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‘Don’t be intimidated …be proud of resisting FGM’
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● Nana Ogyedom Tsetsewa I
Women and girls who have not undergone Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) have been advised not to entertain unsavoury comments aimed at making them feel less of women.
They should rather be proud of themselves that they have been able to resist a tradition that violates the human rights of women.
The Osumpahen of Gomoa Akyempim Traditional Council in the Central region, Nana Ogyedom Ama Tsetsewa I made the comments in an interview with The Spectator on Wednesday towards the International Day of Zero tolerance for FGM scheduled for February 6.
She observed that, there were husbands who even made their wives feel that because they had not undergone the procedure of altering their female genitalia as dictated by their communities, they fall short of the qualities of a wife.
Nana Ogyedom Tsetsewa I said such disappointing comments had even compelled some wives to undergo the practice and some parents force their daughters to do so.
“Every part of the body was made for a purpose and so was the clitoris and other parts of the female genitalia and so why should they be cut off to complicate the lives of women under the guise of making them clean, faithful or prevent them from being promiscuous,” she questioned.
The Osumpahen of the Gomoa Akyempim Traditional Council said there was therefore the need to educate the public continuously to spread the message about the dangers of FGM because of its serious health implications on women.
“It is on record that a woman or girl could die in the process especially because little or nothing was done medically to control the pain or loss of blood and sharing of the tools without proper sterilisation transfer diseases from one person to another,” she said.
She called on traditional leaders to talk about the issue at all social gatherings to attract public attention.
She advised religious institutions to be actively involved in the education at places such as churches and mosques to encourage behavioural change.
Nana Ogyedom Tsetsewa I also advocated for frequent public education by the Ministry for Gender Children and Social Protection, (MGCSP) National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and not treat it as a once in a while event.
“Perpetrators of the act must also be severely punished to serve as a deterrent to others and also handsome rewards given to members of the public who expose the activities of such persons “ she recommended.
She said it was sad that the act was mostly carried out by women and so called on all women to learn to love themselves and also protect one another.
From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Tema.
General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Kodua Frimpong, has filed his nomination to contest the position of General Secretary again as the party begins its rebuilding efforts ahead of the 2028 general elections.
He was accompanied by party stalwarts and supporters who were in high spirits, expressing confidence that he is the right person to hold the position.
Speaking after filing his nomination, Mr Kodua Frimpong assured the rank and file of the party that he would not disappoint them.
“I can assure you that the faith the rank and file of the party have had in me, I will never disappoint them,” he said.
He also pledged to run a clean campaign devoid of personal attacks.
“I can assure you that our internal campaign will be devoid of personal attacks,” he told his fellow contestants and the rank and file of the party as he seeks to retain his position.
His tenure has seen the party through the 2024 general elections, where the NPP lost power to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) after eight years in government.
The party is currently in a rebuilding phase, with internal elections scheduled to elect new national executives to lead its reorganization towards the 2028 polls.
The General Secretary position is considered one of the most influential in the party’s administrative structure, responsible for the day-to-day running of the party secretariat and implementation of party decisions.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) has disputed claims made on social media by comedian Michael Blackson concerning the treatment given to his late mother, saying a review found that the allegations did not accurately reflect what happened during her stay at the hospital.
In a statement issued in Accra on August 5, 2026, the management of UGMC expressed condolences to Mr. Blackson and his family over the death of his 83-year-old mother, who died at the facility on July 16, 2026.
The hospital said it had taken the concerns raised by Mr. Blackson seriously and conducted a thorough review in line with its clinical and administrative procedures.
According to the statement, the facts presented by Mr. Blackson on social media contained “numerous inaccuracies” and did not accurately reflect the medical care provided to his mother.
UGMC explained that she was referred to the facility from another hospital and received treatment there from May 27 to July 16, 2026, a period of about eight weeks.
The hospital stated that it would not release details of her diagnosis, treatment, medical records or other aspects of her care because it had a duty to protect patient confidentiality, even after death.
It said the decision was intended to respect the dignity of the deceased and the privacy of her family.
UGMC further stated that all clinical decisions at the facility are made by qualified healthcare professionals based on medical judgment, established standards of care and the best interests of the patient.
The statement added that such decisions are made in consultation with authorised family representatives where necessary and that billing and financial procedures are governed by institutional policies and are separate from clinical decision-making.
The hospital noted that it values feedback from patients and their families and considers both positive and negative comments important for improving the quality of care.
Mr. Blackson had earlier used social media to criticise the care his mother received at UGMC, prompting the hospital’s response.
By: Jacob Aggrey
