🇬🇭GhanaWest Africa
Serwaa Amihere criticizes Greater Accra Regional Minister Linda Ocloo over 'punishment' transfer remarks
via GhanaWeb2 min read
Ghanaian media personality Serwaa Amihere has criticized the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, following the minister’s controversial remarks suggesting that transfers to northern Ghana could be used as a form of punishment. Amihere questioned the minister’s apology, calling it "bogus" and stating that Parliament failed in its duty by approving the minister without thorough vetting. She dismissed claims that her criticism was due to opposition to women in leadership, insisting her concerns were based solely on the minister’s comments. The controversy arose from remarks Linda Ocloo made on May 5, 2026, during a demolition exercise at the Sakumono Ramsar Site, where she warned officials against issuing permits for illegal structures, noting that some officials engaging in misconduct had been transferred to northern Ghana as punishment. This comment triggered widespread backlash, with many Ghanaians finding it offensive. Linda Ocloo issued a public apology on May 5, 2026, explaining her statement as a "genuine slip in communication" that did not reflect her personal views or government policy. She clarified that she intended to refer to officers being reassigned to areas far from their residences and admitted her wording created a wrong impression, offering an unreserved apology to all Ghanaians, especially those in the Northern Regions.
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A mother is accusing her 15-year-old daughter's father, a Police Inspector stationed at Garu in the Upper East Region, of sexually abusing the girl for several years. The mother stated that the abuse began when her daughter was around 10 years old, resulting in a pregnancy for which the father allegedly arranged a home abortion. The father reportedly coached the girl to lie, even leading to the arrest of a teacher who tried to help her. The truth emerged when a doctor at a hospital encouraged the girl to speak, and she disclosed her father's involvement. The doctor reported the matter to the police, and the inspector was questioned. The girl was initially separated from her father but later returned to his care during the investigation. The mother regained custody after the father fell ill. Medical tests later confirmed the girl is HIV positive, and the mother believes the daughter contracted the virus from her father, who reportedly took medication for leg pain. The mother submitted a medical report to the Agona Jamasi Police Station, but states the case has seen little progress. The case was also reported to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit DOVVSU in Koforidua and referred to national headquarters, but the mother is still awaiting meaningful action.
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Must ReadThe community of Asaloko in Ghana has developed an innovative system to manage plastic waste, particularly empty water sachets, which are prevalent across the country. Residents collect these sachets and exchange them for fresh drinking water at a local company called Dem Dhat, effectively turning waste into a valuable commodity. This initiative not only saves money for families but also removes approximately 5 tonnes of sachets from the community annually. The program, which began as a hygiene-focused Water, Sanitation and Hygiene WASH intervention by WaterAid Ghana, evolved into a comprehensive waste management approach. Community members now sort waste, composting organic matter and actively cleaning their environment. While Asaloko's efforts are small-scale, experts highlight their significant implications for Ghana, where 840,000 tonnes of plastic waste are generated yearly with less than 10 percent recycled. The traditional method of burning waste in rural areas, which releases toxic pollutants linked to 35,000 deaths annually in Ghana, is avoided in Asaloko. Despite their success, the community still faces challenges with non-recyclable items and appeals for a processing plant, estimated at GH¢224 million $US20 million, to achieve near-complete air pollution freedom. This contrasts sharply with the situation in Sherigu, where an uncompleted composting and recycling plant and a continuously burning landfill illustrate the broader waste management crisis in Ghana, exacer
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