'We have transferred people to the north as a form of punishment' - Minister

Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Ocloo

Wed, 6 May 2026 Source: www.ghanaweb.com

The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Ocloo, has suggested that postings to the northern part of Ghana could be perceived as a form of punishment.

Speaking during a demolition exercise on May 5, 2026, the minister indicated that some staff of the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (GARCC) responsible for issuing building permits could face sanctions, including transfers, if they engage in illegal activities.

She noted that individuals who knowingly issue permits for illegal structures would be held accountable under the law.

“If you issue a permit to an illegal structure, knowing very well that the place is illegal, you will also face the law…some of them have been transferred to the north, just to serve as a kind of punishment for them, so that when they realize that what they did was wrong, they are brought back to Accra or other places.”

Meanwhile, authorities have demolished several illegal structures at the Sakumono Ramsar Site in the Greater Accra Region as part of ongoing efforts to protect the environmentally sensitive area and reduce flooding risks.

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The exercise, which began on Tuesday, May 5, forms part of an enforcement operation led by the Forestry Commission in collaboration with the Greater Accra Regional Security Council (REGSEC) and the Tema West Municipal Assembly.

Officials say the operation will continue until Thursday, with all unauthorized developments within the core zone expected to be cleared.