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Give urgent attention to challenges facing children with ASD in Ghana …Advocate calls
A passionate advocate for children with autism, Ms Jessica Datsa, is calling for urgent attention to the challenges facing children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Ghana.
According to her, the lack of specific policies, societal stigma, and inadequate support systems are major barriers to the proper education and development of children on the spectrum.
Ms Datsa is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of iElevate, a non-governmental organisation focused on advocacy for learners in school including people with special needs.
It is also involved in training of teachers, corporate institutions and groups, awareness creation, public education, research and philanthropic work for special needs community.
“Autism is a spectrum disorder, which means it affects children in varying degrees, from mild to profound,” Ms Datsa explains adding that it is a neurological and developmental disorder that impacts communication, behaviour, and social interaction.
She describes how children with autism often show signs such as failure to respond to their names, lack of eye contact, repetitive behaviours, hyperactivity, and learning difficulties.
Some children are verbal while others are non-verbal, with many suffering from anxiety, seizures, or other health conditions, adding that these children, need love, attention, and specially tailored education to thrive.
Ms Datsa stresses the crucial role of parents and teachers in supporting children with ASD, thereby encouraging parents to be active participants in their children’s therapy and not isolate them from society.
In the classroom, she says, teachers must be aware of triggers such as noise and strong scents, which can lead to sensory overload and anxiety in autistic children.
“It’s the teacher’s duty to create a calm and safe environment. Most importantly, they need training in how to manage and teach children with ASD,” she added.
She also highlighted the lack of government support. “All autism schools in Ghana are privately owned. The government does not have a single school specifically for children with autism.
According to the Co-Founder and Executive Director of iElevate, Ghana has an Inclusive Education Policy of 2015, but it is too broad and that Ghana needs a dedicated policy for autism.
Ms Datsa said many teachers in inclusive schools are not adequately trained to handle children with autism, which leads to further neglect.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
Ahyiresu and Abofrem, two quiet communities in the Atwima Mponua District, have been shaken to the core by a chilling midnight drama that reads like a nightmare.
A pastor and a young mother stand accused of attempting to bury a five‑month‑old baby girl alive, a crime that has ignited outrage and disbelief across the township.
According to police, Apostle Richmond Akwasi Frimpong, 36, Head Pastor of the Anointed Grace Prayer Ministry at Kuffour Camp, conspired with his uncle Emmanuel Appiah, 53, and the child’s mother, 23‑year‑old Beatrice Agyapomaa, to dispose of the infant, Anaya Achiaa, under the cover of darkness.
A fourth suspect, Emmanuel Donkor, remains on the run.
The suspects were caught near a refuse dump around 10 pm on April 9, 2026, after a vigilant resident, Akwasi Twezor, noticed their suspicious movements.
When confronted, they claimed the child was already dead and had palace approval for burial. But Twezor’s instincts proved right—the baby was still alive, gasping faintly for breath.
Chief Linguist, Nana Yaw Badu, later confirmed that Frimpong had misled him earlier in the evening, securing permission for burial by falsely declaring the child dead.
The infant was rushed to the Abofrem Clinic, where she is now responding well to treatment. Police described her as “very beautiful.”
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Evelyn Yitamkey, Commander of DOVVSU in Bibiani, confirmed that the suspects have been provisionally charged.
Frimpong faces attempted murder and conspiracy charges, while Agyapomaa and Appiah are charged with conspiracy and abetment.
They were remanded by the Bibiani Circuit Court, presided over by Judge Frank Asiedu Nimako, to assist investigations.
The docket has been forwarded to the Attorney General’s Department for advice, ASP Yitamkey indicated.
The attempted crime has provoked fury among residents, many suspecting ritual motives aimed at bolstering the pastor’s influence.
Crowds attempted to attack the suspects outside court, but police intervention prevented mob justice.
The Assembly Member for Ahyiresu, Yusuf Suleiman, has assured residents that justice will be pursued swiftly.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
The forecourt of the African University of Communications and Business (AUCB) in Accra came alive on Friday with colour, creativity and innovation, as Level 300 students transformed the space into a lively exhibition of ideas.
Under the theme “Building meaningful brands beyond the logo,” the students invited patrons into a world where ordinary products were reimagined through storytelling, design and purpose.
From scented candles to innovative food concepts, each stand told a unique story, one that went beyond aesthetics to capture identity, value and human connection.
For many of the students, the event was more than just an academic exercise; it was a moment to dream out loud.
Guided by their lecturer, Peter Wonders, they explored what it truly means to build a brand in today’s competitive world where trust, consistency and experience matter just as much as logos and slogans.
Chairman of the occasion, Nana Kum Gyata VI, in his remarks said a brand is what people say about you when you are not present.
At the end of the presentations, awards were presented to deserving groups with Vida Nyaneba emerging as the overall best branding student.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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