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Suspected gay bedridden a year after mob attack
• Hakiku in POP on admission
A-40-year-old Madina-based trader in Accra, Mohammed Hakibu, has been bedridden for nearly a year following his attack by an angry mob on suspicion of being a gay.
Hakibu, who is currently on admission, said that he had not been able to work after the incident. The case was reported to the police at Madina but no arrest has been made as of now.
Narrating the incident to The Spectator, he said he met some friends (who were later rumoured to be part of the LGBTQ group), at an Islamic wedding in February 2021.
He said that in the course of the event, they hugged and held hands together most of the time, heartily chatting and joining in the merry-making.
According to him, he did not know that his own friends and neighbours at the event had read meanings into their show of affection for themselves and drawn had a conclusion that Hakibu (who even had a serious fiancée) was gay and, they launcheda deadly attack on him at home in order to, as they claim, “punish me for being a bad Muslim.”
He claimed he was attacked by an irate group one day and mercilessly beaten thus rendering him unconscious whilst at home with his fiancée — one Rose Diabo.
“They attacked me in my house together with my fiancee and she also sustained head injuries. It was late at night andwe were even asleep when I heard loud bangs on the door; so I went to open it and about 20 fully-armed men, many of whom were my childhood friends, pounced on me without hesitation,” the victim narrated his ordeal in tears.
Surprised by their unwarranted actions, he demanded an explanation as they kept beating him before he got to know that his attackers were accusing him of being gay and having gay friends who hesometimes harboured in his house, which wasan abomination in their community.
He vehemently denied the false charge, but to no avail.
“They used clubs, sticks and cutlasses to attack me and even broke my leg whiles beating me. It was my fiancée who disregarded her pain and called for a vehicle to convey us to the hospital,” Hakibu said.
Now, a-year-and-half on, the visibly injured Hakibu has remained bedridden yet to get back on his feet, having spent all his earnings on medication without any income since he has not opened his petty trading shop at the Madina market, all this while.
“It’s sad the way we handle people we accuse of any crime even before verifying in this country; we are too quick to judge people. Even if being gay was a crime and I was one, what they did to me should never be done to anyone, it was horrible,” the victim lamented.
By Prince Dornu-Leiku
Madam Sandra Seyram Kpedor, the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Anloga in the Volta Region, has emphasised the importance of parental involvement in children’s education, stating that education is free, but parents need to do more to support their children.
She said parents, teachers, and students must be involved in addressing the challenges facing the district’s education sector, particularly the poor Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results.
Madam Kpedor outlined some key roles parents should play to promote their children’s education, including providing a conducive learning environment, monitoring their children’s progress, and supporting teachers.
The DCE highlighted some challenges the district faced such as inadequate infrastructure and a shortage of teachers, which have also contributed to the poor BECE results and called on well-to-do parent to help solve the situation through and other supports.
To address the issues, she also announced that plans have been taken to utilise the district’s common fund to implement educational projects, such as constructing school blocks and teachers’ bungalows at Sodzi community, and 2-unit classroom blocks each at Akplorwutorkor and Tegbi-Afedome respectively, among others.
Madam Kpedor also noted that her office had earlier notified the Ministry of Education to deploy more teachers to the area to improve teaching and learning, and encouraged students to work hard and strive for excellence, and work beyond their limit to succeed.
“To my wonderful and beautiful girls, you have to know it clear that women and girls have equal opportunities to compete with men for greater achievements,” she indicated.
The DCE cited her own achievement as a testament to the fact that women can excel in leadership positions, alongside Vice President Nana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, and stressed that girls were no longer limited to domestic roles but can pursue their dreams and become leaders.
Additionally, she mentioned that a meeting was held earlier with assembly members, and other stakeholders to address the district’s educational challenges and improve academic performance.
She promised that the district’s education oversight committee and stakeholders would work together to address the challenges and improve the district’s BECE results and called for parental involvement and support to boost the district’s education sector for children to chase their dreams to become future leaders for the success of the district and the nation.
She urged parents not to leave everything to the government but rather help in the provision of some necessary materials such as textbooks, exercise books, pens, pencils, food, and guidance to children for the successes of young learners. –GNA
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The spokesperson for Dr. Bawumia, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has criticised the implementation of the NDC government’s No Fee Stress policy, arguing that the programme has failed to deliver on its core promise.
According to him on Starr fm, the policy, which was introduced to ensure stress free payment of fees for level 100 tertiary students, has rather turned into what he described as post stress support.
He explained that students are required to pay their fees first before applying for reimbursement, a situation he believes defeats the purpose of the policy.
He questioned claims by government officials that the policy has been successful and that citizens are happy.
In his view, such claims do not reflect the lived realities of many Ghanaians. He stressed that while some people may appear satisfied, many others continue to struggle.
Dennis Miracles Aboagye pointed to the situation of trained teachers and nurses who have been picketing for nearly six months, demanding employment.
He noted that government responses suggesting it cannot accommodate all of them contradict claims of economic stability.
He further argued that economic indicators such as a stable currency mean little to people who are unable to secure jobs or access promised support.
He observed that telling an unemployed teacher or a struggling student that the cedi has strengthened does not address their immediate challenges.
On the issue of tertiary education, he maintained that no level 100 student benefited from stress free fees in 2025, despite the policy being announced.
He added that in 2026, students have already reported to school without receiving the promised support.
He insisted that asking students to pay fees first and seek reimbursement later amounts to support after hardship, not stress free education.
According to him, this approach goes against what was promised during the policy announcement.
Dennis Miracles Aboagye questioned why a government that presents the economy as strong is unable to fulfil what he described as simple and clear promises.
He added that there is a fundamental problem with the way the economy is being managed and indicated that he is prepared to explain his position further.
By: Jacob Aggrey
