Women march in Accra under 'Women's Voices Matter' banner and petition Gender Minister

Pinned summary · as of 04:42

Women from several political parties and from markets and trades marched through Accra on Tuesday, 29 September, and handed a petition to the Gender Minister, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey. They were reacting to recent arrests of women and other citizens over online and political commentary. The organisers say their worry is the wider treatment of citizens, not one person's case.

What we know

• A peaceful demonstration titled 'Women's Voices Matter' took place in Accra on Tuesday, 29 September. Participants said they wanted justice, equality, dignity and protection of constitutional rights.
• Marchers gathered from 6:00am at the Accra Metropolitan Assembly Park, walked through the city's main streets and ended at the gender ministry, where they gave Dr Lartey a petition.
• The crowd included market women, hairdressers, dressmakers and kayayei. Party leaders were there too: Janet Asana Nabla, who chairs the PNP, Betty Akuffo Amoabeng, chairperson and leader of the NDP, and Elizabeth Sam, the LGP's running mate.
• Akosua Asaa Manu, who advises the NPP flagbearer on gender and social protection, and Grace Akosua Amoabeng, spokesperson for that party's committee on the same subject, were among the conveners.
• The protesters said women's rights, dignity and freedoms face mounting threats. They pointed to a run of arrests of women and other citizens, linked to political commentary, posts on social media and statements alleged to be offensive or false.
• Investigations into the 'Ghana Jollof' social media account led to the arrest of Salomey Awity Baffoe, who is 40 and has three children. She was later arraigned in court.
• The organisers said the march was about wider concerns rather than a single case. They asked that the law be enforced with due process, respect for human dignity and freedom of expression, and that citizens be free to voice views and criticism within the law without fear of arbitrary treatment.

What's disputed / unconfirmed

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  Accounts of who stood behind the march differ. Citi Newsroom says NPP-affiliated women held the demonstration, that women from other parties joined, and it names only two NPP officials as conveners. Starr FM describes a cross-party march called by five figures from the NPP, PNP, NDP and LGP.

Why it matters for Ghana

The march raises the question of where the line falls between enforcing laws on offensive or false statements and protecting free speech, an issue that affects anyone who posts or comments online in Ghana. It also brought together women from markets, trades and rival parties, and the petition now sits with the Gender Ministry. How the ministry responds will show whether the concerns raised in Accra are taken up by government.