News
‘Check up on wards who don’t visit after getting married’
Rev Albert Seth Ocran, the Former General Director
for the Torchbearers Mission Incorporated
A former General Director of the Torchbearers Mission Incorporated (TMI) Rev. Albert Seth Ocran has advised parents to check up on their children, especially daughters, who are unable to visit them after getting married.
TMI is a missionary organisation at Korle Gonno in Accra. “Sometimes even the parents do not visit their children and they always give excuses. When you observe this trend, do not take it for granted because there is usually more to the story” he said.
Rev. Ocran was speaking in an interview with The Spectator on Friday on the need to draw the attention of parents to the subject of controlling behaviours of spouses.
According to him, this issue causes isolation among spouses, family and friends, hence there was the need for parents to be vigilant to address such issues.
He said there were signs to indicate when a spouse was being abused, which include restricting access to financial resources, employment, education or even medical care.
Rev. Ocran said most often when parents of such spouses try to make enquiry about why their children do not visit them, they always give excuses, with the most common one being “I am busy”.
He observed that in some cases, children of such spouses were not spared, as they had to endure the abuse of not being able to get in touch with others.
He said abusers ensure that their victims do not get access to the outside world to communicate their pain with them. “It is even worse when the couple lives abroad or far from their families
From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Tema.
The New Times Corporation (NTC) on Monday held its annual thanksgiving service, bringing together staff and management to reflect on the past year, express gratitude, and renew their commitment to the organisation’s growth.
At the service, the Deputy Chairperson of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) and a Board Member of the New Times Corporation (NTC), Madam Charity Binka, called for strong and intentional collaboration among staff, emphasising that unity and teamwork were crucial to transforming the corporation during its challenging times.
“This is a time to break silos, share ideas and work together as one team with a shared vision,” she said, adding that innovation and digital transformation must be embraced to secure NTC’s future.
Madam Binka expressed gratitude to God for sustaining the corporation and its employees despite financial and operational difficulties.
“Though the journey has not been smooth, God has sustained us. We are here today because of His grace,” she indicated, acknowledging the resilience and dedication of staff who have kept The Ghanaian Times and The Spectator among the country’s most respected newspapers.
Quoting Jeremiah 29:11, she encouraged staff to remain hopeful and confident that brighter days lie ahead.
Delivering the sermon, Rev. John Akorli of Word Divine International Ministry at Sukura, Accra, cautioned staff against excessive talking and gossip, warning that careless speech could create unnecessary problems.
Rev. Akorli further reminded staff that their identity should not be defined by past mistakes, family background, or negative labels.
He encouraged them to live confidently, depend on God’s guidance, and remain focused on their responsibilities, noting that spiritual awareness and discipline were essential to personal and organisational growth.
The service ended with prayers for unity, renewal, and a prosperous new chapter for the New Times Corporation.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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The Catholic Bishop of the Koforidua Diocese, Bishop Joseph Afrifa Agyekum, has expressed concern over the rising rate of divorce in the country, attributing the trend largely to inadequate knowledge about marriage and misplaced expectations of couples.
He said many marriages were collapsing because couples entered into the union without a clear understanding of the responsibilities, sacrifices and commitments that marriage demands.
The Bishop raised the concern while addressing congregants at the 50th anniversary of the Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church at Madina on Sunday.
According to him, marriage was increasingly being viewed through unrealistic lenses shaped by social media, peer pressure and material expectations, rather than mutual respect, patience and shared values.
“Many people go into marriage with expectations that are not grounded in reality. When those expectations are not met, conflict sets in and eventually leads to separation or divorce,” he observed.
The Bishop noted that some couples lacked proper preparation before marriage, adding that pre-marital counselling was often treated as a formality rather than an opportunity to gain deeper insight into marital life.
He stressed the need for churches, families and society to intensify education on marriage, particularly among the youth, to help them make informed decisions before entering into marital unions.
The Bishop also urged married couples to embrace dialogue, forgiveness and understanding, saying disagreements were inevitable but could be resolved through patience and commitment.
He urged couples experiencing challenges to seek counselling instead of resorting to separation, emphasising that strong families remained the foundation of a stable and progressive society.
By Kennedy Afedzi
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