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 National Identification Authority (NIA) has announced the commencement of enforcement of the National Identity Register (Amendment) Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2523), warning institutions that fail to comply with the new requirements of possible fines of up to 2,000 penalty units.
The Authority says it will deploy a Biometric Verification Implementation Task Force to inspect institutions and ensure they comply with the regulations, following the expiration of a three-month grace period granted to businesses and public institutions.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Monday, November 2, 2026, the NIA’s Corporate Affairs representative, William Ampomah Emmanuel Darlas, said the Authority had completed its public education and stakeholder engagement activities and was now moving into the enforcement and compliance monitoring phase.
He explained that the regulations require institutions that verify the identities of customers or applicants as part of their operations to use the NIA’s approved biometric verification platform instead of relying solely on visual inspection of the Ghana Card.
Under the new rules, institutions are prohibited from photocopying, scanning or keeping copies of the Ghana Card for identity verification purposes.
Mr Darlas stressed that simply collecting a customer’s Ghana Card, looking at the photograph and comparing it with the person presenting it would no longer be accepted as a valid method of identity verification.
He, however, clarified that the Ghana Card remains the country’s official national identity document and that citizens are not required to register for a new card or capture their biometrics again under the new regulations.
He said the new system is intended to reduce identity fraud, impersonation and other crimes by ensuring that the person presenting the Ghana Card is the actual owner.
According to him, the biometric verification process will rely on information already captured during Ghana Card registration, including fingerprints, iris details and facial features stored in the card’s chip.
Mr Darlas warned institutions against using third-party companies or individuals to access the NIA’s identity verification platform, insisting that the Authority does not work with intermediaries.
He said institutions seeking access to the National Identity Register must deal directly with the NIA and complete its official onboarding process.
The process requires institutions to prove that they are legally registered companies in Ghana, obtain certification from the Data Protection Commission and work with the NIA’s technical team to establish the necessary connection to its platform.
He further cautioned institutions already connected to the platform against subletting their access to other businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises.
He disclosed that the Authority had received reports of some institutions providing their verification services to other businesses without the NIA’s approval and warned that those involved would face legal action.
Mr Darlas said organisations that fail to comply with L.I. 2523 could face fines ranging from 500 to 2,000 penalty units, depending on the nature of the offence.
He explained that the NIA does not have the authority to impose the fines directly but would take offenders to court for the appropriate punishment.
He indicated that Institutions found guilty could also face additional administrative measures, including being barred from accessing the NIA’s verification platform in the future.
The NIA representative further clarified that the new regulations do not prohibit all institutions from physically using the Ghana Card during transactions.
The Managing Director of the Ghana Publishing Company Limited, Nana Kwesi Boatey, has revealed how he transformed a major overstaffing challenge into a success story through the government’s 24-Hour Economy initiative.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, November 2, Mr. Boatey disclosed that when he assumed office in February 2025, and inherited a bloated workforce of 250 employees doing work that could be efficiently handled by 150 people, a situation that created serious liquidity challenges for the state-owned company.
Instead of resorting to downsizing, he adopted an innovative approach by instituting a 24-hour operational system.
Under the new system, staff were redistributed across three shifts: 7 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., and 10 p.m. – 4:30 a.m.
This not only ensured optimal use of labour but also maximized machine utilization and improved overall output.
According to him, the single move redefined the productivity culture within the company, reinforcing discipline, accountability, and efficiency.
The Ghana Publishing Company’s turnaround is being cited as a practical example of how the 24-Hour Economy policy can drive growth without job losses.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
