News
Seek medical rather than spiritual care for children with signs of disability
Parents and family members have been cautioned against the practice of consulting spiritualists instead of Specialists when they see signs of disability in their children.
A 42-year-old deaf student of the GH Media School, Miss Nukunu Akusika Deku said swift medical attention could save such children from permanently becoming disabled.
In an interview with The Spectator through a questionnaire, she blamed the society for making many children disabled because some parents had spent much time seeking spiritual attention rather than medical attention.
Ms Deku said some conditions needed either surgery, physiotherapy, one form of treatment or guidance to correct the defect but some parents instead devoted their time and money moving from one place to the other seeking spiritual help and came to the hospital as the last resort when the situation had worsened.
She disclosed that she was not born deaf but at the age of two, she fell and in the process hit her forehead on the floor resulting in her deafness.
She was of the opinion that if her parents had concentrated much in getting her the needed specialist attention, she could have escaped her current disability, “even though my family tried hard for me”.
The GH Media student said she was not against seeking spiritual help but medical attention was equally key because God could send the solution through the doctors.
“We also deserve love and care because it is not a choice we made. Disability could also happen to anybody regardless of age, sex or status in society,” she emphasised.
She said empowerment of disabled children was critical because it made them confident and as well gave them the opportunity to also contribute their quota to society.
Ms Deku was of the view that the society would rob itself of talents if disabled persons were discarded because they also had what it takes to help in the development of their communities.
From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Tema.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has amended the charges in the ongoing case against former National Petroleum Authority (NPA) Chief Executive, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, and nine others.
The number of counts has risen from 25 to 54 after investigators uncovered new evidence.
The accused are facing trial for alleged large-scale extortion, abuse of public office, and money laundering involving over GH¢291 million and US$332,000.
According to the OSP, the accused persons allegedly extorted huge sums of money from bulk oil transporters and oil marketing companies under the pretext of carrying out official duties.
The proceeds were reportedly laundered through the purchase of properties and investments in business entities to conceal their source.
The accused persons include Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, Jacob Kwamina Amuah, Wendy Newman, Albert Ankrah, Isaac Mensah, Bright Bediako-Mensah, Kwaku Aboagye Acquaah, Propnest Limited, Kel Logistics Limited, and Kings Energy Limited.
The OSP has also seized and frozen several assets, including tanker trucks, fuel stations, houses, apartments, and parcels of land valued at more than GH¢100 million pending the outcome of the trial.
The case, titled The Republic v. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid & 9 Others (Cr/0603/2025), is currently being heard at the Accra High Court.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The National Operations Directorate (NOD) Surveillance Unit, of the Ghana Police Service has arrested a 32-year-old man, Akoto Nelson, for posing as a police officer during a public event at the Black Star Square in Accra.
The suspect was arrested on Sunday, 19th October 2025, by a team of officers deployed to provide security at a musical concert. The team observed the suspect dressed in a police uniform with the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) behaving suspiciously. Upon interrogation, he admitted that he was not a police officer.
Investigations revealed that the suspect impersonated a police officer to gain free entry to the event, claiming he did not have money to pay the entry fee. He further disclosed that the uniform belonged to a deceased Chief Inspector, identified as Gyasi, from whom he obtained the police accoutrements in 2022.
A subsequent search conducted at his residence in Taifa-Ashaiman uncovered several items that were retained as exhibits. These include one toy P99 pistol, one pepper spray, two ZTE mini handsets, one pepper spray pouch, one ZTE charger, one Xinfa cutter knife, some complimentary cards, one voter ID in the name of Akoto Nelson Elikem, and one birth certificate in the name of Nelson Akoto.
Preliminary investigations further established that the suspect works as a security guard and a messenger at a private company. He remains in police custody and will be put before the court.
