appointment of the new executives has been met with enthusiasm from the armwrestling community, who are eager to see the positive impact they will bring to the sport.

As we settle in, we’re calling on all armwrestling enthusiasts, athletes, and supporters to join us on this exciting journey, says Vice Chairman Gordon Saah.

With their combined expertise and passion for the sport, the future of armwrestling in the Greater Accra region looks brighter than ever.

Two Ghanaian women have been rescued after falling victim to a romance scam that led to their kidnapping in Nigeria, in a case that has shocked the public and triggered cross-border investigations involving security agencies in Ghana and Nigeria.

The victims, Anastasia Baidoo Arthur and Evelyn Konadu, were lured into Nigeria under the guise of marriage proposals from men they believed to be white foreigners, only to be abducted and assaulted upon arrival.

At a press briefing on Tuesday, the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), DCOP Lydia Yaako Donkor, detailed how the women were deceived by a criminal syndicate operating under fake identities online.

“These suspects met the two victims, Anastasia Baidoo Arthur and Evelyn Konadu, through their Facebook accounts. The suspects posed as white men who wanted to marry the victims. The two unsuspecting victims became convinced and accepted the marriage proposals,” DCOP Donkor disclosed.

The victims travelled separately but arrived on the same day—April 22, 2025—at a pre-arranged location in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, where they were immediately kidnapped.

According to police investigations, the suspects – Peter Okoye, 31; Paulinus Chidokwe, 35; Chinoso Okafor, 35; and Christian Emeka – carried out the abduction. Okoye and Emeka, both Nigerians with prior ties to Ghana, had previously been involved in the operations of QNET in Ghana before returning to Nigeria. Emeka returned to Ghana again in 2024 before the kidnapping plot was executed.

DCOP Donkor explained that the group was part of a broader syndicate engaged in romance scams in both Ghana and Nigeria. “Peter Okoye, Christian Emeka and Basil Okonkwo, all Nigerians, were into romance scams in Nigeria and Ghana,” she noted.

After kidnapping the victims, the suspects subjected them to brutal treatment. The women were stripped, tied up, and assaulted with machetes. They were also threatened with death, wrapped in bedsheets, had their heads covered with black polythene, and were told they would be hanged using nylon ropes.

The ordeal was recorded on video and circulated on social media. Copies were also sent to the victims’ families along with a ransom demand of GH₵500,000 for each victim.

Frimpong, a passionate Kotoko supporter, was fatally stabbed by unidentified assailants at the Nana Kronmansah Park during the Matchday 19 fixture between Nsoatreman FC and Asante Kotoko.

Following a visit to the match venue, DCOP Lydia Donkor, who also serves as the Chairperson of the GFA’s Safety and Security Committee, stated in an interview with Joy Sports that Frimpong’s stabbing “did not happen in the stadium.”

Her comments have since been perceived as an attempt to absolve the police on duty that day, drawing criticism from Kotoko supporters.

Speaking to Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show, Lawyer Kweku Ayiah expressed reservations about Donkor’s statement.

“I would have wished she [Lydia Donkor] had not spoken about the incident,” he said.

“Having said that, her position is not just for Asante Kotoko or Hearts; it is for all clubs, a position of trust. Safety is very key, and I will just urge that when speaking about it, one should be circumspect.

“I understand that Kotoko are in pain, but we urge them to remain calm and see how things unfold,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Asante Kotoko’s Interim Management Committee, Nana Apinkrah, has stated that the club no longer wants DCOP Lydia Donkor involved in the case.

In response to the tragic event, the Ghana FA suspended league matches and held discussions with all 18 Premier League clubs on measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Authorities have since made seven arrests, including Nsoatreman FC bankroller and former Employment and Labour Relations Minister, Ignatius Baffour-Awuah.

A District Court in Sunyani has placed him under a movement restriction order as investigations continue.

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DCOP Donkor, who was assigned to lead the investigation, recently stated that the fatal incident occurred outside the stadium and that Pooley was later transported to the venue after being stabbed.

