A horrific attack on a man named Mutala Yayaa in Darkuman on September 10, 2025, has led the Accra Regional Police Command to arraign nine people before the Adabraka District Court. Filmed and extensively shared on social media, the event depicts a group of guys physically assaulting the complainant.

Bernard Tagoe, also known as Asa Sese, Nii Eric Martey, Michael Lokko, Felix Adu Mensah, Habib Gusamu, Solomon Assan, Kwame Khalid, Jacob Addy, and Gideon Arthur are the suspects. They are charged with assaulting Yayaa with a cutlass, axe, and scissors, wounding his head and body severely. Four additional suspects are still at large.

The nine defendants entered not guilty pleas to the accusations of harm and conspiracy to commit a felony. They are due back in court on September 29, 2025, after being placed on remand in police custody.

In order to support ongoing investigations, authorities are actively working to arrest Yaala, Show, Joseph Gattor, Savess, and John Km, among others they believe were engaged in the attack. The Accra Regional Police Command has advised residents to seek out legal ways to resolve problems and cautioned the people against resorting to violence.

The Accra Region Police’s Head of Public Affairs, Ms. Juliana Obeng, made the announcement in a formal press release on September 19, 2025.

Following the recent horrific assault of a 3-year-old girl in Winneba, Bright Appiah, Executive Director of Child Rights International, has urged for stronger and more uniform enforcement of Ghana’s child abuse legislation.

After her stepmother allegedly threw boiling water on her privates as a form of discipline for bedwetting, the kid, who had traveled to spend the holidays with her father, had potentially fatal injuries. The victim is receiving immediate medical attention at the Trauma and Specialist Hospital in Winneba, while the suspect, who has only been known as Akaima, a Liberian national, is still at large.

In an interview with Citi Eyewitness News on Friday, September 19, Appiah responded to the incident by saying that the nation has to stop viewing child abuse as a domestic problem and make sure that those who commit it are held accountable.

“I think that we should not just look at the abuse of children as a domestic issue. When there is an arrest or identification of such a matter, the right procedure must be followed so that those who commit such offences are dealt with properly,” he said.

He criticized the apparent absence of regular legal action in several child abuse cases, contending that it gives abusers more confidence.

“In most cases, we don’t see any kind of action taken… so people think that they can just do anything against a child and go scot-free. That, for me, is what is also giving them that kind of empowerment,” Appiah added.

Failure to prosecute and punish abusers, in Appiah’s opinion, sends a dangerous message to society: children can be hurt with no repercussions.

In addition to implementing stronger protections, he asked national authorities to examine closely how children are left in the care of others.

The father of the girl has been taken into custody by the Ghana Police Service’s Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) as part of continuing inquiries. After the event, the stepmother escaped, but authorities say efforts are continuing to capture her.

Reconstructive treatments will be necessary to restore the child’s reproductive organs, according to medical staff at the Winneba hospital, who have described the child’s condition as severe.

A local NGO, the Mother and Child Rescue Unit of Challenging Heights, has pledged to pay for the victim’s medical bills in response to the tragedy, which has caused national indignation. The group is also demanding justice for the youngster and a thorough inquiry.

DOVVSU has committed to stepping up preventive and public education initiatives in response to the alarming trend of domestic abuse in the municipality.

Appiah further emphasised the need for systemic change: “People feel they can do whatever they want to do with children. That is why, for me, as a country, we should carefully look at it and see how best we can place children in the care of other people.”

The 2025 Senior High School (SHS) placement process has officially begun, with the Ghana Education Service (GES) successfully placing 483,800 students in senior high schools throughout the nation.

This figure represents 82% of the 590,309 students who fulfilled the placement requirements, paving the way for them to pursue further education.

Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, the Deputy Minister of Education, made the statement during a press conference in Accra.

Dr. Apaak confirmed in a thorough breakdown of the data that 248,038 (51.4%) of the 603,328 applicants who took the 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) are female.

Due to fierce competition for certain Category A schools, 107,509 candidates (18.2%) who met the requirements for placement were not matched with their original school preferences, according to Dr. Apaak.

In order to give these students a second shot, the Ministry has launched a self-placement platform.

According to the Deputy Minister, 70 private SHSs are being piloted by the Free SHS Program this year and are now reachable via the portal.

Students now have more options and chances thanks to this effort.

“The private schools that have agreed to participate will receive government support equivalent to the fees incurred for students enrolling in public institutions,” he stated.

Students have several options thanks to this pilot program, the 724 public SHSs, and the 233 technical and vocational schools that are part of the placement system.

In a harsh caution against attempts to take advantage of the placement process, Dr. Apaak emphasized that it is “absolutely free.” He advised parents and guardians not to pay for placement services from any anybody, including state representatives or outside agents.

“Let me take this opportunity to strongly reiterate that placement is absolutely free. The Ministry of Education cautions that anyone soliciting payment must be reported immediately to the nearest police station or to the Office of the Special Prosecutor,” he said.

Additionally, he revealed that district, regional, and national resolution centers have been established to help with placement concerns. The national resolution center is located at the GNAT Hall in Accra.

In all, 603,328 candidates from 20,395 schools and 2,237 testing locations took the BECE this year, consisting of 297,250 males and 306,078 females.

The results, however not without problems, were released by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) in August.

“Whether placed directly or through the self-placement portal, you have a clear and secure pathway to continue your education. Let us, as parents, teachers and communities, support our students and ensure that this placement exercise contributes to their success and to Ghana’s progress,” he stated.

177 candidates had their results canceled due to malpractice, while 718 other candidates’ results were also canceled. Additionally, WAEC withheld the subject results of 1,240 applicants and the whole results of 93 candidates.

Furthermore, some applicants from 119 schools had their subject results canceled, while some candidates from 87 schools had their subject results withheld for additional examination.

Dr. Apaak concluded by calling on all stakeholders to support the students.