Two Ghanaian citizens, Solomon Owusu and lawyer Andrew Appiah-Danquah, have petitioned the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to investigate Bimbilla MP Dominic Nitiwul over comments he allegedly made about the redevelopment of the Konkomba Yam Market at Agbogbloshie in Accra.
In a petition dated September 16, 2026, the two accused Mr Nitiwul of making public statements they believe could provoke ethnic tensions, cause fear and alarm, and disturb the public peace.
They are asking the Police to invite the former Defence Minister to assist with investigations into a video of his remarks circulating on social media and other electronic platforms.
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The petitioners stressed that their concern was not Mr Nitiwul’s criticism of the government or his opposition to the proposed redevelopment.
Rather, they objected to what they described as his repeated presentation of the redevelopment exercise as an action deliberately targeting members of the Konkomba ethnic group.
Nitiwul’s comments
According to the petition, Mr Nitiwul questioned why the area occupied by Konkombas had been marked for the proposed 24-hour market while other areas had allegedly been left untouched.
The petitioners also quoted him as asking what the Konkombas had done to the government and whether they were not Ghanaians.
They further cited a call by Mr Nitiwul on President John Dramani Mahama to stop the Accra Mayor from “targeting the Konkomba tribe”.
The petition also referred to comments attributed to him that claimed traders were “not moving tomorrow” and should “continue to bring their yams”.
Mr Nitiwul was further quoted in the petition as warning that it would be “politically suicidal” for President Mahama to allow the Mayor to proceed with the proposed action.
The petitioners argued that the comments could create an impression that the government and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) were deliberately seeking to discriminate against or remove Konkombas from Accra.
They said such a perception could heighten tensions between traders and public officials, particularly if enforcement or demolition activities proceed at the affected location.
They cited possible risks including confrontation, resistance to administrative measures, property damage, injuries, mobilisation along ethnic lines and a disturbance of public peace.
Criminal Offences Act
Owusu and Appiah-Danquah are asking the CID to investigate whether Mr Nitiwul’s statements could amount to offences under Sections 207 and 208 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
They cited Section 207, which deals with threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour in circumstances where a breach of the peace is intended or likely to occur.
They also referred to Section 208, which concerns the publication of statements, rumours or reports likely to cause fear and alarm or disturb the public peace where the person publishing them knows or has reason to believe they are false.
The petitioners stressed that they were not asking the Police to presume Mr Nitiwul’s guilt.
They said the purpose of the investigation should be to establish the facts, including whether the claims he made about the redevelopment were accurate.
Checks on redevelopment
The petitioners want the CID to obtain and examine the official redevelopment plans, site plans, affected-property schedules, demolition or relocation notices and relevant maps.
They also want investigators to independently inspect the affected area and determine which structures and adjoining areas have been marked for the project.
They have asked the Police to engage AMA officials, including the Mayor and officers responsible for the redevelopment, as well as leaders and members of the Konkomba Yam Market and traders in adjoining areas.
The petitioners further want Mr Nitiwul to provide the information and documents on which he relied before making his allegations.
They want investigators to establish whether he personally inspected the proposed project area, sought clarification from the AMA and knew whether people outside the Konkomba community were also affected.