“This unfortunate incident [the fan’s stabbing] didn’t happen inside the stadium. It happened outside, and he was picked up by a tricycle and dropped at that section of the stadium,” she told Joy Sports.

However, Nana Apinkra, Chairman of Asante Kotoko’s Interim Management Committee (IMC), has expressed dissatisfaction with DCOP Donkor’s role in the case.

He has urged the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to remove her from the investigation, citing concerns over bias and disputing her claim that the attack took place outside the stadium.

“We will officially report Lydia Donkor to the IGP, and we want the GFA to remove her from the case because she was appointed by you people,” Nana Apinkra stated during an Asante Kotoko Executive meeting.

The tragic incident occurred at Nana Kronmansah Park during Kotoko’s Matchday 19 fixture against Nsoatreman FC when Nana Pooley was stabbed by unidentified individuals.

The fatal incident led to the suspension of the division as the Ghana FA met with the 18 Premier League clubs to discuss measures to curb such acts.

Meanwhile, seven arrests have been made, including Nsoatreman FC bankroller Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, following Pooley’s death. The former Employment and Labour Relations Minister has been placed under a movement restriction order by District Court “B” in Sunyani.

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The Asante Kotoko fan lost his life in a tragic incident during the Porcupine Warriors’ defeat to Nsoatreman at the Nana Koromansah II Stadium on matchday 19 of the Ghana Premier League.

Eyewitness accounts since the incident suggested that the passionate fan was stabbed at the stadium.

However, DCOP Donkor, who is leading the investigation, has revealed that the stabbing did not occur at the match venue.

“This unfortunate incident [the fan’s stabbing] didn’t happen inside the stadium. It happened outside, and he was picked up by a tricycle and dropped at that section of the stadium,” she said on JoySports Link on Saturday, February 8.

“I have to clarify this because there are all kinds of comments about how the police allowed someone to enter the stadium with a knife. Let me emphasize that the police have a strict search regime.

“At least, that is something I discuss with my various commanders, and we insist on it. There’s a strict search regime. When you’re coming into the stadium, we search everybody entering.”

DCOP Donkor also urged clubs and individuals to report threats to the police, stating that authorities were not informed of any dangers concerning Nana Pooley.

“The best advice I can give now is that if he had any genuine concerns [about threats to his life], he could have approached the police or informed someone in the area so that the police would be aware,” she continued.

“We had to conduct investigations. We’ve been to the scene, gathered our evidence, and reviewed everything.”

So far, the Ghana Police Service has arrested six people in connection with the stabbing, with two, including former Sunyani West MP Ignatius Baffour Awuah, being granted bail.

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The tragic events resulted in the loss of life, several injuries, and the destruction of property—an unacceptable blemish on the integrity of our game.

The GFA extends its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased and wishes a swift recovery to those injured.

The Executive Committee of the GFA has, with immediate effect, invoked Article 14(2) of the Premier League Regulations, by banning the use of the Nsoatreman FC home venue until further notice. This action ensures the safety of all stakeholders while investigations proceed.

Furthermore, the GFA has tasked the Security Committee led by DCOP Lydia Donkor and the FA Prosecutors, to immediately move to the site and gather all necessary evidence, including match reports and relevant documentation, to present to the FA’s Disciplinary Committee for adjudication of all sporting matters.

Additionally, the GFA has formally engaged the Ghana Police Service to immediately conduct a full-scale investigation into the incident and bring all perpetrators to justice.

We expect law enforcement agencies to deploy all necessary tools to ensure that those responsible for these heinous acts are identified, arrested, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

The GFA reminds all clubs, players, officials, and supporters that there is zero tolerance for acts of violence, intimidation, and hooliganism in Ghana football.

The FA will not hesitate to impose severe sanctions on any club, official, or supporter found culpable of engaging in or inciting such behaviour.

Further updates on this matter, including decisions from the GFA Disciplinary Committee and law enforcement investigations, will be communicated in due course.