Day: January 2, 2024

Four months into marriage, Yaayaa (not the real name) realised she was pregnant, her joy knew no bounds as she had always wanted to experience being a mom.

Yaayaa worked in one of the prestigious banks in Ghana and had her plan drawn out, how she was going to juggle being a mom and being a career woman.

She was also progressing steadily in her job which gave her much satisfaction. Nine months came so quickly and soon it was time for baby to come.

At Childbirth

Everything went as expected with the childbirth, it was a baby boy, but somehow the baby didn’t cry after birth. It looked like something was wrong, but the medics could not point out exactly what was wrong.

The baby was taken to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the hospital, while in NICU the baby even developed neonatal jaundice.

After about two weeks, Yaayaa and her baby were discharged from the hospital. In Yaayaa’s mind everything was alright.

Baby seemed to be growing well and it was all joy, soon it was time for Yaayaa to resume
official work and she happily did, but her work was no longer going to be the same.

It was one challenge after the other, almost every week ended with her at the hospital with the baby, after a lot of hospital visits and not being sure what was particularly wrong with the child, doctors told her, her child may be having cerebral palsy.

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a neurological condition that affects the movement and sometimes the speech of a growing child.

It is caused by an injury to a child developing brain, this injury could happen either during pregnancy, during childbirth or shortly after birth.

Cerebral palsy is the number cause of physical disability in childhood, and it has no cure.

Looking for Solution

Yaayaa did not know how to take the news of her child’s diagnosis, it was time to look for a solution, she told herself.

The months that followed her child’s diagnosis was uncertain or unstable, she found herself either consulting a herbalist, a pastor, a fetish or one medical doctor or a
nother.

It also became a life of hopping from one pastor to another seeking solutions to her child’s challenge.

At work, Yaayaa was always full of excuses, she always came in with one excuse or the other her child was constantly sick, and she needed help.

After about four years into her child’s diagnosis, she decided to resign from her official work and concentrate fully on taking care of her son.

Her son was growing but there was no improvement in his condition, at age seven, Yaayaa’s son could still not sit, crawl, or do anything independently.

Yaayaa had been taking her child for physical therapy sessions as doctors recommended and yet there seemed to be no improvement at all.

Complicated Challenges

But that was not the end of Yaayaa’s problems, her husband also started developing some strange attitude, her once lovely husband will now stay so late at work, not supporting her at home at all and worse of all stopped providing for the home.

Before Yaayaa could understand what was happening to her hus
band, she got to know that her husband now had a mistress and had even had a child with his mistress.

Yaayaa became a single mother to her son with cerebral palsy because her husband eventually left her.

She resorted to all kinds of jobs to make ends meet.

Maintaining her son who was growing in age but not growing in skills was expensive. At age 14, her son was still using diapers since he couldn’t achieve toilet training.

Yaayaa had to be there to feed her son, attend to his toilet needs, bathe him and do just anything thing for him. Her son could not achieve any independent living skills.

Sometimes, she would leave her son alone in the room and go and sell or go and wash peoples clothing to enable her to earn an income.

Yaayaa told the Ghana News agency that she did all kinds of jobs sometimes neglecting her son to be able to survive for one more day.

The Parents Support Group

When her son was 19 years old, someone introduced her to a parents support group, the Special Mothers Project.

There, she m
et other parents; they shared ideas and experiences as well as offered physical support to one another.

The Special Mothers Project apart from engaging in advocacy on issues affecting children with cerebral palsy and their families also connect parents with the limited but available support systems in Ghana.

It was during one of the regular discussions on their WhatsApp platform that Yaayaa shared her story with her 19-year-old son.

The other parents on the platform touched by her story decided to contribute money to support one of their own.

The platform realized quite a substantial amount of money for Yaayaa and helped her set up a grocery shop to enable her to earn some steady income and have time to take care of her son.

A year went by and Yaayaa was doing so well with her shop, she reported back to the group.

