News
Akosua Manu queries Ministers over response to child abuse allegations
Former National Youth Authority (NYA) Deputy Chief Executive Officer and 2024 NPP parliamentary candidate for Adentan, Akosua Manu, has questioned the response of the Ministers for Gender and Education to allegations of sexual abuse involving children and students.
In a facebook post on Friday October 16, 2026, she called for equal attention and urgency in addressing cases involving women and children, regardless of their social standing, political connections or the level of public attention they receive.
In a statement, Akosua Manu questioned why the Gender Minister was quick to contact the husband of a popular influencer following allegations involving child abuse, but appeared not to show the same level of concern for the children of Salomey Awiti.
Salomey Awiti’s children, she noted, may have suffered emotional and psychological distress following their mother’s arrest and detention in Accra for almost three weeks.
She raised concerns about allegations of rape involving the headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School, Zakaria Abdulai, and questioned what steps the Gender Minister had taken in response to the matter.
Akosua Manu further asked the Minister for Education to explain the action taken over the allegations.
Her comments follow a Joy News investigation into alleged sexual abuse at the school. The headmaster was interdicted, while another housemaster was suspended, as the police began investigations into the matter.
Akosua Manu argued that the protection of women and children should not depend on their influence or the publicity surrounding their cases.
She warned that differences in the response to such cases could create the impression that some victims receive more compassion than others.
“The true test of leadership is not how quickly we respond to high-profile cases, but how firmly we stand up for those who may have neither influence nor a powerful voice to speak for them,” she stated.
She called for consistent empathy and accountability from public officials, stressing that every woman and child deserves protection and equal treatment under the law.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has deployed an additional specialised police operations team, supported by a multi-purpose armoured vehicle, to the Nkwanta Municipality to strengthen security in the area.
The team arrived in the municipality on October 14, 2026, to reinforce the existing police deployment and support ongoing joint Police-Military operations aimed at maintaining law and order.
The Joint Security Forces say they remain committed to protecting lives and property, safeguarding public safety, and sustaining peace in the municipality.
The public has been urged to remain calm, cooperate with security personnel, volunteer credible information, and refrain from any acts that could undermine security operations.
According to the Police, public cooperation remains essential to maintaining peace, security and stability in Nkwanta.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The Sekondi Central Prison has hosted a team from the Legal Aid Commission as part of activities marking the 2026 Legal Aid Week.
The engagement was aimed at educating inmates on their legal rights, court procedures, and access to justice.
It forms part of the Commission’s ongoing efforts to assist inmates with their legal challenges, particularly those who require legal representation and guidance in pursuing their cases.
Inmates were taken through practical information on key legal issues including arrest and detention, plea bargaining, bail and its conditions, criminal cases, appeals, and the rights and privileges of accused persons in court to ensure a fair trial.
The team, led by the Western Regional Director of the Commission, Lawyer Ebo Donkoh, highlighted the importance of understanding legal processes and encouraged inmates to seek appropriate legal assistance where necessary, especially in matters concerning their detention, ongoing trials, and appeals.
The Officer-in-Charge of Sekondi Central Prison, DDP Abraham N. Allotey, expressed appreciation to the Commission for its continued engagement and called for more frequent visits to ensure inmates receive the necessary legal guidance and support.
As part of the visit, the team undertook an exercise dubbed “Intake of Complaints from Inmates,” which allowed inmates to present concerns relating to their individual cases for consideration and possible legal assistance.
The exercise focused on identifying cases requiring legal intervention, including prolonged remand without trial, the need for legal representation, and assistance with appeals.
The Legal Aid Commission regularly visits Sekondi Central Prison to assist inmates with legal issues.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
