The Advisor on Gender and Social Protection to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Flagbearer, Akosua Asaa Manu, has condemned what she described as abuse of rights of women in Ghana.
She bemoaned that women are being arrested and incarcerated under the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) for merely expressing their views on issues of national importance.
Expressing their anger on the arrests, a mammoth crowd of women from across the political divide and different walks of life on Tuesday September 29, 2026, took to the streets of Accra to demand justice, equality, dignity and the protection of constitutional rights.
The peaceful demonstration, held under the banner “Women’s Voices Matter,”attracted women from political parties, markets, businesses, offices and homes, with a large turnout stretching across the designated assembly area and along the demonstration route.
The protesters assembled at the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) Park from 6:00 a.m., marching through the principal streets of Accra before proceeding towards the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, where the organisers presented a petition to the Minister.
The mammoth turnout gave the demonstration a strong public character, with women carrying placards and raising concerns over what they described as growing threats to the rights, dignity and freedoms of women in Ghana.
The demonstration was convened by PNP Chairperson Janet Asana Nabla, NDP Chairperson and Leader Betty Akuffo Amoabeng, LGP Running Mate Elizabeth Sam, Advisor on Gender and Social Protection to the NPP Flagbearer, Akosua Asaa Manu and NPP Gender and Social Protection Committee Spokesperson Grace Akosua Amoabeng.
Market women, hairdressers, dressmakers, kayayees and other women also joined the march, making it a broad-based mobilisation beyond formal political structures.
The protesters demanded justice, equality, dignity, freedom of expression and the protection of women’s constitutional rights.
Their concerns come amid a series of arrests involving women and other citizens under the current administration, particularly in cases involving political commentary, social media activity and alleged offensive or false statements.
The arrest of Salomey Awity Baffoe, a 40-year-old mother of three has become one of the recent cases attracting significant public attention. Salomey was arrested in connection with investigations into the activities of the social media account known as “Ghana Jollof” and has subsequently been arraigned before the courts.
However, Tuesday’s demonstration was not centred on a single case.
A June report by Al Jazeera, citing the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), said Ghana had recorded 14 arrests linked to false news and offensive speech in the first 16 months of the administration.
Several of those cases have involved women.
In similar fashion, two women, Priscilla Duah Birago and Charity Dede Tetteh, were arrested and charged over allegedly offensive statements concerning President John Mahama.
They were subsequently granted bail of GH¢100,000 each.
TikTok content creator Mahama Aminat was also arrested over alleged threats directed at President Mahama and First Lady Lordina Mahama, while another woman, identified as Alhassan, was arrested in July and charged with offensive conduct and false news.
This, the organisers sought to draw attention to what they described as a wider pattern of arrests and the need for the rights of women to be protected regardless of their political affiliation or personal circumstances.
They said the state has a responsibility to enforce the law but must do so in a manner that respects due process, human dignity and constitutional freedoms.
The women also used the demonstration to emphasise the importance of freedom of expression, insisting that citizens must be able to express their views and criticisms within the confines of the law without fear of arbitrary treatment.
The cross-party nature of the protest was particularly notable, with women associated with different political traditions joining forces to present a common demand for justice and equal treatment.
The organisers maintained that the issues raised transcended party politics and concerned the protection of fundamental rights and the dignity of Ghanaian women.
Petition presented
At the final destination, the organisers presented a petition to the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, formally setting out their concerns and demands for action.
The petition is expected to put further pressure on the relevant authorities to address concerns surrounding the treatment of women and the protection of their constitutional rights.
The organisers described the demonstration as peaceful and said their objective was to draw national attention to issues they believe require urgent action.
With placards raised and chants of “Enough is Enough” echoing through parts of Accra, the protesters said they would not remain silent on issues affecting the rights and dignity of women.
The large turnout also demonstrated the extent to which the concerns had resonated beyond political party structures, bringing together women from different social and professional backgrounds.
By Collins Adu-Gyamfi
