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Be role models to your children – Fathers told
As Ghana prepares to join the rest of the world to celebrate Father’s Day tomorrow, A Minister in charge of the Gateway Temple Assemblies of God (A/G), Sowutuom, Rev. Benjamin I. K. Adaletey, has urged men to embrace fatherhood not just as a biological role, but as a divine and sacred calling.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Spectator in Accra on Tuesday, Rev. Adaletey explained that fatherhood was deeply spiritual and essential to the moral and emotional foundation of families and communities.
“Fatherhood is more than biology; it is a divine function,” he said.
According to him, men who may not have their own children can still serve as spiritual fathers, mentors, and protectors to other children in the community.
Drawing from traditional African values, Rev. Adaletey highlighted the long-standing culture of communal parenting.
“In the African context, we have always valued communal responsibility. A real man steps up to guide, correct, affirm, and protect the younger generation. Whether through mentorship, teaching, counseling, or simply being present; these men embody fatherhood in action,” he emphasised.
He stated that the church especially needs such men, not just teachers, but fathers.
He admonished fathers who feels they have missed the mark that, grace was still available. He said God is the restorer of broken years and fractured relationships.
Moreover, Rev. Adaletey noted that fatherhood was a journey, not a destination and that even great men in Scripture made mistakes, citing David in Bible story for instance who made a mistake and yet was still called a man after God’s heart.
Rev Adaletey, who is also a renowned actor, urged such men not to give up but rather apologise where needed, rebuild where possible and start again in God’s strength.
“Your children don’t need a perfect father, they need a present and repentant one,” he said.
He again urged fathers to reflect God’s nature in their leadership at home, saying “we reflect God’s character when we lead with love, patience, integrity, and truth.”
“As fathers, we must model grace and discipline, mercy and justice. We must listen like God listens, forgive like God forgives, and protect like God protects. In doing so, our children begin to understand who God is, not just from sermons, but from how we live and love daily,” he added.
For those who grew up without a father, Rev. Adaletey said “you may have missed a father’s presence, but you are not fatherless. God Himself steps in as Father to the fatherless (Psalm 68:5). Your past does not define your future. You can rise, you can heal, and you can be the beginning of a new legacy.”
Encouraging practical leadership in the home, Rev. Adaletey indicated that fathers should be role models, especially to their children.
He further underlined that, “let them see you pray, how you treat their mother, hear you admit your wrongs and seek God’s help.
Rev. Adaletey also called on fathers to teach their children to work hard, love God, respect others, and take responsibility, adding that the father’s lifestyle was his greatest lesson to his children.
He also warned about the need for balance between love and discipline, explaining that love without discipline creates chaos; discipline without love breeds resentment.
He stated that a Godly father should discipline with tenderness and love with firmness, saying “just as God disciplines us for our growth, fathers must correct their children in a way that builds them, not breaks them.”
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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Prioritise affordable treatment of sickle cell treatment —Health Expert
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
