Top 10 ‘bizarre’ news stories in 2020

Admittedly, the year 2020 has been a stressful year – for obvious reasons.

What started off as a promising year, with new resolutions and targets would later be thrown into disarray with the invasion of a novel virus (Coronavirus) which swept through the globe like harmattan wild fire – it affected every facet of life.

For us as news makers, our work routine changed substantially – we have to innovate or die (figuratively). Regardless, we stayed on and delivered to the best of our ability.

In so doing, some news items caught our attention; news items that would not just pass off as news but leaves you asking yourself “how did it happen?”.

Call them bizarre if you like, or maybe awkward or strange – no matter how you may want to describe them, there are definitely the kind of stories that informed the the famous Alfred Harmsworth’s aphorism in journalism that “news is man bites dog”.

Here are my top 10 stories for the year 2020 in that category:

Man bites another man’s penis: In April, a man who was trying to assist an 11-year-old boy to peel sugarcane at Koforidua Oyoko in the Eastern Region had his penis bitten by the boy’s father. Eric Kwadwo told the Police in the area that he was returning from town on April 6 at about 8:00 p.m. when he met the boy alone peeling sugarcane by the roadside. Read full story here.
Woman bites off penis of rapist: In November, an armed robber and a rapist lived the rest of his life without a penis after it was bitten off by his victim while receiving a ‘Blow Job’ after a robbery operation. 23-year-old Emmanuel Ankron is reported to have entered the room of his 24-year-old student victim at Abompey new site, a suburb of Obuasi, drugged and had sex with her. According to the victim, when she woke up, she saw the suspect with a cutlass and local pistol. The robber had also taken her cash of GHC550, TV set and a mobile phone. He then decided to leave the room but changed his mind and ask her to suck his penis and out of fear that she could be harmed, she obliged. However, in the process, she bit off his penis and the suspect also bit her back out of pain.
Armed robbers attack church in Sandema, run away with offering: In November, it was reported that two armed men suspected to be robbers attacked the Sandema District Church of Pentecost, taking away a huge sum of money and other properties. The incident was said to have happened on a Sunday midday, right after service, when two leaders of the church were counting and documenting monies received as Collection. According to an eyewitness account, the robbers arrived at the premises brandishing guns and asked the leaders – a male and female, to lie face down and surrender all money and mobile phones. Source: Ghanaweb
Prostitutes ordered to stop selling sex over fears of Covid-19 spread: In the height of the Covid-19, the Northern Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has announced a ban on prostitution and its related activities in the region in a latest move by authorities there to stop the spread of the outbreak of novel coronavirus in the area. It was strange how the head of RESEG, Musah Superior, was seeking to ban an act which is already illegal under the laws of Ghana. Read full story here.
Boy who went in search for date dramatically turns down all girls interested in him: A young man who appeared on TV3’s date-matching reality show, Date Rush, took everyone by surprise when he turned down the requests of some ladies who “desperately” wanted to go out with him. The drama which ensued after that episode will blow your mind. Read more about Ignatius and Freelove here.
General Mosquito announces victory for the NDC in a Supreme Court case they lost: The NDC went to court asking the apex court to order the EC to allow eligible Ghanaians use the existing ID cards as proof of citizenship in the planned compilation of a new register for the December 7 elections. Shortly after the Supreme Court gave its ruling on the matter Thursday morning, Mr. Nketia said the Court granted their request for the “inclusion of the existing voters ID card as a breeder document for the compilation of the voters register”. It turned out the ruling was the exact opposite. Read full story here.
Man who tested positive for COVID-19 escapes quarantine in Wa: A 46-year-old man who tested positive for Coronavirus, Simon Okafor Chukudi bolted in the Upper West Region. The Nigerian national was kept under surveillance at his residence by officials of the Ghana Health Service awaiting the outcome of his test results for COVID-19 which came out positive. The Upper West Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Osei Kuffuor Afreh who confirmed the development to the media said after breaking the news about Okafor’s status to him the same day, health officials followed up to his residence at Wapaani, a suburb of Wa to transport him to the isolation centre at the Upper West Regional Hospital but he was nowhere to be found.
Bus abandons Legon Cities players after losing a match: It was a dramatic scene at the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday, December 18, after officials of Legon Cities FC instructed the team bus to leave behind their players in the wake of the side’s defeat against Ebusua Dwarfs in the Ghana Premier League. The Royals suffered their third loss of the season after going down 2-1 against Ebusua Dwarfs in Week 6 of the season.
John Mahama forgets name of his own Parliamentary Candidate on stage: Former President John Dramani Mahama caused a stir in Cape Coast during his political campaigns when he failed to remember the name of his own party’s Parliamentary Candidate for Cape Coast North. The former President staged what he described as a “mini-rally” in Abora in the Cape Coast North, and after bringing his address to a close, he told the crowd his next mission was to introduce the NDC’s Parliamentary candidate for the constituency. The next moment he was seen asking the PC “what’s is your official name?”.
Akufo-Addo endorses NDC’s Odododiodio Parliamentary Candidate at a rally: While on stage during a campaign rally, President Akufo-Addo sought to appeal for votes for Mr. Nii Lante Bannerman, the Parliamentary Candidate for the New Patriotic Party in the Odododiodoo constituency but ended up endorsing the incumbent Member of Parlement, Nii Lante Vanderpuye. “In Odododiodio, if you are voting for me, then you are also voting for Nii Lante Vanderpuye”, the president said as he held the hand of Nii Lante Bannerman. Having been notified that he had caused a blunder, President Akufo-Addo quickly changed his initial proclamation saying “I didn’t speak well at all. I have made a mistake. What am I going to do with Nii Lante Vanderpuye? I meant Nii Lante Bannerman and I want you all to vote him.”

This is not an exhaustive list but just a few of the news stories in 2020 I find intriguing beyond their newsworthiness. For a year that seem to have troubled a lot of people, some of these stories came in handy to help release stress. Take for instance President Akufo-Addo’s reaction after he mistakenly endorsed Nii Lantey Vanderpuye.

By P.D Wedam|3news.com|Ghana