News
‘Don’t stigmatise childless couples’
After nine years of childlessness and depressing moments, a 40-year-old teacher, Sarfoa Kentimpo is overwhelmed with joy as she no longer suffers stigmatisation but is now a proud mother sharing her experiences with others.
Sharing the good, bad and ugly about the period of trying to conceive, with The Spectator she said that what she had desired and prayed about for so many years had finally come to pass after two miscarriages and the loss of a baby a few days after delivery through a caesarean section.
The 40-year-old mother said at a point, she was traumatised and feared whether she could conceive again and also carry it full-term without complications.
She said the stigmatisation was exhausting as some people thought it was her fault and constantly used abusive language on her, especially relatives whom she had expected to sympathise with her.
“At a point it looked like everyone had become a medical person prescribing local and orthodox medicine. Some even brought it and when I did not show interest in using it they said I was not serious. I have been through a lot,” she said with tears in her eyes.
She said she had spent much of her savings and time just to be a mother and nine years felt like eternity but was happy God had been faithful.
Ms Kentimpo encouraged all couples trying to conceive to be prayerful and also seek medical help because both was needed to make the dream of becoming a parent a reality.
She called on spouses to be supportive and avail themselves for medical attention while advising family members to be sensitive during such times.
She also called on spouses to defend their wives during what she described as the most vulnerable moment in their lives and protect them from attacks from in-laws who are not friendly because a good mental health was key to make conception a success.
The 40-year-old mother advised couples, especially the women to identify and engage in activities that made them happy and fulfilled to take their minds off the struggle to conceive.
“As for me, I realised that I got attracted to children so I spent more time with them and also provided some of their needs,” she disclosed.
From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Tema
News
National Service Authority gets new Director-General
The National Service Authority (NSA) has officially welcomed a new Director-General, Ms. Ruth Dela Seddoh, following a brief handing-over ceremony at its headquarters on Tuesday.
The event marked the formal transfer of leadership from the outgoing Director-General, Mr. Felix Gyamfi, to Ms. Seddoh. Management and staff of the Authority attended the ceremony.
Mr. Gyamfi used the occasion to thank staff for their support during his tenure.
He encouraged them to give the same cooperation to Ms. Seddoh to ensure the continued growth and impact of the Authority.
Ms. Seddoh expressed appreciation to government for the confidence placed in her.
She promised to build on the achievements of her predecessor and called for teamwork, dedication and innovation to help the NSA deliver on its mandate to support national development.
Management of the Authority pledged their full support to the new leadership as the organisation enters its next phase.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
NSA board sets up committee to supervise digital reforms
The Governing Board of the National Service Authority (NSA) has announced the inauguration of a Transition and Implementation Steering Committee (TISC) to oversee the Authority’s digital transformation agenda.
According to the Board, the move follows a letter dated 17 June 2025 from the Office of the President to the Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment directing the suspension of the existing deployment system, calling for an audit of its operations and instructing the design and deployment of a new digital platform.
The Board explained that the audit had been completed and had found the existing system unsatisfactory.
It indicated that the Minister had written to the Board to begin the necessary legal processes to ensure the contract for the audited system, which expired in August 2025, would not be renewed, and to take further steps toward designing and deploying a new digital platform that would guarantee transparency, security and real-time verification of service personnel postings.
It stressed that the TISC had been established to ensure a smooth and orderly transition from the current National Service Scheme digital platform to a new ICT-led system aimed at improving efficiency, transparency and service delivery.
The Authority outlined the Committee’s mandate as overseeing the phased migration from the legacy system, directing the design and deployment of a modern digital platform, and supervising its operationalisation across core functions including personnel enrolment, postings, payroll, allowances and scheme administration.
It further noted that acting under the directives of the Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment and deriving authority from the NSA Board, the TISC has the power to issue instructions to NSA departments and engage external partners necessary to achieve its mandate through the Governing Board.
The Authority named Dr. Wisdom Atiwoto, a member of the NSA Board and Director of Research, Statistics and Information Management at the Ministry of Health, as chair of the Committee.
Other members include Ms. Ruth Dela Seddoh, Mr. Shadrack Mensah, Ms. Elorm Goh, Mr. Benjamin Freeman Kusi, Ms. Jennifer Opong, Dr. Stephan Nwolley, Mr. Koku Abotsi, Mr. Japhet Kuntu, Mr. Nabil Abubakar Hussayn and Ms. Regina Obenewa Penrose as Secretary.
The NSA Board assured the public and stakeholders of its commitment to innovation, accountability and excellence in service delivery.
It emphasised that there would be no disruption in the fulfilment of its obligations to national service personnel as outlined in the National Service Act, Act 1119 (2024), and indicated that updates on the Committee’s progress would be communicated in due course.
With the collective expertise of its members, the TISC is expected to deliver a robust and future-ready platform that will anchor the next phase of the National Service Scheme’s operations.
By: Jacob Aggrey