Support Systems

She told the Ghana News Agency that even though she is in a much better place and can support her son, there were no formalized support systems in Ghana to support persons lik
e her or families of children with disabilities.

‘There is no place, I can take my now 20-year-old son for recreation or even rehabilitation, I couldn’t even take him to a formal school because Public schools and facilities that take care of the needs of children and adults with cerebral palsy do not exist in Ghana.’

Yaayaa said ‘I am in a better place than I use to be, I am happier, my son is happier but there is one thing I wish and pray for: ‘My child must die before me.’

‘If I die who will take care of my son, who? She asked, there are no facilities, there are no institutions with trained caregivers on how to manage a person with moderate to severe cerebral palsy in Ghana,’ she said.

Recommendations

Usually, the burden of care is on the family especially the mother, sometimes even family members shun taking care of persons with moderate to severe cerebral palsy, that is why we need the government to put in place, programmes and policies that would facilitate the care of children with cerebral palsy o
utside of the nuclear family.

Yaayaa called on the government to pay attention especially to the needs of children or persons with cerebral palsy and their families in Ghana, since they have been excluded for so long.

PS: Even though it is a true story, the names and situation in this article have been changed to protect the identity of the people involved.

Source: Ghana News Agency

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has ordered an immediate audit of the Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) and Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) five-year consolidated contract.

The GRA contracted SML in 2019 to undertake revenue assurances services.

The agreement between the two entities was to boost revenue assurances in the downstream petroleum sector, upstream petroleum production, and the value chain for minerals and metals resources.

However, various organisations, including Ghana’s legislature, have since questioned the deal, claiming that it was riddled with flaws in its execution.

A statement issued by the Director of Communications at the Presidency on Tuesday, said the President had appointed KPMG, the reputable Audit, Tax and Advisory Services firm, to undertake the audit.

This was to ensure transparency and accountability in the execution of the contractual arrangement.

The statement said the audit would ascertain the rationale or needs assessment performed prior to the contract approval
by GRA and assess how the arrangement aligned with specific needs.

It would also assess the appropriateness of the contracting methodology, verifying compliance with legal standards and industry best practices in the procurement process for the selection of SML.

The audit would evaluate the degree of alignment between current activities and the stipulated contract scope and identify any deviations.

It would evaluate the value or benefit that SML has so far offered to the GRA through the engagement; and review the financial arrangements, including pricing structures, payment terms and resolution of any financial compliance issues.

The President has given the audit firm two weeks to submit a report on its findings, along with suitable recommendations, and has directed the Ministry of Finance and the GRA to provide KPMG with all help needed to undertake the audit.

He has also directed the Ministry of Finance and the Ghana Revenue Authority to suspend the performance of the contract, pending the submission o
f the audit report, including any payments presently envisaged under its terms.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Rev. James Awini, the Head Pastor of the Victory Assembly of God Church, has acknowledged that 2023 was a difficult year asked Ghanaians to pray for a better 2024.

He said God has ‘supernatural rain’ to shower on all Ghanaians including their finances, business, and destinies.

He delivered the sermon on the 31st of December when the church held a special prayer to usher in the new year.

Rev. James Awini implored the congregation to seek God in prayers and deeds and eschew running to people with dark powers for help.

According to him 2023 was characterized by challenges, including financial crisis, the government’s haircuts, and many more saying, ‘Some people have suggested that this year (2024) will be a tougher one.’

‘I Wish to let you know very well that, those who know and are looking up to the Almighty God, those who will call upon the God of Elijah shall see a super-natural rain in their life, finances, destinies, businesses and at work,’ he said.

Rev. Awini entreated all Ghanaians to be united an
d remain people with a common destiny.

At the Tumu Catholic church, the sermon for the night was delivered by Rev. Fr Gorden Baah who asked the Church members to see the world as being a temporal place and tasked all to create a relationship with God.

‘Know very well that the people you live with one day you will not see them again so keep a relationship with God.

