The Minority in Parliament has condemned remarks attributed to Greater Accra Regional Minister Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo suggesting that transfers to northern Ghana could be used as punishment, calling them harmful to national unity and public service integrity.
In a statement issued on Wednesday (6 May), Frank Asiedu Bekoe, a deputy ranking member on employment, labour relations and pensions, said “no part of the country is a disciplinary outpost,” stressing that all regions of Ghana are “equal in dignity, equal in worth, and equal in promise.”
“To frame any part of the nation as a punitive destination is to diminish its people… and undermine the collective project of nation-building,” he said.
Stigma
The lawmaker criticised what he described as a “politically motivated, poorly informed” narrative, warning it risks stigmatising communities and weakening cohesion within the country.
He argued that public service postings must be guided strictly by operational needs, fairness and professional development, not used as informal sanctions.
“Transfers within the public service are only acceptable when they are based on operational need… When used as sanctions outside established disciplinary procedures, they constitute an abuse of administrative authority,” he said.
Potential impact
Bekoe also raised concerns about the potential impact on morale within the public service, saying the perception of postings as punishment could discourage commitment and affect service delivery, particularly in regions that require sustained investment.
He called on the government to reaffirm its commitment to fairness and national unity, urging clear guidelines on transfers and a strict separation between administrative decisions and disciplinary processes.
Push to resign
The comments add to growing criticism following Ocloo’s earlier remarks, which she has since described as a “slip in communication” and apologised for, saying they did not reflect her views or government policy.
The issue has sparked wider debate in Ghana over regional equity, public service practices and the language used by public officials.
For NPP MP for Effiduase/Asokore, Nana Ayew Afriye, the Greater Accra Regional Minister Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo should have resigned following her controversial comments.
In a strongly worded reaction, Afriye said he was “very sad” over the remarks, arguing that they demean people from northern Ghana and those living in the region. The lawmaker stopped short of calling for the minister’s dismissal but insisted she should step down voluntarily.
“I never knew the good Ghanaians, and the many great Northern brethren we have grown, lived and worked with… are the punished Ghanaians,” he said, in comments that have since circulated widely.
“Madam, you don’t have to be sacked, just resign,” he added.
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