News
‘Amputations due to diabetes not end of life’
More education and sensitisation on the management of diabetes must be carried out to put the minds of patients at rest, especially for those who may need or suffer amputation along the line, an advocate has said.
Mr Camillus Maalneriba Tia Sakzeesi, a diabetic patient, who made the call, indicated that some patients get so worried and refuse amputation for fear of the unknown and how to cope with the situation.
Mr Sakzeesi, who lost his right leg to diabetes, encouraged other patients who suffer the same fate not to see their situation as the end of the world, but rather psych themselves and make the best out of life.
Sharing his experience with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Mr Sakzeesi said being amputated was not the issue, but how to manage the aftermath was what affects most victims.
He said initially when he was told about the amputation, he was alarmed and became worried, saying, “Initially, I felt alarmed because I had no trace, and all of a sudden, I was diagnosed, and amputation was the only solution.”
He added that he started psyching himself that anything could happen, and resorted to reading a lot of materials on the condition, making him well-informed and prepared for what was ahead after the amputation.
Mr Sakzeesi stated that “my amputation did not change much in my life. Sometimes, for fear of friends and relations abandoning the patient after amputation, most patients go into psychological distress when they’re informed about amputation.”
He encouraged families and friends to provide the needed support to such patients, while calling on health practitioners to give diabetic patients scheduled for amputation, proper counselling before and after to be able to cope with their new life.
He commended his family and friends for their support, indicating that without them he would not have been able to live a normal life after the amputation.
Mr Sakzeesi, a member of the Ghana China Friendship Association, commended a Chinese lawyer who made it possible for him to get care and an amputation, adding that he, together with the association, also ensured that he had a prosthetic leg to aid in his movement. —GNA
Member of Parliament for Kpandai constituency, Matthew Nyindam, has argued that he would have defeated the National Democratic Congress candidate if a rerun election had been held, insisting that his loss was a battle against the power of the state rather than a fair contest.
Nyindam explained that his legal challenge to the 2024 parliamentary election was based on irregularities in four polling stations.
He noted that his team expected the court to address those specific concerns, not to order a fresh election across the entire constituency.
According to him, the decision to rerun the election confirmed what he described as a long standing pattern of unfair conduct by the NDC in Kpandai.
He added that he anticipated the chance to appeal the ruling but was surprised when Parliament later declared his seat vacant.
Nyindam stressed that the declaration of the seat left him feeling unfairly treated.
He maintained that he won the election clearly and believed the process that followed was aimed at removing him from Parliament prematurely.
He further stated that the situation turned into a contest between himself and the state.
He explained that running against the full weight of government made the election difficult, as ministers, MPs, chief executives and other officials were actively involved in campaigning, with resources flowing into the constituency.
Despite these challenges, Nyindam expressed confidence in his political strength, stating that under normal circumstances he would have beaten his opponent comfortably.
He added that he ultimately left the outcome in the hands of God, believing that destiny would determine whether he returned to Parliament.
Nyindam concluded that although the experience was painful, he believes it will serve a greater purpose in his political journey.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, known as Chairman Wontumi, has admitted that the party did not achieve its desired results in the Ashanti Region during the 2024 general election but maintained that the region remained the party’s strongest support base.
Addressing the media after a post election review, Wontumi said the party quickly set up a regional committee to investigate the reasons for the loss and to propose solutions.
He explained that a subcommittee was tasked to study what went wrong and recommend ways to improve future performance.
According to him, the committee’s report highlighted both the party’s mistakes and areas that need improvement.
He noted that the party has taken lessons from the findings and is ready to make changes.
Wontumi stressed that he learns quickly and is committed to applying the recommendations.
He emphasized that despite not meeting expectations, votes from the Ashanti Region significantly contributed to the party’s overall national performance.
He explained that the region pushed the party to the final figures it recorded in the 2024 election and still produced more votes than any other region.
Wontumi added that a post mortem of the results would show that the Ashanti Region performed better than others, even though the party fell short of its target.
He described the region’s effort as commendable.
He said the party now understands what voters in the Ashanti Region expect and assured them that the NPP will engage them better and work to meet their needs in future elections.
By: Jacob Aggrey
