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Be flexible in dealing with state institutions …NTC MD tells SSNIT

• Mr. Martin Adu Owusu [fourth from right], Mr. Lord Koramoa [sixth from left], with SSNIT delegation and NTC management after the meeting. Photo Lizzy Okai.

The Managing Director of the New Times Corporation (NTC), publishers of the Ghanaian Times and The Spectator newspapers, Mr. Martin Adu Owusu has asked the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to be flexible in its dealings with government institutions.

According to him, it was important SSNIT takes a second look at its dealings with these agencies, regarding the imposition of penalties for late payment of contributions.

Mr Adu Owusu said this on Wednesday when he received a delegation from SSNIT on a familiarisation visit.

“There are times our contributions delay and we are penalised heavily, even taken to court. But we are all government institutions, so I think there should be some understanding,” he said.

That notwithstanding, Mr Adu Owusu gave the assurance that the Corporation was ready to deepen its partnership with the Trust for the benefit of Mother Ghana.”

Mr. Lord Koramoa, Public Affairs Manager of SSNIT who led the delegation disclosed that the Trust was beginning to build stronger partnerships with government institutions, especially the media.

Such collaborations, he explained, were necessary because the institutions served the same national goals and work towards a common agenda.

According to him, government institutions like the NTC plays a crucial role in creating public awareness, adding that such partnerships would go a long way to propagate activities of the Trust.

“I believe in building solid relationships with organisations like the NTC. It’s a win-win situation, it’s a win for the institutions and by extension the government,” Mr Koramoa said.

He said such a partnership should go beyond the promotion of the national pension scheme to other areas of mutual benefit.

The Editor of The Spectator, Mrs Georgina Naa-Maku Quaittoo, assured the officials of SSNIT of The Spectator’s readiness to collaborate with them to educate the public on issues relating to pensions, updating of records for beneficiaries among others.

“We hope that officials of SSNIT would be ready to release information on time whenever they are contacted,” she said.

The Acting Editor of the Ghanaian Times, Alhaji Salifu Abdul-Rahaman, advised the SSNIT officials to sustain the campaign to ensure that journalists remain informed to correctly inform the public.

The Deputy Manager of Public Affairs at SSNIT, Ms Jemimah Ofori said the Trust has chalked some feats in its service delivery with the use of digital platforms to make pension contributions and benefit claims faster and easier.

“Our SSNIT App, website, and MoMo payment system now allow self-employed persons and employers to pay contributions conveniently, processing of claims has also improved significantly. Some people even receive payments in less than a month,” she said.

By Andrew Nortey

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Prioritise affordable treatment of sickle cell treatment —Health Expert

Dr Lawrence Osei-Tutu

Health experts have urged Ghana to prioritise affordable and accessible treatment for sickle cell disease (SCD) as advanced, but costly curative therapies remain out of reach.

SCD, an inherited blood disorder, affects about three in every 100 newborns in Ghana.

Globally, around 1,000 babies are born with the condition daily, with three-quarters in sub-Saharan Africa.

The disease causes severe complications including chronic pain, anaemia, infections, strokes and organ damage, often leading to shortened life expectancy.

In recent years, gene therapy has been developed as a potential cure.

However, its cost—running into millions of dollars per patient—makes it financially and technically inaccessible in Ghana.

According to Dr Lawrence Osei-Tutu, a Sickle Cell and Childhood Cancer Expert at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, “the country must instead focus on practical, lower-cost interventions such as hydroxyurea”, a decades-old cancer drug proven to reduce painful episodes, hospitalisation and life- threatening complications in SCD patients”.

Taken orally, the medicine improves red blood cell function and is considered safe and effective.

“Hydroxyurea therapy is as good as the cure and a low-hanging fruit to pluck, we must bring a cure to our sickle cell warriors, but do so sustainably.” he urged.

In a chat with The Spectator here, he said to create awareness on the disease, the expert noted that despite its benefits, “hydroxyurea is not widely accessible in Ghana.”

Stressing that, “many patients either cannot afford it or struggle with irregular supply through the health system.”

Moreover, he argued that scaling up access would provide immediate relief while the country builds the infrastructure, trains specialists and secures funding needed to support curative therapies in the future.

With an estimated 15,000 babies born with sickle cell disease annually in Ghana, Dr Osei Tutu cautioned that “failure to improve access to effective treatment will leave many patients vulnerable to preventable complications and early death.”

From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi

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Let’s reintroduce Cultural Studies to complement educational reforms — Tourism Minister

Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, has emphasised the importance of reintroducing Cultural Studies in schools as part of Ghana’s broader educational reform agenda.

She said Cultural Studies would complement existing efforts to reposition Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to promote digital literacy and expand Creative Arts education.

Speaking at the 2025 Homowo Festival of the people of Ningo-Prampram, held on the theme: “Education: The Best Legacy for our Children,” Madam Gomashie said cultural education was critical to national identity and development.

She noted that the festival’s theme aligned with the Government’s vision to transform education in Ghana and encouraged the youth to embrace it not only as a means of personal development but also as a way of preserving traditional values.

These values, including patience, wisdom, and hard work, were at the core of the Homowo celebration, the Minister said.

“Cultural festivals like Homowo are vital instruments for strengthening cultural identity, preserving historical memory, and fostering national unity. Additionally, festivals serve as platforms for educating the youth through storytelling, music, dance, and other traditional practices, while also providing opportunities for community engagement.”

Madam Gomashie highlighted the strong foundation that Ghana’s tourism was built on, which included culture, traditions, and the creative industry, collectively contributing to over GH¢4.8 billion to the economy.

“Festivals give tourists reasons to visit our country. Therefore, with the right infrastructure and the development of all the domains, the sector can do more than what has been recorded,” she added.

Mr Sam Nartey George, the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram and Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, commended the community for their vibrant participation in the festival. He announced plans for the construction of a new nursing training school in Ningo, aimed at expanding access to healthcare education in the area.

Nene Osroagbo Djangmah XII, Paramount Chief of Great Ningo Traditional Area; King Dr Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, Ga Mantse; Nene Tetteh Wakah III, Paramount Chief of the Prampram Traditional Area; Prof. Odaifio Welentsi III, Paramount Chief of the Nungua Traditional Area; Naana Dugbakuwor Dugba II, Paramount Queen Mother of Great Ningo; and Mr. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, Special Envoy on Religion and Inter-Faith Affairs, who represented the Chief of Staff, were among dignitaries at the festival. -GNA