News
‘Don’t stigmatise children with autism’
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Founder of Liztino Centre for Children with Special Needs, Mrs Angel EIizabeth Bertino, has asked the public to stop stigmatising children with autism.
According to her, people suffering from autism (a serious development disorder especially among children), could live a normal life with the right support and assistance without any form of stigmatisation by society.
“It is very important for society to accept the children as they are harmless and can be better when they feel loved and accepted,” she stated in an interview with The Spectator.
Mrs Bertino said that in the developed countries such children got the needed support and acceptance to realise their potentials as normal children, and Ghana could do same if the public did not discriminate against them.
She said that there were many children with autism living in Ghana but were usually kept indoors for fear of attacks and discrimination.
“This makes their condition worse and they suffer from childhood to adulthood. We can do better as a country to make life easier for such children,” she stressed.
Her organisation which was formed over two years ago and some private entities she said, were currently championing the course of autism in Ghana and would require support from government to create more awareness about the condition.
“Government must come on board for more education and awareness campaigns to be staged to enlighten the public on the condition. This would go a long way to stop the discrimination and stigma attached to persons living with autism.
“Largely, discrimination is borne out of ignorance, especially when people continue to think the condition is spiritual and contagious.
“We need a lot of education in schools and homes so the public would understand the need to show love to autistic persons,” she intimated.
Mrs Bernito indicated that she would begin to visit schools and churches to educate them on the condition for them to know how best to handle people suffering from the disorder and alleged that some churches were even guilty in terms of discrimination as she had encountered several situations where her biological son, an autistic child, was maltreated because of his condition.
“The condition is not spiritual and children can perform better when they are understood and assisted by society,” she said.
This concerned parent said that children who had visited her facility received above 50 per cent of recovery and now lived normal lives with their families.
She called on organisations, schools and churches to understand that people living with autism were normal and could do better with love and care.
By Michael D. Abayateye
The Ministry of the Interior has condemned the assault of an arrested person while in police custody and has directed the Inspector-General of Police to launch a full investigation into the incident.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Ministry said it noted with concern that the assault followed public statements linked to a religious dispute, including calls for violence against persons considered to have offended religious sensibilities.
“The Ministry unequivocally condemns all such statements, as there is no justification for inciting violence against Christians, Muslims, or any other person on the basis of religion,” the statement said.
The Ministry stressed that regardless of the allegation against a suspect, no one has the right to assault a person in police custody.
“An arrested person is in custody of the State and is entitled to the protection of the law,” the statement noted.
It also expressed serious concern over how civilians gained access to the person in custody.
The Minister, Muntaka Mubarak has directed the IGP to take three immediate actions
They are to identify how civilians accessed the arrested person and determine if any police personnel facilitated, permitted or acquiesced, adding that officers found culpable will face disciplinary action.
Additionally take immediate steps to identify, arrest and investigate the civilian persons who carried out the assault, in accordance with the law.
And finally investigate the conduct of all supervising officers responsible for custody and supervision, and apply disciplinary sanctions where necessary.
The Minister further directed the Police to deal with all persons arrested in connection with the preceding incidents “strictly in accordance with the law and without fear or favour.”
The Ministry reiterated that religious incitement, religious violence and the unlawful assault of persons in custody have no place in Ghana.
“No religious belief, personal grievance or other consideration places anyone above the law,” the statement emphasized.
It reaffirmed government’s commitment to maintaining public order, protecting the rights of persons in custody and promoting peaceful coexistence among citizens of all faiths and backgrounds.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The Government of Ghana has stated that it fully funded the evacuation of more than 1,600 Ghanaians from South Africa following recent xenophobic attacks.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement issued on Thursday, August 13, 2026, said Ghana did not seek financial or material support from the South African Government to bring the affected Ghanaians back home.
The Ministry was responding to media reports that South Africa was seeking about $18 million in reimbursement from some African countries for costs incurred in supporting and evacuating their nationals.
It explained that all costs related to the evacuation of Ghanaians were covered by the Government of Ghana and Ghanaian partners.
According to the Ministry, more than 1,600 Ghanaians have been evacuated from South Africa since May 2026, with the exercise still ongoing.
It said the evacuees are also provided with reintegration funds, transport fares and other relief items after arriving in Ghana to help them settle back into the country.
The Ministry assured Ghanaians that the country would not be included among those being asked by South Africa to reimburse the cost of repatriating foreign nationals.
It reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting the lives and welfare of Ghanaians living abroad.
The Ministry said the government would continue to take timely action whenever the safety and security of Ghanaians outside the country were at risk.
It expressed gratitude to President John Mahama and Ghanaian partners for supporting the fully Ghanaian-funded evacuation exercise.
By: Jacob Aggrey
