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Betrayed by their skin: The sad story of albinos in Ghana
In many Ghanaian communities, persons with albinism often face a multitude of challenges that originate from myths, discrimination, misconceptions, and societal prejudices.
In spite of many efforts and awareness to ensure that individuals with albinism are not discriminated against, albinos in many parts of the country are still confronted with many hurdles that hinder their social integration as well as their access to essential resources.
Albinism is a unique genetic condition characterised by a lack of melanin pigment in the skin, hair, and eyes, which subjects affected persons to heightened vulnerability due to their appearance.
This condition often leads to stigmatisation and marginalisation within many communities, particularly in the rural areas.
Sadly, due to the heightened superstitious beliefs prevalent in many Ghanaian communities, many people tend to associate albinism with unfounded myths and misconceptions, including curses, hence further isolating these individuals.
One of the most pressing challenges faced by albinos in Ghana is their increased risk of getting skin cancer due to the absence of melanin, making sun protection a critical necessity.
However, access to protective measures such as sun creams and protective clothing remains limited, exacerbating their health risks.
Education also becomes a battleground for many persons with albinism in Ghana.
This is because prejudices and social biases often result in their exclusion from educational opportunities, denying them the chance to reach their full potential.
Similarly, bullying and ridicule in schools perpetuate feelings of isolation and low self-esteem among these individuals, impacting their academic progress and mental well-being.
Employment opportunities for Ghanaians with albinism are constrained by biases and misconceptions about their capabilities. This type of discrimination against albinos in workplaces impact their morale negatively, hence limiting their economic empowerment and social inclusion.
It must be mentioned that despite commendable strides made towards advocating for the rights and welfare of people with albinism in Ghana by the government and civil society organisations, including advocacy groups, many albinos in Ghana still live in fear in some communities.
Even though Article 17(2) of the 1992 Constitution states that “a person shall not be discriminated against on grounds of gender, race, colour, ethnic origin, religion, creed or economic status” some albinos have claimed that they had been prevented from either entering or living in some communities in Ghana.
Adam Abdul-Wahab, President of the Ghana Association of Persons with Albinism (GAPA), is one of the albinos who has confirmed this allegation.
GAPA is an advocacy group made up of persons living with albinism.
According to him, he had received complaints from many of his members from different parts of the country on the issue—being denied access to some communities.
He mentioned that some parts of the Brong Ahafo and Eastern Regions.
Additionally, he mentioned Akwamufie in the Eastern region as some of the areas albinos find unsafe to live.
For Abdul-Wahab, albinos are not permitted to live in these mentioned areas, citing an instance in which he, together with some members of their association, after receiving complaints from their members in Akwamufie on the same issue went to follow up on the incident but were also denied entry into the community.
According to him, children born albinos at Akwamufie are banished at birth from the community, explaining that such children are usually considered cursed to the community.
He said such myths and beliefs put the lives of persons with albinism in such communities at constant risk, leaving them in endless fear.
This, Abdul-Wahab said, was due to the lack of understanding as well as deeply rooted superstitions and cultural beliefs surrounding the condition.
Akwamufie incident
The Apenkwahene of the Akwamu Traditional Area in the Asougyaman District, Nana Ansah Brempong V in an interview, debunked the allegations that people with albinism are not permitted to live or enter the communities in the area.
He said the claims by the GAPA that albinos feel unsafe to enter or live in the Akwamufie area cannot be true as many albinos still live safely in the area.
He said Akwamufie is a culturally diverse area that does not discriminate against people based on their skin colour or race, including albinos.
Nana Ansah Brempong V has, therefore, challenged the GAPA to call out the chief who resisted them from entering the traditional area, adding that the Akwamus were loving and law abiding citizens of the country.
Buttressing his point that the Akwamufie is not a death zone for people with albinism, he said, “I had a school mate at Akwamuman Secondary School named Sogli who was an albino. No one discriminated against him.
He even had many school children always coming around him because he had a playful nature.”
Nana Ansah Brempong, however, pledged to investigate the matter, casting doubt over the authenticity of such claims in the Asuogyaman district of the Eastern Region.
The Regent of Ekumfi Bogyano in the Central region as well as the Ebusuapayin of Amoana family in the same community all said the area had no custom that bars people living with albinism to live in the community.
