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Rev. Prof. Dorothy BEA Akoto, first female Vice President of Trinity Theological Seminary

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• Reverend Professor Dorothy BEA Akoto and her husband Reverend Dr. Johnny Yao Akoto.

Reverend Professor Dorothy BEA Akoto and her husband Reverend Dr. Johnny Yao Akoto.

After over its 80 years of exis­tence, the Trinity Theological Seminary ((TTS) located in Legon in the Greater Accra Region, had its first female Vice President from 2020- 23.

It was a typical example of women breaking the glass ceiling all over the world with Reverend Professor Dorothy BEA Akoto adding up to the number of trailblazers globally. She served for three years in this enviable yet chal­lenging position.

Interestingly, this is a lady who was touted a ‘failure’ and was shunned by many until her rise to the rank of Professor, in TTS, Legon.

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Born at Akuse in the Eastern Re­gion to a former Moderator of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana (EPCG), Very Reverend An­drew Kwami Abutiate and Mrs Jose­phine Afi Wosordoe Adonu Attipoe Abutiate both of blessed memory from Avatime, Biakpa and Anyarko/ Asadame respectively, both in the Volta Region , she has always been determined to make a difference wherever she finds herself with faith in the Lord.

Speaking to The Spectator, Rev. Prof. Akoto the Immediate Past Vice President for the TTS said, it is always good to be the first to do something.

Rev. Prof. Akoto was also the first female Professor Reverend Minister of the EPCG and also the first female to operate a Massey Fergusson Tractor in Ghana in 1973-1975 while she was a student of the Mawuli School, Ho from 1969-1977 – a feat that was featured in Student World Magazine at the time and interviewed on Radio Ghana and on national television.

She is current­ly a Lecturer in Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) Biblical Hebrew Language and Gender Studies at the TTS. She is also the District Pastor of the Adenta District of the EPCG.

She recalled her journey had not been an easy one but ‘with God on my side, through prayer and family’s encour­agement’, she has become a woman many are proud of.

One of her challenges was when she practi­cally became an object of disap­pointment when she married at the age of 22 and had a son after the Upper Sixth form at a time when many class­mates, family mem­bers, teachers, friends and well-wishers expected her to attend university especially having been on national television and excel­ling academically.

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“Some condemned and labelled me a drop-out. When my son was seven months, my husband and I agreed that I entered the university and after that, I became an English teacher and at a point was national trainer of teachers in Primary, Middle, JSS, Secondary school and Teacher Training College in Ghana,” she disclosed.

Determined to achieve greater heights, she continued schooling and had three other children within the period.

The Reverend Minister described that period of her life as a time of fulfilment as “many who saw me as a failure, often advise their own daugh­ters to follow my example.”

She had her basic education in various E.P Primary Schools in vari­ous places due to the nature of her father’s itinerant Pastoral Ministry and her mother, a Home Economics Teach­er namely with E.P Primary School in Akpafu, Todzi.

She also went to the Ho Interna­tional School, SNAPS Kindergarten School in Accra, John F. K Memorial Preparatory School, Accra, St. John’s Preparatory School on Mile Seven, Nsawam Road.

She proceeded to the Mawuli School, in the Volta Region for the General Certificate Examination- GCE ‘O’ Level and GCE ‘A’ Level and then to the Cape Coast University Institute of Education ATTC, Winneba, where she graduated with a Diploma in English.

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The Immediate Past Vice President for the TTS also attended the Johnson C. Smith Seminary of the Interdenom­inational Theological Center (JCSS of ITC), USA and graduated with a Dual Degree, Master of Divinity (MDiv) and Master of Arts in Christian Education (MACE), and to the Emory University Candler School of Theology (EU, CST) for a Master of Theology (ThM).

She further went to the Union-Presby­terian School of Christian Education (UNION-PSCE), also in the USA where she graduated with a Master of Theol­ogy (ThM).

Determined to add more value to herself, she proceeded to the Chica­go Theological Seminary (CTS), and graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Hebrew Bible, Culture and Hermeneutics.

She is married to Reverend Dr. Johnny Yao Akoto, a retired Reverend Minister of the E.P Church, Ghana and Retired Reverend Minister of the Norvisi-Friendship Presbyterian Church in the USA.

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They have four biological children, several other children and four grand­children.

She advises the youth to make the fear of God their priority, always read the Bible and pray in order to make their ways pure.

“They should also eschew pride, envy, animosity, dishonesty, get-rich-quick syndrome, emigration for greener pastures, laziness and peer pressure to commit immoral acts.”

She also advised women who marry early to continue to pursue their dreams.

Reverend Professor Akoto is also an author and some of her books include, ‘Lord, Teach Us to Pray,’ ‘Proverbs and the African Tree of Life,’ ‘Grafting Proverbs 25-29 onto Ewe Proverbs,’ and ‘African Theology/ies.’

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She also published numerous arti­cles in Books, Journals and Academic Resources in various parts of Africa, Asia, USA and Europe.

A few of her articles are “The Mother and First Born Daughter of the Ewe People as a Good Shepherd,” “Women and Health and the Trokosi Practice,” “An Issue of Women’s and Children’s Health” and “Marriage in the Bible and the Traditional Kusa­korkor Marriage Ceremony among the Avatime People of Central Volta.”

From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Tema

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Justin Kodua Frimpong files nomination to seek re-election as NPP General Secretary

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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.

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“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.

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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

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UGMC disputes Michael Blackson’s claims over late mother’s treatment

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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.

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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.

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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

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