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Don’t turn Special Schools into ‘dumping grounds’ …Parents told

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• Fi III

Fi III

The reason why children with spe­cial needs are taken to special schools is to bring them up under special conditions by specially trained personnel.

However, it appears some parents have other reasons apart from what is stated above.

Investigations by The Spectator has revealed that some parents and guardians have turned these special schools into ‘dumping grounds’, where they take their wards ostensibly to be educated but ends up abandoning them.

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These parents refuse to visit the children throughout the period they stay at the Special Schools in order to avoid the stigma of being treated with contempt by unfriendly members of the society for having such children.

The Chairman for the Parents Associ­ation of the Tetteh Ocloo State School for the Deaf at Tema, Nana Barima Fi III, confirmed this in an interview and admitted that it was a challenge the association is facing with.

Nana Barima Fi III said these parents and guardians also do not participate in any activity aimed at promoting the welfare of the children.

But in his view, times have changed for any parent to feel bad for hav­ing special children, adding that, “it was rather important to draw these children closer to them and encourage them to be the best they can.”

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He added that it was a matter of concern that a meeting of about 300 pupils with special needs would at­tract just about 50 parents.

Sadly, attempts to get such parents and guardians to have a change of behaviour have not been successful.

He further said parents and guard­ians who had shown interest in whatever the pupils do over the years would testify about the changes in their wards, giving credence to the saying that, ‘disability is not inability.’

“We need to encourage the children so that their talents will blossom to give their best to make the world a better place,” he appealed.

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He recommended that children in the various special schools to be given an opportunity to choose any vocational or technical skill even at the basic school level so that they would be at a better placed to decide whether they would go to a secondary school or a technical or vocational school on completion.

 From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Tema.

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Justin Kodua Frimpong files nomination to seek re-election as NPP General Secretary

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General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Kodua Frimpong, has filed his nomination to contest the position of General Secretary again as the party begins its rebuilding efforts ahead of the 2028 general elections.

He was accompanied by party stalwarts and supporters who were in high spirits, expressing confidence that he is the right person to hold the position.

Speaking after filing his nomination, Mr Kodua Frimpong assured the rank and file of the party that he would not disappoint them.

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“I can assure you that the faith the rank and file of the party have had in me, I will never disappoint them,” he said.

He also pledged to run a clean campaign devoid of personal attacks.

“I can assure you that our internal campaign will be devoid of personal attacks,” he told his fellow contestants and the rank and file of the party as he seeks to retain his position.

His tenure has seen the party through the 2024 general elections, where the NPP lost power to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) after eight years in government.

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The party is currently in a rebuilding phase, with internal elections scheduled to elect new national executives to lead its reorganization towards the 2028 polls.

The General Secretary position is considered one of the most influential in the party’s administrative structure, responsible for the day-to-day running of the party secretariat and implementation of party decisions.

By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme

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UGMC disputes Michael Blackson’s claims over late mother’s treatment

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The University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) has disputed claims made on social media by comedian Michael Blackson concerning the treatment given to his late mother, saying a review found that the allegations did not accurately reflect what happened during her stay at the hospital.

In a statement issued in Accra on August 5, 2026, the management of UGMC expressed condolences to Mr. Blackson and his family over the death of his 83-year-old mother, who died at the facility on July 16, 2026.

The hospital said it had taken the concerns raised by Mr. Blackson seriously and conducted a thorough review in line with its clinical and administrative procedures.

According to the statement, the facts presented by Mr. Blackson on social media contained “numerous inaccuracies” and did not accurately reflect the medical care provided to his mother.

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UGMC explained that she was referred to the facility from another hospital and received treatment there from May 27 to July 16, 2026, a period of about eight weeks.

The hospital stated that it would not release details of her diagnosis, treatment, medical records or other aspects of her care because it had a duty to protect patient confidentiality, even after death.

It said the decision was intended to respect the dignity of the deceased and the privacy of her family.

UGMC further stated that all clinical decisions at the facility are made by qualified healthcare professionals based on medical judgment, established standards of care and the best interests of the patient.

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The statement added that such decisions are made in consultation with authorised family representatives where necessary and that billing and financial procedures are governed by institutional policies and are separate from clinical decision-making.

The hospital noted that it values feedback from patients and their families and considers both positive and negative comments important for improving the quality of care.

Mr. Blackson had earlier used social media to criticise the care his mother received at UGMC, prompting the hospital’s response.

By: Jacob Aggrey

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