“We have many albinos living in many communities in Ekumfi. It is not their fault to be born albinos so why should we make life uncomfortable for them to live,” Opanyin Kobena Sam, a Unit Committee Member explained.
Cultural misconception
For the President of the Ghana Association of Persons with Albinism, some people still hold on to misconceptions that people with albinism possess some magical or supernatural powers, hence making them (albinos) a target for ritualists.
“In some cultures, people with albinism are believed to possess magical or supernatural powers, which can lead to harmful actions like kidnapping, mutilation, or even murder for the purpose of using their body parts in rituals,” he explained.
This brutal practice, known as “albino hunting,” Abdul-Wahab noted, is driven by a range of factors, including ignorance, myths, and deeply ingrained cultural beliefs.”
He said a study his outfit—GAPA, conducted on albino hunting in 2019 confirmed the incident, pointing out that the incidents normally occur in some communities in Eastern and Bono Regions.
“There are some studies conducted by the GAPA in 2019 which actually ascertained the fact that in some communities in the Eastern Region of Ghana and some communities in the Bono East Region, this practice is going on, where Persons with Albinism are banished from the community,” Abdul-Wahab stated.
Citing an incident, the GAPA President, said there was a time that one of their members was killed at Amanase-Boketey near Suhum in the Eastern Region allegedly for ritual purposes by a pastor, adding that the suspected killer was later arrested and prosecuted after constant perseverance.
He said the association had petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) on this issue after their study confirmed the incident.
He, however, expressed the concern that CHRAJ had been slow on the case, calling them to conduct an independent investigation into the issue.
“It (the report) was submitted in 2019 up to now, 2023, we have not heard anything positive from CHRAJ and the only response they give us when we follow up is that they are working on it. I don’t know how long they will work on it but they admitted that whatever studies we did was true and will soon launch a report to that effect,” Abdul-Wahab bemoaned the delay.
Skin Cancer
He said the association continues to promote the rights of persons with albinism in Ghana by educating the public on the various misconceptions against albinos.
Similarly, he noted, GAPA had been creating awareness about the challenges faced by its members.
He noted that since the formation of the association in 2003, it has registered about 2,741 as members.
Abdul-Wahab, therefore, commended “Engage Now Africa”, an NGO for its continued support towards GAPA and its members.
He said Engage Now Africa supports GAPA members with sun creams to avoid developing black spots each time they get exposed to the sun and also with wide-brimmed hats.
He noted that treatment for skin cancer for people living with albinism was expensive, hence appealing to the government to make provision for sun creams and also add skin cancer treatment for albinos to the National Health Insurance scheme.
Abdul-Wahab similarly appealed to other NGOs and philanthropists to come to the aid of people living with albinism, particularly with sun creams and sun glasses.
Skin care/exclusion
Kwame Andrews Daklo, a social worker who focuses on albino advocacy with Engage Now Africa, expressed the opinion that people in Ghana with albinism have been largely isolated from other members of society, hence making it difficult for them to get access to resource to help them to cope with the sun.
According to him, many people, including the government did not see albinism as a disability, a situation he observed, had contributed to the worsening plights of albinos in the country.
He has, therefore, called on the government to include skin cancer treatment and sun creams to the NHIS package for persons living with albinism.
For her part, Dr Angela Ampofo, a dermatologist at Anton Memorial Hospital pointed out that access to skin products, sun creams and dermatologists remained a big challenge for many albinos in the country.
She said the sun increases the chances of albinos developing skin cancers, admonishing them not to walk under the sun without sun creams or protective clothing.
Way forward
The road to inclusivity and equal opportunities for people with albinism in Ghana remains a work in progress.
A concerted effort from the governmental and non-governmental bodies is therefore needed to break down these barriers as well as to eradicate stigma, and create a more inclusive society where individuals with albinism can thrive without prejudice or discrimination.
The reason is that their potential and contributions to Ghana’s rich societal fabric deserve recognition and support as the nation progresses towards true equality and inclusivity for all its citizens.
News
The silent strength of a single father: Augustine Donzuo’s story
The a world that often overlooks the silent burdens men carry, the story of Augustine Santiero Donzuo stands as a powerful reminder of resilience, sacrifice and unspoken struggles of single fatherhood.
As the world celebrates Father’s Day, it’s easy to focus on the traditional image of fatherhood which is provider, protector and a stern loving figure, but beyond these are silent struggles fathers go through especially single fathers.
