News
Ex-Porter Mariam Eliasu admitted to Wisconsin Varsity College
THE author of From Load to Grace and face of Porter Path Foundation, Ms Mariam Eliasu, has gained admission to the Wisconsin University College to pursue a degree programme in humanities.
Her journey gained national attention after being discovered in 2025 by Ghanaian author David Raphaelle Antwi (Author Ralph). Before this, Mariam spent eight years working as a head porter (Kayayoo) on the streets of Accra.
Determined to achieve her dreams of becoming successful in life, she refused to succumb to any pressure to compromise her dignity as a woman.
“Mariam endured through hardship, worked diligently, and refused to give up on her quest for a dignified life one day. Today, she is a proud student of Wisconsin University College and an advocate for people on the streets, especially porters,” an official from the foundation said.
Under the Porter Path Foundation initiative, Mariam’s goal was to secure help for at least 1,000 people on the streets of Accra through sponsorship from individuals and organisations.
The Relevant Achievers Impacting Nations (RAIN Foundations) and Global Youth Network of The World Conference of Mayors Inc. are two key organisations partnering with PPF to help transform the lives of the socially disadvantaged on the streets.
Mariam is expected to give several talks and share her story to inspire young people this year across Africa, Europe, and America.
Eliasu’s book, Porter Path: From Load to Grace, a book and social initiative, was inspired by her journey from a street porter to an advocate for the vulnerable.
Her story does not only inspire hope for the socially disadvantaged and people living on the streets, but also challenges the privileged in society to extend support to those whose futures still hold great promise.
THE East Legon enclave in the Greater Accra Region is noted for housing the influential and affluent in society.
The area is synonymous with luxury mansions and ‘big-time’ businesses.
But within the same territory lies ‘Mempeasem,’ a community with a striking contradiction; it tells a totally different story.
‘Mempeasem’ translates from Twi, a local dialect, to “I don’t want trouble,” but the reality, however, is that the neighborhood is currently defined by a troubling disconnect between the admired reputation and its deteriorating infrastructure.
After publishing concerns expressed by a student in its ‘Write to the Editor’ column, The Spectator followed up to present detailed scenes of the sanitation problems in the area.
Residents are increasingly vocal about the lack of drainage systems, a deficiency that turns moderate rainfall into a logistical nightmare.
Without engineered channels for runoff, water settles in stagnant pools, eventually eroding roads.
The irony is sharp: billion-cedi homes often stand adjacent to clogged gutters and makeshift refuse sites.
The lack of public sanitation facilities and a centralised sewage system means that the environmental health of the area is constantly under threat, undermining the quality of life for its high-net-worth inhabitants and local workers alike.
Beyond waste and water, the community faces a broader infrastructure deficit.
Concerns about the prevalence of wooden structures in close proximity to refuse dump sites, where waste material is burnt, were raised; it’s a recipe for disaster.
The situation in Mempeasem is detrimental to public health and safety and serves as a wake-up call for urban planners and local authorities.
By Spectator Reporter
REDEEMED Baptist Church (RBC), located at Ogbojo in the La Nkwantanang–Madina Municipal Assembly (LANMMA), Madina, has marked its Old School Sunday as part of its Ghana Month celebrations, with members beautifully dressed in vintage and free-style African attire.
The service featured a sermon on “The Role of the Church in Nation Building and Economic Development,” highlighting the church’s vital role in shaping values, promoting integrity and contributing to national growth.
The celebration seamlessly blended culture and faith, reinforcing the impact of Christian living on Ghana’s development.
RBC has dedicated the month of March to the celebration of Ghana, a period of reflection on the nation’s heritage and the role of Christian values in national development.
Led by the Pastorate and organised by the church’s Ghana Month Committee, the initiative brings together members of the congregation to celebrate Ghana’s culture while examining how faith can positively influence patriotism, leadership, and community life.
The celebration is being held under the theme: ‘Making Room for Jesus in Our Culture and Tradition for Nation Building.’
Throughout the month, Sunday teachings focus on topics such as Christianity and Patriotism, Christianity in the Context of Our Culture and Tradition, The Role of the Church in Nation Building and Economic Development, Transforming the Nation through a Transformed Lifestyle, and The Impact of Our Mother Tongue in Interpreting the Great Commission.
The members of the Ghana Month committee are Rev. Abu Ibrahim, Senior Associate Pastor of RBC; Mrs Audrey Azinogo, Chairperson; Ms Sackeybea Botchway, Organiser; Mr Maxwell Kofi Alorwornu, Mr Bright Nyarko Obeng, Mr Witfield Kwablah, and Mr Emmanuel Som Ntow.
By Spectator Reporter
