President John Dramani Mahama has for the first time spoken about the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Akweley Ocloo’s comments about transferring public officials to the North as punishment.
Speaking at a Town Hall meeting with Ghanaians in the diaspora on May 31st, 2026, John Mahama clarified that Linda Ocloo misspoke, adding that officials who approve developments on waterways will be dismissed rather than transferred.
President Mahama stated, “Is flooded with water, and he says, ‘ Why isn’t the government doing anything about the flooding problem? It’s because you went and built in a place you shouldn’t have built, and so we need to punish those who signed the permits for that.
“The District Chief Executives, I told the Minister of Local Government we should find out who is signing the permits for people to build in these waterways,” he said.
“My minister misspoke. She said we’ll transfer them to the North. We are not transferring them to the North; we’re sacking them so that it serves as a deterrent; otherwise, we’ll continue to have this problem,” he stated.
“We must have the hard hats to remove those houses that are blocking the waterways, and so if you see demolitions going on and other things, it’s to protect the property of everybody,” he added.
Mahama’s comments come on the back of the heels of the Greater Accra Regional Minister, who once again caused a stir with her public remarks after revealing that some officials have been transferred to the North as punishment.
According to Linda Ocloo, officials of the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (GARCC) who are issuing illegal building permits have been transferred to the north, just to serve as a kind of punishment for them.
Speaking during a demolition exercise on May 5, 2026, the Greater Accra Regional Minister stated, “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, Linda Ocloo has issued an apology, following public backlash over comments suggesting that postings to the northern part of Ghana could be perceived as a form of punishment.
According to Linda Ocloo, her remarks in the viral video were just a genuine slip, which does not reflect her considered views.
In a press statement issued by the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (GARCC), the minister stated, “My attention has been drawn to a widely circulated video in which I made remarks suggesting that postings to the northern part of our beloved country could be considered as a form of punishment”.
“I wish to state, without reservation, that the comments captured in the video were a genuine slip in communication and do not reflect my considered views.”
“Regrettably, my choice of words created the unintended impression that such postings were punitive,” she said.
“I sincerely acknowledge the concerns that this has generated and offer my unreserved apology to all Ghanaians, especially my brothers and sisters in the northern regions, for any misunderstanding, offence, or discomfort caused,” she stated.
Watch the video below:
“I don’t know which ministers you are referring to that they are blowing time [on weekends]. The ministers I know are working very hard. I’ve seen occasionally maybe on their birthday they bring a cake to the office and then for a few minutes everybody cuts the cake and they go… pic.twitter.com/8gRXfMFAmS
— DailyGraphic GraphicOnline (@Graphicgh) May 31, 2026
