The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ledzokuku, Hon. Israel Adjetey Otchwenmah, has defended the image of Teshie following the recent killing of a phone dealer, insisting that the incident should not be used to portray the entire township as unsafe.
Speaking on Ahotor FM’s Morning Show on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, the MCE described the killing as an isolated incident and maintained that Teshie remained a peaceful and welcoming community despite concerns over security.
He said significant efforts had been made to reduce crime in the area and urged the public to acknowledge the progress made rather than judge the entire community based on a single criminal incident.
According to Hon. Otchwenmah, this year’s Homowo festival was relatively peaceful, which he said reflected improvements in security compared with previous years.
“Those who committed this crime are not indigenes of Teshie. From what the police have issued, the lady was the one who lured the dealer to come to Teshie, and they committed the crime.”
The MCE expressed concern that the incident had attracted negative publicity for Teshie and could undermine efforts to improve the community’s reputation.
“Over the years, there was violence in Teshie, but we have tried to solve the problem. Looking at the crime rate from the police, it has come down drastically. I don’t see why this should tarnish the image of Teshie.”
MCE responds to A Plus
Responding to comments by musician and politician Kwame Asare Obeng, popularly known as A Plus, who described Teshie as a dangerous place to live, Hon. Otchwenmah questioned the basis for such a generalisation.
He argued that the community had changed over the years and that past incidents should not be used as the sole basis for assessing its current security situation.
“If something happened years ago, you don’t need to make that assumption now because Teshie has rebirth. We are doing all we can to have less crime here.”
He said measures had been introduced to improve security, including fixing streetlights, monitoring crime-prone areas and deploying community watchdogs.
The MCE added that two people were arrested by the watchdog task force during this year’s Homowo celebrations as part of efforts to maintain law and order.
Security measures and ride-hailing concerns
On reports that Uber and other ride-hailing drivers avoid Teshie at night, Hon. Otchwenmah acknowledged that the situation had been a concern for some time.
“Three years ago was when they blacklisted Teshie. When I became MCE, we worked to curb the situation. We have put in place watchdogs that go around Teshie.”
He argued that criminal incidents, including vehicle snatching, also occur in other communities without necessarily resulting in those areas being widely labelled unsafe.
The MCE cited the case involving notorious armed robber Atta Ayei, which occurred in Teshie years ago, as an example of how past incidents can continue to influence public perceptions of a community.
He called for a more balanced assessment of Teshie’s security situation, taking into consideration the measures introduced to improve safety.
Teshie extends beyond the coastal area
Hon. Otchwenmah also urged the public to recognise that Teshie comprises several residential communities and estates beyond its coastal areas.
“When we talk about Teshie, it is not only the coastal area. We have estates. Part of Spintex is in Teshie, and we have Regimanuel Estate, Malik, Manet, Grada Estate, Marine View, Ridge Park and East Airport Estate. We have so many serene estates.”
He disclosed that the recent killing occurred in the eastern part of Teshie, closer to Manet, and maintained that the incident should not define the entire township.
The MCE acknowledged that youth unemployment remained a challenge but said government flagship programmes were being used to create employment opportunities for young people.
He also noted that the Member of Parliament for Ledzokuku had supported some young people with employment through his businesses.
“Teshie is very safe, very accommodating. Most indigenes have left to build elsewhere, and their rooms are occupied by visitors from different parts of the country.”
Hon. Otchwenmah expressed sympathy for the family of the deceased and pledged the Assembly’s support as efforts continued to improve security and make Teshie a safer place to live.
“We will stand with the family who has lost their loved one, and we will build Teshie to become the best place to live.”
MCE addresses teachers’ strike
On the ongoing teachers’ strike, the Ledzokuku MCE said he had engaged the Municipal Education Director and the Education Oversight Committee to assess the situation in schools and determine possible interventions.
He said the relevant authorities were expected to visit schools to establish the impact of the strike on teaching and learning and consider measures to minimise disruption.
Among the measures being considered, he said, was engaging senior high school and university graduates to volunteer to teach until the striking teachers return to the classroom.
According to the MCE, the proposal is intended to minimise disruption to academic activities while efforts continue to address the issues surrounding the strike.
Story by Stephen Kwaku Owusu Mintah