For the past five years, Augustine has navigated life as a single parent of two children-a boy and a girl on his own while juggling the demands of work, education and emotional survival.
The story of Augustine is not just about parenting, it is about endurance, heartbreak, and an unwavering commitment to his children in the face of overwhelming odds.
He lives and works in Tarkwa in the Western Region, juggling life as a Fire officer, caretaker, and sole emotional support for his children.
His quiet strength is a reminder that fatherhood is not always loud. Sometimes, it’s found in the simple act of staying-when walking away would have been easier.
Augustine’s journey began in January 2010, when he married the woman he loved. Unknown to him at the time, she was already pregnant. Not long after their marriage, he was posted to the Upper West Region following his enlistment into the Ghana National Fire Service.
The distance tested their relationship early on. He tried his best to visit, and eventually brought her to join him. But subtle signs of strain began to show—mostly from his wife’s family. What began as minor disagreements cracked the foundation of their union.
By 2016, after six years of marriage, their relationship collapsed. Augustine was devastated. He had tried to reconcile, visiting her family, calling, sending money, but her responses became cold, distant, and final. “One day she told me, ‘I will never come today, I will never come tomorrow. I am not even bringing your children,” he recalls.
Despite the pain, he continued sending money for their upkeep. “I did it for my children,” he says. “Even when love is gone, responsibility remains.”
In 2017, Augustine’s ex-wife filed a complaint at Legal Aid, claiming neglect. But when questioned, her story shifted, first to abandonment, then to demanding more money. The panel quickly sensed the inconsistencies. Augustine explained how he had continued to support her, even buying food and supplies for her business which included loans he was still paying.
“What hurt me most was the dishonesty,” he says. “She told her family things I never said. At some point, I realised she didn’t want reconciliation, she wanted to cut ties, but with benefits.”
She requested GH¢700 monthly in support, a sum he said was impossible given his salary and loans. “Even after separation, I was paying school fees, buying clothes, sending money. If I wanted to walk away, I wouldn’t have spent a dime.”
Then, in 2018, came a moment that would change everything. One evening, his ex-wife returned the children, unexpectedly and without agreement. Accompanied by her father, she dropped them off, leaving Augustine to become a full-time single parent overnight.
“The girl was nine, the boy six. They didn’t say much. They just stood there, confused. I had to become everything for them, father, mother, friend, protector,” Augustine said.
What followed were years of sacrifice and solitude. Without nearby relatives or a strong support system, he had to rely entirely on himself.
He would leave work and rush home to cook, help with homework, do laundry, and nurse fevers. “I lost a lot,” he admits. “Friends, freedom, even parts of myself.” And yet, he never gave up.
Raising children is never easy, but doing it alone, while still carrying the weight of betrayal and financial hardship which left scars. Augustine recounts the long nights, praying his children would grow up healthy and happy despite the absence of their mother.
His daughter, now 15 and in SHS, has grown quieter. “There are days I just sit and cry,” he says. “When my daughter asks, I say ‘nothing.’ then she says, I see tears flowing, I will still say it’s nothing.
Augustine said there were moments he had considered giving up. “I had thoughts,” he confesses. “When life felt too heavy. When no one checked on me. “I understood why some people commit suicide,” he said.
But then I remembered I have two lives depending on me, if I am gone, who will take care of them?” That question has kept him going, one day at a time.
Today, Augustine’s children are thriving. His daughter is doing well in school, and his son has grown into a thoughtful, cheerful boy. But their success has come at a cost, paid for with sleepless nights, missed opportunities, and invisible emotional wounds.
“I don’t want pity,” he says. “I just want people to understand what fathers feel too. We cry, we break, but we don’t always show it,” he added.
This Father’s Day, Augustine’s journey reminds the world of the quiet fathers, who are often unseen and seldom celebrated.
They are the ones redefining fatherhood in Ghana and beyond, embodying responsibility, patience, and love in the most demanding circumstances.
For Augustine, he would not wish this life for his worst enemy,” but for him, there is purpose, “I will keep going because they need me, and that’s enough.”
Currently in Ghana, Father’s Day is gradually evolving with traditions often marked by cards, media tributes, and public applause, which reflects a growing appreciation of paternal sacrifice.
News
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
