News
Frequent use of emergency pills can result in unplanned pregnancy – Dr Asah-Opoku
Dr Asah Opoku, a Consultant Obstetrician Gynaecologist and Head of Department of the Family Planning Unit at the KorleBu Teaching Hospital has cautioned women to desist from using emergency contraceptive pills frequently anytime they have sex in their bid to prevent pregnancy.
He said, an emergency contraceptive pill was not effective when one was ovulating and this was likely to get the person pregnant within any of the days ovulation take place.
He stressed that some women were using emergency contraception without any prescription from health experts and this could have effect on them.
“The more you take it the more your chances of getting pregnant becomes high. People now use it weekly, monthly and that is not advisable. It is supposed to be a one of thing” he added.
Speaking to The Spectator in an interview Dr Opoku said emergency pills did not stop or delay ovulation and advised women who always did so to refrain from it.
“Emergency contraception can work well, but it’s not a substitute for regular birth control. Regular birth control works better, has fewer side effects. As the name suggests, emergency birth control is for emergencies, not something to use all the time” he said
He explained that “emergency contraception refers to methods of contraception that can be used to prevent pregnancy after sexual intercourse. These are recommended for use within five days but are more effective the sooner they are used after the act of intercourse or within 72 hours”.
“It does not also prevent one from acquiring sexual Transmitted Disease”. He said and added that emergency contraceptive pills when taken made the hormones in our body very active for childbirth.
Dr Asah said that some women experienced nausea, slight irregular vaginal bleeding and fatigue after frequently taking the pills which counselling should be given on what other contraceptive options may be more appropriate and more effective.
According to him, in order to avoid pregnancy, there were permanent family planning method which included, Intrauterine Device (IUD), The Contraceptive Implant, Contraceptive Injection, Contraceptive Ring and Diaphragm which are available at health facilities for women.
“In health facilities people are educated and counselled on the type of family planning which would be good for them so we don’t impose methods to clients when they visit our facilities” he stressed.
He advised women to use permanent family planning services and stop using too much of the emergency pills.
He stated that one has to visit family health facility for counselling on the right Family Planning method.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
Miniser for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu has revealed a major shake up at Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) following recent power outages.
In a post on Facebook, Felix Kwakye Ofosu disclosed that Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Jinapor has asked the CEO of GRIDCo to step aside pending investigations into fire incident at Akosombo power control center.
Also, he further noted that there has been a major shake up in the leadership of the ECG in the Ashanti Region.
“At 2pm tomorrow, Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Hon John Jinapor, will hold a major briefing on recent developments in electricity distribution,” he concluded.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
News
Abu Trica’s extradition case: Prophets, fetish priests demand pay for spiritual solution …Lawyer reveals
Mr Oliver Barker-Vormawor, a lawyer for embattled Frederick Kumi, affectionately called Abu Trica and has made a shocking revelation over the behaviour of some members of the clergy.
According to him in a post on social media, the difficult part of Abu Trica’s trial is not the law but the number of ‘Men of God’ and fetish priests demanding financial sacrifices to help resolve the matter spiritually.
Oliver Barker-Vormawor posted on Tuesday, April 22, 2026, “The most difficult part about the Abu Trica case; is not the law.”
He continued: “It is the number of, prophetesses, evangelists and fetish priests, who have called or messaged to ask us to pay for spiritual solutions.”
It would be recalled that in March this year, the Gbese District Court dismissed a preliminary objection filed by Abu Trica, challenging the extradition proceedings initiated at the request of the United States.
The court, presided over by Anna Akosua Appiah Gottfried Anaafi Gyasi, in its ruling held that the offences forming the basis of the extradition, particularly wire fraud, constitute extraditable offences under the 1931 treaty between Ghana and the United States.
He was then given 15 days counting from March 27 to appeal the decision of the court or be surrendered for extradition to the US.
Against this backdrop, he was on Tuesday, April 22, granted a bail in the sum of GH¢30,000,000 by an Accra High, pending the appeal of his extradition
Mr Kumi was arrested in Ghana in December 2025 following an indictment by United States authorities, alleging that he played a role in a romance scam network that defrauded elderly American victims of more than $8 million.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
