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Creating an enabling environment for premature babies’ survival – Naa Kuorkor Mayne-Eghan’s passion
● Naa Kuorko displaying an award
This week’s profile throws a spotlight on a distinguished lady whose passion is to ensure the wellness and healthy conditions of premature babies at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Ghana to survive.
As the saying goes, “it is not only giants that do great things”, Naa Kuorkor Mayne- Eghan’s story cannot be swept under the carpet.
Her passion-driven sense for seeing premature babies survive has been phenomenal through her constant advocacy and sensitisation about “Preterms lives matter” under the auspices of Jay Foundation over the years.
The selfless lady is undoubtedly a philanthropist and a leader who has carved a well-deserved reputation via her Non-Governmental Organisation with a stint of generosity, integrity, dedication and enviable accomplishment in the area of neonatal healthcare, especially the lives of preterms.
Representing the voice of the babies
Naa Kuorkor’s enthusiasm for advocating the wellness and survival of premature babies emanated as a result of experiencing the issue of giving birth to premature twins in America where one unfortunately passed away.
The aforementioned encounter traumatised her for a longer period irrespective of the counselling she received.
After the predicament, she returned to Ghana with the baby who survived and later decided to form a foundation that would serve as a mouthpiece for these fragile babies to have the best of care while striving to survive in the NICU.
According to the benevolent lady, it was very prudent to address issues of preterm babies as an issue of public health concern that require critical attention.
Naa Kuorkor underscored that, stakeholder engagement with health facilities should always come up with pragmatic measures to help create policies that would help in the survival of these vulnerable babies.
“Births that usually occur before the 37th week of pregnancy are usually considered preterms and such babies require an extraordinary treatment at the NICU to serve a term to fully survive as that of a full term.
Impact of Jay Foundation to premature babies
Shedding uncontrollable tears, she told The Spectator that, “in Ghana preterm babies do not get adequate care due to lack of space, facilities, and essentials needed to evade infection, which causes death.
The Jay Foundation since its inception in 2019 has made donations worth about GH¢500,000 to NICUs in 10 hospitals and other medical facilities in the country to support preterm babies, their mothers, and staff of the hospitals, including Tema General Hospital, Nsawam, Korle Bu, Shai Osudoku, Keta Hospitals, Battor Catholic, Wenchi Hospital, Bamboi Polyclinic, Banda District Hospital, Jama Polyclinic and recently donated to the Ho Teaching Hospital.
Items donated included vegetables, fruits, digital thermometers, digital weighing scales, suction machines, pulse oximeters, nasal prongs, baby cots, cot sheets, bedsheets, drip stands, kangaroo Mother Care clothes, baby wipes, napkins, sanitisers, baby clothing, cleaning materials, among others.
“We are the voice of these precious ones and we encourage all to help these miracle babies survive, they didn’t ask to be born that way”, she bemoaned.
Naa Kuorkor stressed that, Life was a struggle and preterm babies started theirs right at birth, and what the little Jay Foundation could do was to make them comfortable and feel the love and support they deserve.
She commended her team members for their support to make successful projects and accomplishment with an aim of reducing the high mortality rate of neonates in the short term.
“Limited space is one of the major problems with all the facilities listed above except Korle Bu. But they also need an expansion looking at their numbers”, she noted.
These problems, she stated were associated with risks that included high infection rate, high mortality, no or little education on how to handle Neonates, less medical equipment, unclean environment and inadequate cleaning materials, inadequate NICU staff, poor ventilation, limited space for babies and mothers, no physical therapy at home after discharge just mention but a few.
“This year, we are putting up proper structures for Mother and babies, Mothers’ hostels and NICU’s and since we noticed that education is key we finally have an Educational Documentary on Prematurity in Ghana”, she highlighted.
Recognition/ Background
She has been awarded both locally and internationally for her sterling performances in helping create a safer haven for premature babies in Ghana.
Naa Kuorkor was born and raised by Mr. Benjamin Nii Aryeetey Aryee, a prominent contractor and Mrs. Esther Aryee, a retired Bio-Chemist who worked with the United Nations and Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. She classified them as disciplinarians.
She is the first born and has three siblings.
Naa Kuorkor Mayne-Eghan was a Corporate Relationship Manager/ Banking Officer with Cal Bank for over eight years and currently the Chief Executive Office (CEO) of a Financial and Marketing Consultancy, Korghan Limited. She is again the CEO of Lingerie Picante.
She completed her basic education at St. Martin de Porres at Dansoman-Accra, and is an old girl of Wesley Girls’ High School, Cape Coast. She has a graduate Degree in Social Sciences from KNUST, a Master’s Degree in Finance from Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration.
