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Families ignore cleft treatment due to non-medical expenses -Research
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A study by the National Cleft Care Centre (NCCC) at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) has revealed that the headache of parents of children born with cleft lip and palate in Ghana is not about the cost of surgery.
What actually put these families in difficult situations are the non-medical expenses that come in the form of transportation, feeding and temporary accommodation while seeking comprehensive care for such children after surgery.
According to the study, these families spend at least 25 per cent of their annual income on the non-medical expenses required to ensure a comprehensive post- surgery care.
Consequently, the Director of NCCC, Prof. Solomon Obiri-Yeboah, has underscored the need for a comprehensive cleft management which requires a multidisciplinary approach, integrating plastic surgery, dental care, speech therapy, nutritional support, and psychosocial counseling.
Additionally, he has urged the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to absorb surgical costs so that donor resources can be redirected toward travel and welfare support.
Marking this year’s cleft awareness campaign, Prof. Obiri-Yeboah stated that the core surgical procedure alone costs a minimum of GH₵5,000.
According to the research, that burden has forced many families to miss or abandon the multiple hospital visits required for successful treatment, putting children at risk of complications that could otherwise be prevented.
It explained that although corrective surgeries were offered free through support from international partners, the cost of travelling repeatedly to specialist centres, feeding and accommodation remains beyond the reach of these families.
The research cautioned that until these financial barriers were addressed, more children would continue to shun essential reviews and follow-up care, undermining the success of treatment.
Health professionals have argued that cleft care inclusion on the NHIS would not only reduce the financial burden on families but also improve treatment outcomes and advance Ghana’s commitment to achieving universal health coverage.
Dr Robert Larmie, a Maxillofacial Surgeon at the NCCC, warned that failing to provide financial relief leaves children vulnerable to harmful myths.
“If these mothers cannot afford the journey for care, children are pushed back into misconceptions.
To expand treatment capacity, Smile Train has collaborated with KATH and the Ghana Cleft Foundation to build over $2-million, six-storey National Cleft Care Centre at KATH.
The facility has an outpatient department, consulting rooms, four specialised operating theaters, pre- and post-operative wards, clinical laboratories, lecture halls, a library, and research units.
Prof. Peter Donkor, President of the Ghana Cleft Foundation and First Vice-President of the West African College of Surgeons, noted that the centre provides free treatment regardless of a patient’s age.
Cleft lip and palate occur during pregnancy when a baby’s lip or the roof of the mouth fails to fuse properly. The condition may range from a small notch in the lip to a wide opening extending into the nose.
Without timely treatment, affected children often experience serious challenges with feeding, breathing, hearing and speech development, while many also endure social stigma and discrimination.
Globally, one in every 700 babies is born with a cleft, leaving an estimated 4.6 million people living with untreated or inadequately treated conditions, particularly in low and middle income countries.
In Ghana, about one in every 770 babies is born with a cleft, resulting in more than 400 new cases each year, in addition to a backlog of children still awaiting treatment.
By Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
GoldBod Chief Executive Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, has defended the performance of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) following criticism of its operations and management.
Speaking at tthe Government Accountability Series today at the Jubilee House, he said, no where is GoldBod accused for Bank of Ghana’s losses.
He therefore challenged the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin to point to where IMF attributed losses incurred by Bank of Ghana to GoldBod.
“I challenge Afenyo-Markin to point to any page, paragraph, sentence, phrase or punctuation mark in the said referenced report that the IMF accused the GoldBod of having caused the losses reported to have been incurred by the Bank of Ghana,” Sammy Gyamfi strongly stated.
He highlighted the achievements of the board, particularly its role in gold purchases, local refining and efforts to increase value addition in Ghana’s gold industry.
Mr Gyamfi said GoldBod had purchased and refined more than nine metric tonnes of gold in Ghana this year, describing the development as a major change in the country’s approach to gold value addition.
He contrasted the current situation with the previous administration, claiming that during that period, no gold produced in Ghana was refined locally.
“Not a gram of gold produced in Ghana was refined in Ghana. Today, over nine metric tonnes, just this year, of gold we have bought, refined in Ghana. We are changing the value addition story,” he said.
Mr Gyamfi defended the board against criticisms from the Minority that it had made losses, describing some of the comments as reckless and lacking proper research.
He argued that the current Minority leadership should be measured against the standards set by former occupants of the position, including J.H. Mensah, Papa Owusu-Ankomah and Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu.
According to him, the former Minority leaders commanded respect in Parliament because of the depth of their contributions and their ability to engage issues with substance.
Mr Gyamfi referenced Ghana’s gold exports under the previous administration, claiming that about 170 tonnes of gold were exported through formal channels and generated more than $17 billion in one and a half years.
He questioned why those responsible for institutions that recorded significant losses during their tenure were criticising GoldBod’s current operations.
He further dismissed suggestions that he was intimidated by political attacks, noting that politics was a “contact sport” and those involved should be prepared to face criticism.
Mr Gyamfi maintained that he was working in the interest of Ghana and expressed confidence that the board’s record would ultimately speak for itself.
“We are serving Ghana in good conscience, and our record and posterity will speak for us,” he said.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The bail application filed by lawyers for Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has been adjourned to October 15, 2026.
The adjournment followed the failure of Chairman Wontumi and his lawyers to appear before the court when the matter was called.
Deputy Attorney General, Justice Srem-Sai, was present in court.
The application for bail was filed by Chairman Wontumi’s legal team after he became involved in a criminal case before the court.
His lawyers are seeking his release on bail while the case continues.
The court, however, could not proceed with the bail application because neither Chairman Wontumi nor members of his legal team were present.
The development also comes at a time when lawyers are on their annual legal vacation, a period during which the normal activities of the courts and legal practitioners are reduced, although urgent matters may still be heard.
The court has therefore adjourned the bail application to October 15, when the matter is expected to come before it again.
Chairman Wontumi remains subject to the court’s orders pending the determination of the bail application.
By: Jacob Aggrey