The time for the end of the year is the time to go home and make time for your relatives and share part of your time with them,’ he said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Workers in Ministries, Departments and Agencies Tuesday resumed serious work in the New Year after the yuletide.

At about 0830 hours most offices in the Ministries, Accra, were opened on the first working day of the year.

Some offices the GNA visited were the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice, Department of Agriculture, Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) Customs Division Headquarters, Ministry of Finance, and the Statistical Service Head Office.

Others were the Office of the Head of Civil Service, Public Services Commission, and Controller and Accountant-General’s Department.

The car parks were fully occupied.

At the Non-Profit Organization Secretariat (NPOS), one of the Security Officers explained that though workers reported to work on the first day, most of them had to leave early afternoon due to interruption in electricity supply.

‘Had it not been the interruption in electricity, all the workers would have stayed at post till the normal closing time,’ the Security Officer said.

Ar
ound 1500 hours, the last group of workers were also leaving the NPOS premises.

Some food and drink vendors at the various premises were busy as usual.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The first edition of the inter-community Football Gala organized by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for the Lambussie constituency, Dr. Titus Kofi Beyuo, has ended successfully with the Suke community emerging winner.

The Suke community won against the Sina community in the finals of the games with a goal to nil after the five days tournament held under the theme: ‘Let’s stand focus and resolute to build the Lambussie we want together through sports.’

The Suke community received a trophy and a GHS200.00 cash, a football and a new set of jersey and the first runner-up, Sina community received GHS300.00 and a football.

The 2nd runner-up, Chum community also received GHS200.00 cash and a football while all participating teams received GHS200.00 cash and a football.

The gala reignited the healthy rivalry between various communities in the Lambussie constituency and offered the people an opportunity to meet the new parliamentary candidate.

Dr. Beyuo, speaking to Ghana News Agen
cy (GNA) at Samoa after the presentation, said the competition was aimed at bringing the communities together through sporting activities.

He said it was not only to unite the constituency but also to harness the great but hidden talents and encourage them to contribute meaningfully to the development of the nation.

‘My plans are to make the youths very active and for that reason I decided to organise an inter-community gala to find hidden talents in the constituency,’ Dr. Beyuo noted.

The PC said meaningful development could only thrive in the midst of peaceful coexistence and he identified football as a conduit for unifying the people.

According to Dr. Beyuo the soccer gala would be held annually to bring the various communities together under one umbrella to ensure that they fought for their collective development and improvement of their livelihood if voted into power.

He called on the youth to come out in their numbers as well as educate their parents so they could exercise their civic responsibilit
y for him to be elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Lambussie constituency in December.

He advised the people of the constituency to refrain from engaging in acts that would affect them and the constituency as a whole.

The Lambussie constituency executives of the NDC and some members of the party and Assembly Members in the constituency graced the event.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The SOS Children’s Villages Family Strengthening Project (SOS FSP) has ended in the Ejisu Municipality and other surrounding communities with greater impact on the lives of the people.

The five-year project, which started in 2018, aimed at strengthening communities through the provision of health, education, water and sanitation as well as empowering the poor and vulnerable with employable skills to be economically independent.

Among its achievements were the establishment of 10 village savings and loans associations at Kubease, Adadientem, Onwe, Essienimpong and Ejisu.

The project had impacted 300 teachers though in-service training and supported 6,352 pupils directly in schools.

It had also strengthened families, empowered communities and uplifted the lives of 1,110 children, and provided technical and vocational education and training to about 173 youth in the area.

Mr Alexander Mar Kakula, the National Director of SOS Children’s Villages, at a durbar to climax the end of the project, said it had bee
n a beacon of hope and catalyst for positive change.

A total of 359 families, including solidarity fund project participants, were provided with grants to either initiate or expand their businesses, and foster economic empowerment within the communities.

Fifteen public schools within the Ejisu and Juaben municipalities were supported and the teachers received in-service training in child friendly pedagogy to enhance their skills and competencies.

