News
Don’t neglect menopausal wives for ‘side chicks’
“Elderly men must not abandon their peri-menopausal or menopausal wives for younger women,” Dr Francis Wuobar, a gynaecologist, has advised.
Rather, such men should support their partners through the physical and emotional challenges that come with the transition.
Dr Wuobar, a gynaecologist at the Eastern Regional Hospital, told The Spectator in an interview that many women during this phase of life experience a sharp drop in libido, vaginal dryness, hot flashes, joint pain, and extreme mood swings.
These symptoms often result in a sudden shift from an active sexual life to one filled with discomfort and emotional distress.
He noted that this change could create a strain in marriages, especially when male partners continue to have a stable or heightened sexual drive.
“Many men who don’t understand what their wives are going through tend to seek satisfaction outside the marriage, rather than offering support and empathy,” he stated.
Dr Wuobar further emphasised the importance of men using lubricants during intimacy and encouraging their partners to seek both medical and psychological help.
He also pointed out that many menopausal women feel neglected and unimportant, leading to depression and emotional withdrawal.
“There’s an urgent need to raise awareness about menopause and ensure that women are properly supported to live fulfilling lives, including sexually,” he stressed.
According to him, Ghana’s healthcare system tends to focus primarily on women of reproductive age, neglecting those transitioning into menopause.
“At the reproductive stage, society provides some guidance and support, but from reproduction to peri-menopause or menopausal stage, women are often left on their own. Society’s focus is on producing children, not what happens after,” he added.
Dr Wuobar criticised the lack of specialised clinics and educational programmes for menopausal women in Ghana.
“They go from reproductive age straight into menopause without preparation. They’re left to face the challenges alone, and many feel like they’ve outlived their usefulness,” he pointed out.
He proposed the establishment of dedicated menopause clinics to provide education, counselling, and medical care.
“Menopause doesn’t mean a woman should stop enjoying intimacy. The problem is often the lack of hormonal stimulation, which leads to dryness and painful sex. This discourages many women,” he said.
To address these issues, he recommended creating support groups in churches, mosques, and traditional communities, where women could share their experiences and mentor younger women.
He also advocated more public education and the inclusion of men in awareness programmes to foster understanding and compassion.
Moreover, Dr Wuobar also mentioned Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) as an effective treatment for some menopausal symptoms and suggested natural remedies like the consumption of Gorontula, a fruit known among Muslim women for enhancing vaginal lubrication and boosting libido.
He called on health stakeholders to give greater attention to peri-menopausal and menopausal women, creating an inclusive healthcare system that supports women at every stage of life.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu
Agyeman, Koforidua
The Ghana Tourism Development Company, GTDC, under the leadership of Prof.Kobby Mensah has launched GTDC Campus Tourism Office at the University of Ghana.
The initiative aims to promote educational and domestic tourism by providing structured campus tour experiences showcasing key heritage sites, including the Archaeology Museum and the School of Performing Arts.
It will also offer students their first travel experience across the continent and inculcate in them love to visit Ghana’s heritage sites.
Addressing the gathering at the launch yesterday, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, described tourism as a vehicle for education and heritage preservation, stressing that the sector must inspire citizens to value and protect national culture for future generations.
The minister highlighted tourism’s connection to disciplines such as history, the arts, economics and environmental science.
The minister further noted that the private sector is the engine of tourism economy, adding that the engines require fuel, which is talents.” by investing in these young people today, you are securing the quality, the innovation and competitiveness of our own industry for tomorrow.
She added that the establishment of the office represents a deliberate investment in the intellectual capital of the country.
The GTDC boss, Prof.Kobby Mensah, said,”at GTDC, we believe that if our tourism has to be sustainable, we have to promote domestic tourism and a very big part of it is getting students to appreciate tourism and helping them to organise tours.”
He added that the University of Ghana itself is a huge heritage site which must be explored.
Prof.Kobby Mensah noted that the initiative, which is one of many to be established across the country, is a joint partnership between GTDC and University of Ghana.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof.Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, said the University is a custodian of heritage which goes beyond the structures and welcomed the establishment of the first Campus Tourism Office.
She was optimistic that the office would be put to good use to achieve the intended purpose.
The launch brought together Stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to nurturing future tourism and hospitality professionals.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Ghana has officially accepted an invitation to serve as Guest Country at Burkina Faso’s 22nd National Culture Week in Bobo-Dioulasso from April 22 to May 2, 2026.
The invitation was extended by Burkina Faso’s Minister of Communication, Culture, Arts and Tourism, Gilbert Noël Ouédraogo, accompanied by the Ambassador of Burkina Faso to Ghana, H.E. David Kabré.
Receiving the delegation, Abla Dzifa Gomashie reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to deepening cultural diplomacy and strengthening historic ties between the two nations.
She noted that the festival will create opportunities for young creatives, expand exhibition platforms and promote commercial exchange within the creative sector.
The event will feature cultural performances, a community village and gastronomy fair, an arts market, literary engagements, and a craft and trade fair.
Ghana’s participation is expected to further strengthen bilateral relations between John Dramani Mahama and Ibrahim Traoré, while fostering collaboration within the creative ecosystems of both countries.
