News
Know sickle cell status before marriage
Marriage decisions can be the key to reducing Ghana’s alarming sickle cell disease rates, according to Professor Alex Osei Akoto, Principal Investigator of the Patient-centred Approaches to Care and Treatment of Sickle Cell Disease (PACTS) in sub-Saharan Africa.
He has, therefore, urged the youth to strive to know their sickle cell status before getting married, given the fact that 2 per cent of all newborns in Ghana are diagnosed with sickle cell disease.
“When two individuals with the sickle cell trait (AS) marry, they face a 25 per cent chance of having a child with the full disease (SS) with each pregnancy. When people are aware of their status, they can make informed decisions about their partners. This isn’t about restricting people’s choices but empowering them with knowledge that can affect generations to come,” Prof. Akoto explained.
He spoke to The Spectator during a stakeholder meeting to discuss a study conducted across six hospitals in the Kumasi metropolitan area on how best to treat and manage the disease.
Prof. Akoto noted that people in sub-Saharan Africa were the largest carriers of the disease as “the gene emanates from black Africa.”
But early detection, he stressed, was key for interventions and reiterated the call for all to know their status.
Prof. Akoto urged clinicians to stick to protocols in the treatment of the disease, stressing the importance “to adhere strictly to established guidelines to ensure optimal care for sickle cell patients.”
The study conducted at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), KNUST, Manhyia, Asokwa, Kumasi South, and Kumasi Metro Hospitals, found that some clinicians were not following standard care protocol.
Dr Lawrence Osei-Tutu, a pediatrician and specialist in sickle cell treatment associated with the project, highlighted their innovative approach.
“We are using a unique approach of harnessing the involvement of both patients, families, community, and clinicians to look at how best to treat and manage the disease,” said Dr Osei-Tutu.
He further indicated that one of the most promising developments during the study involved pharmaceutical adaptations for younger patients/children.
Dr Osei-Tutu also emphasised that the interventions depended critically on early detection. Without timely diagnosis, even the most innovative treatments lose much of their efficacy.
“We’re trying to improve the lives of patients by improving what we do at the hospitals. This improvement extends beyond medical procedures to encompass family support systems, community awareness, and patient education,” explained Dr Osei-Tutu.
The project recently brought together key stakeholders from across the healthcare spectrum to deliberate on optimising treatment protocols.
This collaborative approach represents a shift in how genetic diseases are managed in Ghana, moving from a purely medical model to a more integrated social-medical framework.
Despite these promising developments, significant challenges remain in Ghana’s fight against sickle cell disease.
Limited resources, geographical barriers to healthcare access, stigmatisation, and low awareness continue to hamper efforts to reduce the disease burden.
As Ghana continues to address the high prevalence of sickle cell disease, experts emphasised that knowledge remains the most powerful tool in this fight.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
News
Sammy Awuku urges Fourth Estate to follow GJA Code of Ethics when holding duty bearers accountable
The Member of Parliament for Akuapem North, Samuel Awuku, has called on the Fourth Estate to strictly adhere to the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Code of Ethics when reporting on public officials and state institutions.
In a statement issued on 25 September 2025, Mr Awuku said a recent publication by the Fourth Estate about the National Lottery Authority’s (NLA) Good Causes Foundation misrepresented facts about projects undertaken during his time as Director-General.
According to him, the article created the impression that funds meant for the underprivileged were diverted to “glamorous events and questionable enterprises” but ignored many life-saving projects, donations and community interventions funded by the Foundation.
He reminded journalists that Article 1 of the GJA Code of Ethics obliges them to provide factual, balanced and accurate information to the public and to cross-check their facts before publication. “For journalists of the Fourth Estate’s calibre who pride themselves in working in the public interest, it is only appropriate that their publications are factual and not misleading,” he stated.
Mr Awuku explained that the NLA Good Causes Foundation was established in October 2021 to rebrand the Authority’s corporate social responsibility arm and focus on health, education, youth and sports development, and arts and culture.
He said that during his tenure the Foundation built 20-seater toilet facilities with mechanised boreholes in several communities, funded surgery for a baby with spinal bifida, donated incubators and medical supplies to hospitals, constructed a smart laboratory for the Borstal Institute, provided scholarships to needy students, and supported football clubs and cultural festivals, among other projects.
Mr Awuku added that the Foundation was funded through the Caritas Lottery Platform, which generated about GHS11 million between October 2021 and December 2024 after its relaunch.
He dismissed claims that the Authority spent heavily on awards and luxury events, explaining that sponsorships accounted for only about five per cent of expenditure and were intended to attract corporate stakeholders and raise revenue. He also said many award nominations were turned down and that any awards received were not “bought” but recognised the work of his management and staff.
The MP expressed concern about the publication of the names of NLA staff and other beneficiaries, including patients, saying this violated their privacy.
Mr Awuku concluded that he served with integrity and helped turn the NLA’s losses into profits and urged the Fourth Estate and other media houses to present a full and balanced picture when holding duty bearers accountable.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Businessman Richard A. Jakpa has petitioned the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service.
He is accusing former Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame of trying to get him to give false evidence in court.
In his petition dated July 23, 2025, Mr. Jakpa said he is the third accused person in an ongoing trial involving former Deputy Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
According to Mr. Jakpa, Mr. Dame contacted him after the prosecution closed its case and allegedly urged him to cooperate and testify in a way that would implicate Dr. Forson.
He further alleged that on March 26, 2024, Mr. Dame called him and suggested how he should answer questions about Letters of Credit during cross-examination, and even advised him to seek a false medical excuse to delay proceedings.
This, Mr. Jakpa mentioned, he refused to do so.
The businessman is asking the CID to investigate what he describes as an attempt to fabricate evidence and undermine the court process.
The former Attorney-General has not yet publicly responded to the allegations.
By: Jacob Aggrey