Additionally, it constructed three toilet facilities and mechanised boreholes and classroom blocks for some schools in the area.

Mr Kakula said the main objective of the project was to transform lives, which had made children find their voices, youth and care givers gain self-sufficiency, while the communities embraced change.

Mr Bernard Amoako, Programmes Director, SOS Children’s Villages, said the achievements were stories of empowerment, resilience and hope.

He said through the project six child rights clubs had been formed in the communities to champion the
rights of children and had laid a solid foundation for lasting change in beneficiary communities.

Madam Amira Ibrahim, a benefactor and Mr Edward Agyei, the Head teacher of Essianimpong Primary School, expressed profound gratitude to the school for the immense help which had empowered the communities.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has asked rival factions in the Bawku conflict to reconsider their positions and allow peace to prevail to restore free movement of people and the development of the area.

According to him, the repercussions of the prolonged conflict would be abject poverty among the people, retrogression in infrastructure and human development of the area, as well as diseases and hunger.

It was, therefore, important for all those involved in the conflict to sit and reflect on their actions and resolve to address their internal issues in a peaceful and amicable manner to give hope to the younger generations.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu made the call in an address read for him by Oguahyia Oduro Panin Birikorang, Chief of Edubiase in the Ashanti Region, during the annual Quran recitation and Islamic prayers for the nation in Kumasi.

The Asantehene reminded Ghanaians about the impending political campaigns and called for tolerance of divergent views.

He said it was important for politicians to re
frain from engaging in tribal or religious politics and rather, focus on disseminating messages that would help transform the country and give hope to the people.

The Asantehene pointed out that political intolerance had been the cause of conflicts, poverty, destruction and loss of lives in many African countries, saying, Ghana was not ready to veer into that direction.

He appealed to the youth in Zongo communities not to yield to political orchestrations that would force them to commit violence during the electioneering campaigns, adding that, having two people from the north to lead the two biggest political parties in the 2024 general elections, was a testimony of how young people from the northern part of the country could rise to lead and transform Ghana.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu appealed to the people in Zongo communities to take advantage of the Otumfuo Educational Trust Fund to climb higher in their educational pursuits.

He also urged the chiefs and elders in Zongo communities to work to protect children
and the youth from the activities of politicians who only use and dumb them after elections.

Mr Mohammed Kabir Abubakar of Al – Azariya Islamic Institute was adjudged the best memorizer of the three-week Tahfiz contest, and was awarded with a brand new Picato Rio saloon car donated by Mr Ali Suraj, a presidential staffer.

In attendance were Sheikh Nuhu Sharubutu, National Chief Imam, Alhaji Dr Abubakar Shehu Abubakar III, Amir of Gombe state in Nigeria, Alhaji Musah Akambonga, President of the Council of Zongo Chiefs, and Alhaji Ibrahim Abdul Rahman Adam Sanfo lll, the Mosque Chief, amongst others.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The media has been urged to be conscious of their health and make time for exercises to reduce stress.

The work of the media could be stressful and as we begin 2024, which is an election year, it is important they make health activities part of their routines to stay strong and healthy.

Mr Ransford Gyan, MTN’s area sales manager for Eastern, Volta and Oti regions gave the advice after a health work and aerobics session organized for media personnel in Koforidua as part of end of year MTN and Media activities.

He said the initiative was also to deepen the existing relationship between the two sides for better and improved working relationship in the New year.

Media practitioners from across the region converged at the newly commissioned Koforidua sports stadium and walked through to Betom AstroTurf, a suburb of Koforidua for other sporting activities.

Both media practitioners and staff of MTN in the region were taken through aerobics and fitness sessions and a football match between MTN and the media to
climax the day.

Mr Maxwell Kudekor, Eastern Region GJA chairman thanked MTN for the support and hoped for a strengthened relationship between the two sides in the years ahead.

Source: Ghana News Agency