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‘Establish guidance, counselling centres for school children’
A board Member of the Boy Child Supportive Care Foundation (BCSCF), Reverend Father Hector Quartey, has urged government and agencies responsible for education to establish a dedicated department for guidance and counseling in schools.
According to him, this department would provide a safe and confidential space for students to share their concerns and challenges with trained professionals instead of confiding in teachers who were not trained in that field.
Rev. Fr Quartey made the call at an outreach session with some Basic and Junior High School boys in the Dome-Kwabenya Constituency to commemorate the International Day of the Boy Child.
It was organised by the BCSCF on the theme; “Boys and Their Mental Well-Being, their Needs to Feel Happy, Healthy and Valued within Family and Community.”
International Day of the Boy Child is a day celebrated annually on May 16, to recognise the importance of boys’ wellbeing and some challenges they face.
“By creating such a system, the foundation believes that schools can better support students, including both boys and girls, and help them overcome their challenges,” the Board Member noted.
Additionally, he asserted that creating such a department would allow students to feel more comfortable discussing sensitive issues with professionals who were not their teachers, allowing for more open and honest communication, that would enable schools to identify and address issues earlier and provide targeted support to students who needed it most.
Rev. Quartey stated that statistics show that boys were more likely to struggle with drug addiction and other issues due to societal expectations and upbringing, adding that to combat this, the organisation provides support and guidance to help boys develop positive values and wayward behaviours.
“The foundation’s ultimate goal is to promote positive masculinity and empower young males to become responsible and caring individuals who contribute to the well-being of their communities, by working together with schools and government agencies,” he said.
The Founder and Chief Execu¬tive Officer of BCSCF, Ms Edna Korama Yamoah, said the outreach that brought together over 1,000 boys focused on the mental health and well-being of a boy child.
This, she said aimed to raise awareness about the challenges boys face, including depression and mental health issues, drug addiction among others.
She emphasised the need for more support and understanding for boys, who were often perceived as being more resilient than girls.
“Boys are more vulnerable than girls in many ways, so its important government dedicate the day to celebrating the boy child and provide support for organisations working to promote their well-being,” she highlighted.
By Cecilia Yada Lagba
News
Prioritise affordable treatment of sickle cell treatment —Health Expert
Health experts have urged Ghana to prioritise affordable and accessible treatment for sickle cell disease (SCD) as advanced, but costly curative therapies remain out of reach.
SCD, an inherited blood disorder, affects about three in every 100 newborns in Ghana.
Globally, around 1,000 babies are born with the condition daily, with three-quarters in sub-Saharan Africa.
The disease causes severe complications including chronic pain, anaemia, infections, strokes and organ damage, often leading to shortened life expectancy.
In recent years, gene therapy has been developed as a potential cure.
However, its cost—running into millions of dollars per patient—makes it financially and technically inaccessible in Ghana.
According to Dr Lawrence Osei-Tutu, a Sickle Cell and Childhood Cancer Expert at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, “the country must instead focus on practical, lower-cost interventions such as hydroxyurea”, a decades-old cancer drug proven to reduce painful episodes, hospitalisation and life- threatening complications in SCD patients”.
Taken orally, the medicine improves red blood cell function and is considered safe and effective.
“Hydroxyurea therapy is as good as the cure and a low-hanging fruit to pluck, we must bring a cure to our sickle cell warriors, but do so sustainably.” he urged.
In a chat with The Spectator here, he said to create awareness on the disease, the expert noted that despite its benefits, “hydroxyurea is not widely accessible in Ghana.”
Stressing that, “many patients either cannot afford it or struggle with irregular supply through the health system.”
Moreover, he argued that scaling up access would provide immediate relief while the country builds the infrastructure, trains specialists and secures funding needed to support curative therapies in the future.
With an estimated 15,000 babies born with sickle cell disease annually in Ghana, Dr Osei Tutu cautioned that “failure to improve access to effective treatment will leave many patients vulnerable to preventable complications and early death.”
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
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Let’s reintroduce Cultural Studies to complement educational reforms — Tourism Minister
Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, has emphasised the importance of reintroducing Cultural Studies in schools as part of Ghana’s broader educational reform agenda.
She said Cultural Studies would complement existing efforts to reposition Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to promote digital literacy and expand Creative Arts education.
Speaking at the 2025 Homowo Festival of the people of Ningo-Prampram, held on the theme: “Education: The Best Legacy for our Children,” Madam Gomashie said cultural education was critical to national identity and development.
She noted that the festival’s theme aligned with the Government’s vision to transform education in Ghana and encouraged the youth to embrace it not only as a means of personal development but also as a way of preserving traditional values.
These values, including patience, wisdom, and hard work, were at the core of the Homowo celebration, the Minister said.
“Cultural festivals like Homowo are vital instruments for strengthening cultural identity, preserving historical memory, and fostering national unity. Additionally, festivals serve as platforms for educating the youth through storytelling, music, dance, and other traditional practices, while also providing opportunities for community engagement.”
Madam Gomashie highlighted the strong foundation that Ghana’s tourism was built on, which included culture, traditions, and the creative industry, collectively contributing to over GH¢4.8 billion to the economy.
“Festivals give tourists reasons to visit our country. Therefore, with the right infrastructure and the development of all the domains, the sector can do more than what has been recorded,” she added.
Mr Sam Nartey George, the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram and Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, commended the community for their vibrant participation in the festival. He announced plans for the construction of a new nursing training school in Ningo, aimed at expanding access to healthcare education in the area.
Nene Osroagbo Djangmah XII, Paramount Chief of Great Ningo Traditional Area; King Dr Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, Ga Mantse; Nene Tetteh Wakah III, Paramount Chief of the Prampram Traditional Area; Prof. Odaifio Welentsi III, Paramount Chief of the Nungua Traditional Area; Naana Dugbakuwor Dugba II, Paramount Queen Mother of Great Ningo; and Mr. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, Special Envoy on Religion and Inter-Faith Affairs, who represented the Chief of Staff, were among dignitaries at the festival. -GNA
