News
Cerebral Palsy not contagious – concerned parent
A 35-year-old mother of a cerebral palsy child has debunked the claims that people who help in taking care of children with such condition risked giving birth to same because such children are cursed either by the gods or evil spirits.
She says that cerebral palsy childfen are often referred to as “nsuo ba” or “water children” literally meaning their mothers went to a water deity for them.
“In my case I was blamed for not keeping myself away from evil spirits when I was pregnant” the worried mother said this on condition of anonymity in an interview with The Spectator on Wednesday.
She has a six-year-old daughter with cerebral palsy.
Cerebral palsy is a congenital disorder of movement, muscle tone or posture and is usually due to abnormal brain development often before birth but could also occur at birth or in early infancy. Meanwhile the cause, according to health personnel, is not known.
She said she was fortunate to have in-laws who understood the situation and helped her and the daughter.
“However, in her early years it was tough for me to find a person willing to take good care of her so I found myself stuck at home on many occasions and this affected my mental health, ” she disclosed.
The woman said such children took various medications, (needed therapy or even sometimes surgeries) to control seizures and other factors which were expensive, therefore, placing financial burden on parents and guardians of such children.
She said there was the need for the government to put some, if not all, of such medications on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to cushion parents.
She again said taking care of such children was emotionally draining and it was sad to note that society was not doing much to help parents and guardians of such unfortunate children by accepting them and offering the necessary support to ease their burden.
“There must even be centres where parents and guardians of such children could go for counselling to help their mental health” she said stressing that finding appropriate caregivers was also a major challenge.
On education, she expressed concern that children with cerebral palsy did not get basic education because majority of schools, (both public and private), did not accept them into their fold.
“Schools are not willing to put in the necessary structures which ensure that such children get education and therapy that meet their need or tailored to them.
“Even inclusive education as things stand now, only seems to be on paper but not actually practised. Government should show commitment by initiating measures to actualise the practice of inclusive education especially at the basic level, “she said.
She further advocated conscious effort to get an appreciable number of young men and women to read courses on Special Education to help with the overall care and management of such children.
From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Tema.
Ahyiresu and Abofrem, two quiet communities in the Atwima Mponua District, have been shaken to the core by a chilling midnight drama that reads like a nightmare.
A pastor and a young mother stand accused of attempting to bury a five‑month‑old baby girl alive, a crime that has ignited outrage and disbelief across the township.
According to police, Apostle Richmond Akwasi Frimpong, 36, Head Pastor of the Anointed Grace Prayer Ministry at Kuffour Camp, conspired with his uncle Emmanuel Appiah, 53, and the child’s mother, 23‑year‑old Beatrice Agyapomaa, to dispose of the infant, Anaya Achiaa, under the cover of darkness.
A fourth suspect, Emmanuel Donkor, remains on the run.
The suspects were caught near a refuse dump around 10 pm on April 9, 2026, after a vigilant resident, Akwasi Twezor, noticed their suspicious movements.
When confronted, they claimed the child was already dead and had palace approval for burial. But Twezor’s instincts proved right—the baby was still alive, gasping faintly for breath.
Chief Linguist, Nana Yaw Badu, later confirmed that Frimpong had misled him earlier in the evening, securing permission for burial by falsely declaring the child dead.
The infant was rushed to the Abofrem Clinic, where she is now responding well to treatment. Police described her as “very beautiful.”
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Evelyn Yitamkey, Commander of DOVVSU in Bibiani, confirmed that the suspects have been provisionally charged.
Frimpong faces attempted murder and conspiracy charges, while Agyapomaa and Appiah are charged with conspiracy and abetment.
They were remanded by the Bibiani Circuit Court, presided over by Judge Frank Asiedu Nimako, to assist investigations.
The docket has been forwarded to the Attorney General’s Department for advice, ASP Yitamkey indicated.
The attempted crime has provoked fury among residents, many suspecting ritual motives aimed at bolstering the pastor’s influence.
Crowds attempted to attack the suspects outside court, but police intervention prevented mob justice.
The Assembly Member for Ahyiresu, Yusuf Suleiman, has assured residents that justice will be pursued swiftly.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
The forecourt of the African University of Communications and Business (AUCB) in Accra came alive on Friday with colour, creativity and innovation, as Level 300 students transformed the space into a lively exhibition of ideas.
Under the theme “Building meaningful brands beyond the logo,” the students invited patrons into a world where ordinary products were reimagined through storytelling, design and purpose.
From scented candles to innovative food concepts, each stand told a unique story, one that went beyond aesthetics to capture identity, value and human connection.
For many of the students, the event was more than just an academic exercise; it was a moment to dream out loud.
Guided by their lecturer, Peter Wonders, they explored what it truly means to build a brand in today’s competitive world where trust, consistency and experience matter just as much as logos and slogans.
Chairman of the occasion, Nana Kum Gyata VI, in his remarks said a brand is what people say about you when you are not present.
At the end of the presentations, awards were presented to deserving groups with Vida Nyaneba emerging as the overall best branding student.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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