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Two petition police to investigate Nitiwul over alleged inflammatory comments on Agbogbloshie redevelopment
Two Ghanaian citizens, Solomon Owusu and lawyer Andrew Appiah-Danquah, have petitioned the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to investigate the Member of Parliament for Bimbilla, Dominic Nitiwul, over comments he allegedly made about the redevelopment of the Konkomba Yam Market at Agbogbloshie in Accra.
In the petition dated September 16, 2026, the two accused Mr Nitiwul of making public statements that they believe could provoke ethnic tensions, cause fear and alarm, and disturb the public peace.
They are asking the police to invite the former Defence Minister to assist with investigations into a video of his remarks that has been circulating on social media and other electronic platforms.
According to the petitioners, their concern is not that Mr Nitiwul criticised the government or the proposed redevelopment of the market.
Rather, they object to what they describe as his repeated presentation of the redevelopment exercise as an action deliberately targeting members of the Konkomba ethnic group.
They cited comments in which he questioned why the area occupied by Konkombas had been marked for the proposed 24-hour market while other areas had allegedly been left untouched.
They quoted him as asking what the Konkombas had done to the government and whether they were not Ghanaians.
The petitioners further cited his call on President John Dramani Mahama to stop the Accra Mayor from “targeting the Konkomba tribe”.
They pointed to his comments that the affected traders were “not moving tomorrow” and should “continue to bring their yams”.
According to the petition, Mr Nitiwul warned that it would be “politically suicidal” for President Mahama to allow the Mayor to proceed with the proposed action.
The two petitioners argued that the statements could create the impression that the government and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) were deliberately seeking to discriminate against or remove Konkombas from Accra.
They said such a perception could heighten tensions between traders and public officials, particularly if authorities proceed with enforcement or demolition activities at the affected location.
The petitioners identified possible risks including confrontation, resistance to lawful administrative measures, damage to property, injuries, mobilisation along ethnic lines and a disturbance of public peace.
Call for investigation under Criminal Offences Act
Owusu and Appiah-Danquah are asking the CID to investigate whether Mr Nitiwul’s statements could amount to offences under sections 207 and 208 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
They cited Section 207, which deals with the use of threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour in circumstances where a breach of the peace is intended or likely to occur.
They referred to Section 208, which concerns the publication of statements, rumours or reports that are likely to cause fear and alarm or disturb the public peace where the person publishing them knows or has reason to believe they are false.
The petitioners stressed that they were not asking the police to presume Mr Nitiwul’s guilt.
They said the purpose of the investigation should be to establish the facts, including whether the claims he made about the redevelopment were accurate.
Petitioners want site plans and documents examined
They have asked the CID to obtain and examine the official redevelopment plans, site plans, affected-property schedules, demolition or relocation notices and relevant maps.
They want the police to inspect the affected area independently to determine which structures and adjoining areas have been marked for the project.
The petitioners further want the CID to speak with officials of the AMA, including the Mayor and officers responsible for the redevelopment, as well as leaders and members of the Konkomba Yam Market and people operating in adjoining areas.
They are also asking investigators to determine whether the redevelopment exercise affects only members of the Konkomba community or whether people and structures belonging to other groups are also affected.
Call for examination of Nitiwul’s sources
The petitioners want Mr Nitiwul to provide the information and documents on which he relied before making the allegations.
They are asking the police to establish whether he personally inspected the entire proposed project area, whether he sought clarification from the AMA and whether he knew that people outside the Konkomba community were also affected.
They want investigators to determine what steps he took to verify the accuracy of his claims before making them public.
The petitioners have asked the police to assess the circulation and impact of the video, including whether it generated fear, hostility, mobilisation or threats of resistance.
They further urged the police to take preventive measures if necessary to avert confrontation, ethnic tension or a breach of the peace at the affected location.
Constitutional rights
The two petitioners acknowledged Mr Nitiwul’s constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression.
They stressed that their petition was not intended to suppress political criticism or dissent, adding that a police investigation would allow the facts surrounding his statements to be established.
They also argued that his position as a sitting MP and former Defence Minister meant that his public comments could have a significant impact on his constituents and members of the affected community.
They noted, however, that the statements were made outside Parliament and should therefore be assessed as public communication rather than statements made during parliamentary proceedings.
The petitioners have asked the CID to register their complaint, provide them with a reference number, preserve and authenticate the full video recording and transcript, and take any further lawful action based on the outcome of the investigation.
They have indicated their readiness to provide the video, transcript, screenshots, links and other relevant documents to assist the investigation.
By: Jacob Aggrey
ODORGONNO Senior High School (SHS) has won the maiden 2026 Senior High School Plastic Waste Reuse Innovation Awards, organised among five SHSs in Accra to promote plastic waste recycling and reuse.
