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 Don’t consider sex as unholy …Couples advised

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• Mrs Gifty Debrah

 The National Women’s Leader of the Full Gospel Church Inter­national, Mrs Gifty Debrah, has asked Christians, especially married couples not to consider sex as an un­holy, or shameful act.

According to her, sex was a sacred gift from God designed for pleasure, intimacy and bonding within the mari­tal covenant.

Mrs Debrah made the assertion when she addressed this year’s Annual Women’s Retreat of the Full Gospel Church International (FGCI) (Virtuous Ladies) at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC) at Gomoa Fetteh in the Central Region last week.

The four-day retreat themed: ‘Women in Christ-Vital for Church Growth,’ was attended by Virtuous Ladies across the country.

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Mrs Debrah explained that although many people were with the percep­tion that sex was dirty, unholy or shameful, but it was a gift from God, designed for, intimacy which bonds married couples together.

She, therefore, urged Christians, especially married couples to ignore such societal opinions about sex, cit­ing I Corinthians 7:2-4 to buttress her statement.

“Ignorance and societal misconcep­tions have left many believers with distorted views of sex, but the bible has provided clear guidance as holy and a powerful tool that strengthens marital unity,” she unerlined.

Again, Mrs Debrah spoke about the myths, physiological differences, and the importance of mutual understand­ing, foreplay and emotional connec­tion in building a healthy marital relationship, and stronger families which in turn reflect positively in church growth.

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The guest speaker, who is an Associ­ate Pastor of Cedar Mountain Chapel of the Assemblies of God Church, Rev. Mawuli Benson, taught the women the mercy of God and said it was the greatest protection which extend to generations for the children of God.

He advised the women to always be Christ centred in order to reach out to others.

The President of the Full Gospel Church International (FGCI), Bishop Godwin Dela Fiagome, stated that the battles of believers were usually won by prayers, adding that maturity in Christ secures victory.

He, therefore, stressed the need for Christians to pursue spiritual growth.

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Other speakers included, Mrs Cyn­thia Fiagome, Rev. Dr Fred Arhin,

Rev. James Debrah, Prophet Prince Elisha Osei and Rev. Henrietta Agorhome.

 By Linda Abrefi Wadie

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Abu Trica’s extradition case: Prophets, fetish priests demand pay for spiritual solution …Lawyer reveals

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Abu Trica
Abu Trica

Mr Oliver Barker-Vormawor, a lawyer for embattled Frederick Kumi, affectionately called Abu Trica and has made a shocking revelation over the behaviour of some members of the clergy.

According to him in a post on social media, the difficult part of Abu Trica’s trial is not the law but the number of ‘Men of God’ and fetish priests demanding financial sacrifices to help resolve the matter spiritually.

Oliver Barker-Vormawor posted on Tuesday, April 22, 2026, “The most difficult part about the Abu Trica case; is not the law.”

He continued: “It is the number of, prophetesses, evangelists and fetish priests, who have called or messaged to ask us to pay for spiritual solutions.”

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It would be recalled that in March this year, the Gbese District Court dismissed a preliminary objection filed by Abu Trica, challenging the extradition proceedings initiated at the request of the United States.

The court, presided over by Anna Akosua Appiah Gottfried Anaafi Gyasi, in its ruling held that the offences forming the basis of the extradition, particularly wire fraud, constitute extraditable offences under the 1931 treaty between Ghana and the United States.

He was then given 15 days counting from March 27 to appeal the decision of the court or be surrendered for extradition to the US.

Against this backdrop, he was on Tuesday, April 22, granted a bail in the sum of GH¢30,000,000 by an Accra High, pending the appeal of his extradition 

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Mr Kumi was arrested in Ghana in December 2025 following an indictment by United States authorities, alleging that he played a role in a romance scam network that defrauded elderly American victims of more than $8 million.

By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme

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From panic to pass: how parents, teachers can help children beat BECE, WASSCE exam phobia- Part 1

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Some BECE candidates writing their final exams
Some BECE candidates writing their final exams

Walk through any Junior High or Senior High compound in Ghana as BECE or WASSCE approaches and you will see it.

A bright girl suddenly quiet. A boy who led class debates now sleeping at his desk. A Form three student with stomach pains every Monday morning.

 This is not laziness. This is academic stress. When left unaddressed, it hardens into exam phobia-overwhelming dread that pushes children into burnout, avoidance, and sometimes silence. 

As a mental health professional who sits with these children and their parents at Counselor Prince & Associates Consult (CPAC) in Adenta Oyarifa-Teiman, I see the pattern clearly.

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Research confirms it. Putwain and Daly (2014) found that high test anxiety predicts lower grades independent of ability. Zeidner (1998) showed that chronic academic pressure raises cortisol, weakens memory recall, and increases school dropout risk. The brain under fear cannot retrieve what it studied. 

Understanding the storm: What academic stress really looks like

Exam phobia is not just “being nervous.” It shows up as headaches before mocks, sudden anger when books are mentioned, night-time insomnia, or perfectionism that ends in blank scripts.

Some children over-study until 2 a.m. and forget everything by 9 a.m. Others avoid books completely, scrolling phones instead. Both are distress signals. Dr Kenneth Ginsburg, a paediatrician specialising in adolescent resilience, notes: “Stress is not the enemy; feeling alone with stress is.” Too many Ghanaian children feel alone with it. 

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The home front: How parents and couples become safe havens, not extra pressure 

The first antidote is at home. Structure beats shouting. Set a predictable study slot-same time, same place, with water and a light snack. Then protect sleep like you protect school fees. A tired brain fails faster than an unprepared one. Use the “15-minute start rule”: “Just sit for 15 minutes. If you still can’t, we close and try after a walk.” Often, starting is the hardest part. 

Couples must watch their language. “Don’t disgrace us” plants fear. Replace it with “We see your effort. What part feels hardest today?” Praise process, not only position: “You revised three topics and asked for help—that is maturity.” Research by Dweck (2006) confirms that process praise builds resilience while outcome praise increases anxiety. 

For caregivers, check your own anxiety. Children borrow our nervous system. If BECE makes you panic, they will panic. One parent grounds—keeps meals, prayer, and bedtime steady. The other pivots—talks to teachers, adjusts timetables, arranges counselling. Both protect rest. An empty cup cannot pour calm. 

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Resources

– Counsellor Prince & Associates Consult (CPAC): Award-winning Clinical Mental Health and Counselling Facility, accredited by the Ghana Psychology Council. 

– School-Based Support: Speak to Guidance & Counselling units, or licensed school counsellors.  E.g. Counsellor Blessing Offei – 0559850604 (School Counsellor).

– Contact CPAC for Parent Coaching/Counselling & Student Therapy: 055 985 0604 / 055 142 8486 

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