News
Communication is key in marriage – Counsellor
Manuel Owusu-Kumi
Reverend Manuel Owusu-Kumi a marriage and relatiuonship counsellor has advised married couples to be mindful of their choice of words when communicating with each other.
That, he said, was important because those words have the power to either make the marriage work or mar it.
Speaking in an interview with The Spectator on Monday about some ‘dos and don’ts’ for a successful marital life, Rev Owusu-Kumi observed that marriages have two committed people determined to make the union work.
However, he said if communication was not handled well, it could ruin whatever have been achieved.
He said the use of negative words could hurt a party badly and make them withdraw temporarily or permanently in some cases, in the process affecting trust and even intimacy.
“Sometimes, after an apology and forgiveness, the offended person is not able to forget about what was said,” he noted.
Rev Owusu-Kumi said good communication should be the priority of anyone who wishes to have a long-lasting relationship devoid of conflicts.
According to the Counsellor and Therapist, it was important for persons who were already married or have plans to get married but have a challenge as regards communication to seek professional help to deal with it immediately.
Healthy marriages, he noted promotes peace of mind for couples to be productive at work, be less anxious and prevent diseases.
He said asking for assistance was not a sign of weakness as people tend to believe but rather a sign of maturity.
Rev Owusu-Kumi noted that, there were spouses that refuse to talk at home because of the fear of being misunderstood but that would overtime affect the relationship.
He cautioned against the use of derogatory expressions like ‘you are not smart,’ ‘can’t you do this simple thing,’ ‘you are useless’ or attempt to make a comparison with another person.
“In place of such expressions, couples should sound very positive, optimistic about each other and find ways of addressing their challenges together,” he advised.
The Counsellor advised couples to be calm and even excuse themselves even in the face of extreme provocation.
“This allows for reasoning, risk assessment, logic among other positive things which overtime had helped to save many marriages and even prevented physical and verbal attacks.”
He advised singles planning to get married to seek counselling from professional and certified counsellors to be advised properly.
Rev Owusu-Kumi urged the youth to consider characteristics such as a person’s vision, purpose, and determination for work in making their choices.
From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Tema
News
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
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
Hot!
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
