The Chief Executive Officer of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Julius Neequaye Kotey, has earned praise after coming to the aid of a five-year-old girl who was found selling okro along the busy Tamale–Yendi Highway.

According to a social media post shared by social commentator Stephen Atubiga, the incident occurred in the Vittin area, where the young girl, identified as Mariama Alhassan, was seen carrying a pan of fresh okro on her head while attempting to cross the highway to sell the produce.

The post stated that the DVLA CEO, who was passing through the area, was moved by the child’s situation and stopped to speak with her. He reportedly asked where she was coming from and why she was selling at such a young age. However, the little girl was unable to clearly explain her circumstances.

Concerned for her safety and wellbeing, the DVLA CEO sought the assistance of a passerby to help trace the child’s home. Upon arriving at the residence, they met Mariama’s elder cousin, who explained that the girl’s father had died and that she had been selling okro after school to help support the family.

However, according to the account shared by Stephen Atubiga, there were doubts about whether the child was attending school regularly despite the family’s explanation.

Deeply touched by Mariama’s circumstances, the DVLA CEO reportedly donated GH¢10,000 to support her welfare. He also instructed the family to stop sending the five-year-old onto the streets to sell and pledged to monitor her progress to ensure she receives proper care, education, and the opportunity to enjoy a safe childhood.

The gesture has drawn widespread admiration on social media, with many users commending the DVLA CEO for intervening in the life of a vulnerable child and taking practical steps to support her future.

Sharing the story on his Facebook page, Stephen Atubiga applauded the intervention and expressed appreciation for the CEO’s generosity.

“Thank you Julius. As a northerner who knows the pain and struggles of our deprived Northern sectors, kindness like this means a lot. May God continue to bless you, brother,” Atubiga wrote.

The Director of Communications of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, has called on President John Dramani Mahama to ensure what he describes as fairness in the treatment of government critics, arguing that if controversial commentator Kelvin Taylor is able to operate freely, then Camila Alhassan should not remain in detention.

In a strongly worded statement shared on x (formerly Twitter), Ahiagbah questioned what he described as the selective treatment of critics and urged the President to uphold democratic principles by applying equal standards regardless of political affiliation.

“Good morning, Your Excellency, President John Dramani Mahama. If Kelvin Taylor is moving around free, then Camila Alhassan should not be in jail. Fair is fair, Mr. President,” Ahiagbah wrote.

The NPP communications director alleged that the actions taken against Camila Alhassan were carried out in the President’s name and warned that such measures could undermine Mahama’s democratic legacy.

“This repressive action against Camila Alhassan was carried out in your name. The heavy-handedness does no favors for your legacy because such efforts can’t silence citizens in a democracy; they never worked in the past, and they won’t work now,” he stated.

Ahiagbah argued that arresting or harassing individuals who criticize the government would only generate more opposition rather than silence dissent.

According to him, citizens in a democracy will continue to voice their frustrations regardless of the consequences.

“The only thing to be gained from these arrests and harassment of critics of your government is more dissenters and critics. Eventually, the people will prevail because this is a democracy, and citizens will speak out or vent their frustrations regardless of the cost.”

He further maintained that the best way to reduce public criticism is through effective governance and tangible results, not the suppression of opposing voices.

“The only thing that silences dissent is results, but so far, the results are lacking; you cannot silence Ghanaians when the government fails to deliver. We will dissent even louder because it is our right to speak up.”

Ahiagbah also cautioned that continued repression could strengthen, rather than weaken, public opposition to the government.

“Your government will be overwhelmed by dissent if repression and suppression are your responses. More Camila Alhassans will emerge to hold your government accountable,” he concluded.

His comments add to the growing public debate surrounding the arrest and detention of Camila Alhassan, with supporters and critics offering differing views on the government’s handling of dissent and freedom of expression.

Media personality Kwame Afrifa Mensah, popularly known as Okatakyie Afrifa, has been granted bail by the Nsuta Circuit Court alongside six other accused persons over their alleged involvement in the disruption of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Afigya Sekyere East Constituency Executive Elections in the Ashanti Region.

Okatakyie Afrifa, 43, arrived at the court premises in an ambulance wearing bandages around his head and a cervical neck collar. He was also seen limping and required assistance while entering and leaving the courtroom.

The court, presided over by His Lordship Simon Nkatiah Gagah, granted Afrifa bail in the sum of GH¢100,000 with three sureties, one of whom must be a government employee earning not less than GH¢4,000 per month.

The six other accused persons—Osman Awuni, 44, a driver; Kwabena Tsikata, 36, a private investigator; Bashiru Salifu, also known as Tinny, 39, an electrician; Kofi Antwi, 42, a driver; Paul Kofi Mensah, 41, a driver; and Simon Ndana, 27, also a driver—were each granted bail in the sum of GH¢50,000 with two sureties.

Prosecution’s Case

Presenting the facts before the court, Chief Inspector Owusu Kobi Moses, who led the prosecution, said security intelligence gathered during a regional security meeting chaired by the Ashanti North Regional Police Commander, DCOP Felix Apedo, on Thursday, July 9, 2026, indicated that a group of suspected vigilantes from Accra and Kumasi had allegedly been recruited to disrupt the NPP constituency executive elections scheduled for Sunday, July 12, 2026, at Wiamoase.

According to the prosecution, following the intelligence report, the Regional Operations Unit and the Police Intelligence Directorate (PID) were directed to verify the information and put in place preventive security measures to ensure the elections proceeded peacefully.

The prosecution told the court that at about 7:45 a.m. on the election day, Okatakyie Afrifa allegedly led approximately 30 suspected vigilante members to the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church polling station at Wiamoase.

The group was said to have arrived in a Toyota Land Cruiser with registration number GN 7671-17, a Toyota Tundra pickup truck with an unknown registration number, and about five motorbikes.

Alleged Disruption and Arrests

Chief Inspector Moses stated that when police officers approached the group to determine why they were at the polling centre, the suspects allegedly became aggressive.

The prosecution alleged that members of the group assaulted some police officers and disrupted the electoral process by throwing election materials onto the ground, causing confusion at the polling station.

Following the incident, police officers arrested five of the accused persons at the scene, while several others reportedly fled.

The prosecution further told the court that Kwabena Tsikata later followed the police vehicle transporting the arrested suspects in the Toyota Land Cruiser and was subsequently arrested by the police.

Caution Statements

According to the prosecution, Paul Kofi Mensah, in his caution statement, allegedly admitted that the group had been engaged by Okatakyie Afrifa to disrupt the elections because some delegates believed to be loyal to him had allegedly been removed from the constituency electoral register.

The prosecution also alleged that in his own handwritten caution statement, Okatakyie Afrifa admitted engaging the other accused persons, together with others currently on the run, to assist in serving a court order.

Items Retrieved

The court also heard that police conducted searches during the arrests and allegedly recovered several items.

According to the prosecution, officers retrieved a spent BB cartridge from Kwabena Tsikata and Bashiru Salifu, as well as a NATO pepper spray and three toffees suspected to contain narcotic substances, commonly referred to as “wee toffees.”

Police also allegedly recovered another NATO pepper spray and one live BB cartridge from Paul Kofi Mensah.

Investigations Continue

The prosecution informed the court that investigations into the matter are still ongoing and that efforts are being intensified to arrest the remaining suspects who are currently at large.

Because investigations have not been concluded, the pleas of all seven accused persons were not taken.

The case has been adjourned to August 13, 2026, when the accused persons are expected to formally enter their pleas before the court.

source:Citinewsroom