Odorgonno SHS received a cash prize of GH¢8,000 after securing 97 points. Accra Senior High School placed second with 96 points and received GH¢4,000, while O’Reilly SHS placed third with 90 points and received GH¢2,000.
Forces Senior High Technical School placed fourth with 83 points, while St John’s Grammar SHS came fifth with 72 points. Both schools received GH¢1,000 each as cash prizes.
Outstanding students from the participating school clubs were also recognised with gold medals and certificates. St John’s Grammar SHS received five plastic recovery cages as the school with the highest volume of recovered plastic waste.
The awards formed part of the CSIR-Institute of Industrial Research (CSIR-IIR) Schools Plastics Recovery Project, an initiative aimed at promoting plastic waste recovery, responsible environmental practices and the productive use of recovered materials.
The project included educational campaigns in all five participating schools, the provision of metal cages for plastic source segregation, an educational excursion to a Miniplast recycling factory and a plastics challenge that encouraged innovative reuse of plastic waste.
The Project Lead and Senior Research Scientist at CSIR-IIR, Dr Boniface Yeboah Antwi, said the project demonstrated how young people could become active contributors to solving Ghana’s environmental challenges while providing financial incentives to sustain their efforts.
He said when schools generated income from recovered materials, they could support the maintenance of collection infrastructure, reinforce responsible waste management and instil an entrepreneurial mindset in students.
Dr Antwi explained that within the first month, the participating schools recovered 1.5 tonnes, or 1,500 kilogrammes, of plastic waste—equivalent to the weight of approximately 15,000 one-litre water bottles.
He said the recovery generated GH¢2,000 in revenue for the schools, demonstrating that plastic waste could become a source of value rather than an environmental burden.
The Group Head of General Operations at OmniBSIC Bank, Mr Dominic Donkoh, urged the participating schools to sustain their plastic waste segregation, collection and sales activities.
He said the proceeds could support school environmental clubs and other worthwhile initiatives while providing students with practical lessons in saving, budgeting and responsible financial management.
“We encourage students to apply the financial literacy lessons acquired during this engagement. Learn to manage the proceeds from your recycling activities responsibly, appreciate the importance of saving, and explore innovative ways to create both environmental and financial value,” he added.
–GNA
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Parents have been urged to prioritise girls’ education over early marriage to protect them from losing their childhood, education and opportunities for a better future.
The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Girl Child Coordinator, Madam Margaret Blay, said child marriage disrupted girls’ education, threatened their health and well-being, and limited their ability to realise their full potential.
“Keep her in school, not in a man’s house,” she urged parents, stressing the need for families and communities to protect girls’ right to education and personal development.
She made the call in a welcome address at the 2026 celebration of the International Day of the Girl Child in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, held under the theme: “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights.”
Madam Blay said ending child marriage required collective action from parents, teachers, traditional leaders, government institutions and communities to ensure that girls were protected and given the opportunity to pursue their aspirations.
She noted that child marriage often forced girls out of school before they were physically, emotionally and socially prepared for the responsibilities associated with marriage.
She said investing in girls’ rights was not merely a moral obligation but also an investment in the future of communities and the nation.
According to her, girls who remained in school, had their voices heard and received the necessary support could grow into leaders, professionals, innovators and active contributors to national development.
Madam Blay called on teachers to protect girls’ access to education, create supportive learning environments and empower them to express themselves confidently.
She also appealed to traditional leaders to help address harmful cultural practices and social norms that denied girls opportunities to develop their potential.
The government and relevant institutions, she said, must strengthen the enforcement of child protection laws to ensure that every girl received adequate protection.
She further urged communities to speak out against child marriage, report cases and work together to create safe environments where girls could learn, grow and thrive.
Madam Blay said every girl deserved the freedom to dream, acquire an education and determine her own future.
She expressed the hope that the celebration would strengthen stakeholders’ collective resolve to end child marriage and invest in the rights, education and future of every girl.
Madam Karen Ama Moses, Assembly Member for the Takoradi Railway and Harbour Electoral Area, said keeping girls in school would lead to enlightened mothers, well-informed families, resilient communities and, ultimately, a better Ghana.
She stressed that no child should be forced into marriage, adding that “every child must have the freedom to learn, grow, dream and choose her future.”
Some of the schoolchildren expressed concern that their parents did not always listen to their concerns during difficult times, while others said some children were exposed to abuse and early marriage.
Madam Henrietta Quabu, the Metropolitan School Health Coordinator, urged children experiencing abuse or any situation that threatened their well-being to report to the police, the Department of Social Welfare, the media, their teachers or the Metropolitan Education Directorate for assistance.
— GNA
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