Naa Kuorkor is a mother of two, and a ‘Mummy’ to all, with personal premature birth and preterm babies experience; prefers to channel her ‘calling’ to help make others going through the same experience happy and less traumatised.
Interests
The Wesleyan who speaks Ga, Fante, Twi, English and French loves to play Basketball and recounted that she was the Basketball captain during her secondary school days at Wesley Girls’ High School and they won most of their interschool trophies.
Naa Kuorkor’s fondness for children is very strong and also likes to swim, travel and watch movies during her leisure.
She commended all her sponsors for the great support given to her and called for God’s grace to continually be with them.
She admonished families to support preterm mothers and advised society never to associate premature babies with bad spirits.
By Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah
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Is the “Rev” title biblical?
In many Ghanaian churches, pastors are often introduced as “Reverend” or simply “Rev.”
The title is seen as a mark of respect, yet its biblical basis continues to stir debate.
While some Christians argue that it is a harmless way to honour church leaders, others insist it is unbiblical and should not be used at all.
Those who question the title usually point to the Bible itself. Nowhere in Scripture did Jesus or the apostles use “Reverend” for themselves or for one another.
Instead, they addressed each other as “brother” or “servant.” In Matthew 23, Jesus even warned his followers not to seek titles such as “rabbi” or “father,” teaching that all believers are equal under one God.
Critics also note that Psalm 111:9 describes God’s name alone as “holy and reverend” in the King James Bible.
To them, this means the word should be reserved for God, not for human beings. Others go further, citing Job 32, which cautions against giving flattering titles to men.
For such voices, the modern use of “Reverend” risks elevating pastors beyond what the Bible prescribes.
On the other hand, defenders of the title argue that it is not meant to replace God’s reverence but simply to acknowledge a minister’s role.
In many churches, “Reverend” is given to ordained ministers who have undergone training, much like the way a doctor is addressed as “Dr.”
The Bible itself, they point out, encourages believers to honour their leaders, with 1 Timothy 5:17 stating that elders who direct the affairs of the church well are “worthy of double honour.”
In this sense, the title is seen as a formal courtesy rather than a theological statement.
Supporters remind critics that Christianity does not operate in a vacuum but within cultural settings.
In Ghanaian society, respect for elders and authority is central to social order. Just as chiefs are addressed with titles such as “Nana” or “Togbe,” many Christians believe it is fitting to extend a similar courtesy to church leaders.
In their view, calling a pastor “Reverend” reflects Ghanaian values of honour and respect, and does not amount to worshipping a human being.
Yet the debate is far from settled. Some argue that the title has been abused, with individuals presenting themselves as “Reverend” without any proper training or accountability.
Calls have even been made for the regulation of church titles to prevent confusion and protect the credibility of ministry. Others, however, see no harm in its continued use, so long as it is not taken beyond what Scripture allows.
At the heart of the matter lies a bigger question: should Christians stick strictly to biblical language when addressing their leaders, or is it acceptable to adapt titles as society evolves?
The conversation is not just theological but cultural, touching on how Ghana balances respect for tradition with the authority of Scripture.
The debate over the “Rev” title is therefore not one with easy answers. What is clear, however, is that it forces us to reflect on how we show honour, how we interpret the Bible, and how faith interacts with our cultural practices.
As the discussion continues in church pews and on social platforms, we ask you: should pastors and ministers be called “Reverend,” or should Christians abandon the title altogether?
By: Jacob Aggrey
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Police confirm arrest of two suspects in Asankrangwa murder case
The Western Central Regional Police Command has confirmed the arrest of two men in connection with the fatal stabbing of a 20-year-old man at the Asankrangwa Education Area on Sunday, August 17, 2025.
In a statement signed by the Head of the Public Affairs Unit, ASP Beatrice Turkson, the police said preliminary investigations revealed that the deceased was chased and stabbed multiple times by a group of people.
The incident is believed to have stemmed from a misunderstanding between the deceased and one of the suspects, identified as 36-year-old Kwasi Opong.
According to the police, swift action led to the arrest of Opong and another suspect, 23-year-old William Francis Osei. Both are currently in custody assisting with investigations, while efforts are underway to apprehend another suspect who is still on the run.
The police noted that the body of the deceased has been deposited at the Asankrangwa Catholic Hospital morgue for preservation and autopsy.
“The Command assures the public that all persons connected to this heinous crime will be brought to justice,” the statement said.
The police appealed to the public to provide any information that could assist in the ongoing investigations.
By: Jacob Aggrey
