News
CSM: another killer disease that must be tackled
Ghana reported its first two cases of the novel Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) on March 12, 2020. The cases relating to this pandemic were confirmed when two people returned from Norway and Turkey respectively.
Since then, the number of COVID-19 cases confirmed by the Ministry of Health, continue to increase by the day.
As of Wednesday, May 20 2020, Ghana’s number of confirmed cases had risen to 7,616 with 34 confirmed deaths with 2,421 recoveries.
According to official report from the Ministry of Health, out of the 7,616 confirmed cases, 60 percent of the number were males and 40 percent of the number being females.
Out of the 16 regions in Ghana, it was only the Ahafo Region which had not recorded any case at the time.
Although the country has been overwhelmed with the number of COVID-19 cases, some parts of the country are battling not only this pandemic but also another serious disease that threatens the very livelihood of the people.
Unfortunately, Ghanaians in the northern part of the country are battling the Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM).
The bacteria are transmitted from one person to another through droplets of respiratory or throat secretions, close and prolonged contacts.
Thus sneezing and coughing without covering your mouth or nose spread this disease: Kissing as well spreads this disease.
These modes of contact help to spread the disease very fast. These contacts are known to be a sure way to increase the spread of the disease.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) is an infection of meninges, the thin lining surrounding the brain and the spinal cord.
It is proven that the average incubation period of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) is four days which only infects humans.
Stiff neck, severe headache, high fever, seizures, vomiting, no or less appetite among others are symptoms of the virus as explained suggested by WHO.
The bacteria are hyper endemic in the northern areas of the sub-Saharan Africa where the people get infected during the dry season; due to dusty winds and upper respiratory tract infections as a result of cold nights.
Seven people out of 21 positive cases of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) in the Upper East Region have died as a result of the disease.
However, the Upper West Region has recorded about 45 deaths out of about 315 confirmed cases of the disease in the region. This is a highly contagious infection that affects young, adults and teenagers..
Even though COVID-19 is a global pandemic which has gained the attention of the government, Cerebrospinal Meningitis as a disease is causing more harm to a section of the citizens but happens to get less attention from the government.
Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM ) is killing more people just like COVID-19 in Ghana. It is disturbing that Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) has not been tackled effectively due to financial constraints.
However, this same financial constraint seems not to be an issue for government in dealing with the COVID-19 disease.
According to health experts, an infected person by the Cerebrospinal Meningitis can be treated through vaccination; unlike the COVID-19 where the world, including Ghana, is awaiting a vaccine to treat it.
Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) has been in existence since 1959 in the Northern sector of Ghana till date.
Medical experts have explained that government can help increase immunisation coverage in order to help stop the spread of CSM.
Government needs to pay more attention in tackling this disease by setting up a fund where money will be allocated for the treatment of CSM.
Also, more health practitioners should be trained in the northern parts of Ghana where the disease is endemic.
Loretta Yebowaa Hayford
Student, Ghana Institute of Journalism
A 30-year-old man has been sentenced to 25 years imprisonment with hard labour by the Bekwai Circuit Court for his role in a 2022 robbery at a mining site at Manso Akwasiso in the Ashanti South Region.
The convict, Dominic Ofori, also known as Fanta, was arrested on 16th February 2026 after years on the run. He pleaded guilty before the Bekwai Circuit Court to robbery contrary to Section 149 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 Act 29, and was accordingly sentenced to 25 years imprisonment with hard labour.
On March 20, 2022, the Manso Adubia District Police received intelligence that a group of armed men from Manso Abodom were planning to attack a mining site at Manso Akwasiso to rob the owner of gold concentrate. Acting on the information, police mounted a coordinated operation and laid an ambush at the site.
At about 5:30 pm the same day, four-armed men arrived at the site, fired indiscriminately, and robbed the miners of their gold concentrate. The police team on surveillance intervened, resulting in an exchange of gunfire.
Three of the suspects, Abu Abubakar, Musah Latif, and Gideon Takyi, sustained gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead on arrival at St Martins Catholic Hospital at Agroyesum. Dominic Ofori escaped at the time but was later arrested and put before the court.
The Ashanti South Regional Police Command has assured the public of its continued commitment to combating violent crimes and bringing offenders to justice.
The Ashanti Regional Police Command has arrested 45-year-old Isaac Boafo, also known as “Duabo King,” for allegedly publishing false news intended to cause fear and panic.
Police said the arrest follows a viral TikTok video in which Boafo claimed that four officers at the Central Police Station in Kumasi engaged in inappropriate conduct with commercial sex workers during night patrols in Asafo.
Officers from the Police Intelligence Directorate (Ashanti Region) apprehended Boafo after receiving intelligence about the video.
During questioning, he admitted to creating the video to attract views and engagement online, and acknowledged that he could not prove the allegations.
Boafo also admitted making comments about the President of the Republic for content purposes and could not defend those statements.
He has been formally charged and is in detention as investigations continue.
The Ashanti Regional Police have warned the public against publishing or sharing false information on social media, noting that such acts can cause fear, panic, and damage reputations.
They said anyone found engaging in similar conduct will face legal action.
By: Jacob Aggrey
