“Madam CID Boss, Do Not Become the Weapon Fashioned Against Women” – Akosua Manu to Lydia Yaako Donkor
Former Deputy CEO of the National Youth Authority and NPP parliamentary candidate for Adentan, Akosua Manu, has taken a swipe at the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), COP Lydia Yaako Donkor, over the recent arrest and detention of women by the police.
In a post titled “MADAM CID BOSS DO NOT BECOME THE WEAPON FASHIONED AGAINST WOMEN,” Akosua Manu said many women, even those who sympathised with the NPP, were proud to see a woman elevated to lead one of the most powerful security institutions in the country.
“Quietly and proudly, even women who sympathised with the NPP were genuinely happy to see Lydia Yaa Donkor elevated in her career. CID Boss! A woman! A big deal. Many felt she deserved it. There was a certain pride in seeing a woman rise to lead one of the most powerful institutions in the country,” she wrote.
But barely a year later, she questioned what women are supposed to be proud of.
“Under her watch, we have witnessed deeply troubling reports about the treatment of women by the very institutions meant to protect them. Women being picked up in circumstances that raise serious questions about due process. Families struggling to establish where their loved ones are being held. Allegations of intimidation and harassment,” she stated.
Referring to the case of Salomey Anti-Bafoh, who was picked up in connection with the “Ghana Jollof” case, Akosua Manu said:”
And now Salomey. Yesterday, I wrote extensively about her case, so I will not repeat it. But a woman being taken from her home around midnight and her family being unable to establish her whereabouts for days should disturb every reasonable Ghanaian. Madam Lydia Yaa Donkor, this happened under your watch.
“She warned that Ghana must be careful not to return to the dark days when people feared the proverbial knock on the door.
“Women in Ghana already fight too many battles. When one of us rises to such an enormously powerful position, we expect her presence to mean something. We expect an educated, exposed woman who understands the law to be one of the strongest voices in the room when somebody suggests bending it,” she said.
“What is the point of celebrating women breaking glass ceilings if those underneath the shattered glass are other women? And let us not pretend everything can be excused with ‘orders from above.’ Leadership comes with responsibility. If an instruction is unlawful, your duty is to the law, not the person giving the instruction.
“She cautioned that the heavy-handed approach could backfire.”
The irony is that this heavy-handed approach may achieve exactly the opposite of what is intended. You are looking for one ‘Ghana Jollof’, continue harassing women on suspicion, and you may create twenty more. That is the cobra effect. People will not suddenly stop criticising governments because they are afraid. They become angrier, more anonymous, and sometimes even more vicious.”
“Madam CID Boss, there must be a line. Draw it! LET US SEE YOUR HUMANITY! Politics will pass. Governments will change. The reputation you build while entrusted with one of Ghana’s most powerful institutions will remain. Women already go through a lot in this country called Ghana. Do not allow yourself or the institution you lead to become another weapon fashioned against them. Please champion sanity by letting it prevail!”
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