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Intensify support for women, girls for development
A call has been made to organisations and well-meaning individuals to give support to women and girls in society in order to harness their potentials for development.
This call was made when the AJ Foundation-Ghana in collaboration with Andrey Julia Dashin’s Foundation donated assorted items to the Hour of Grace Children’s Home at Huhunya in the Eastern Region, last weekend.
Dubbed “Feeding the Kids”, the foundation presented both consumable products and household accessories to the rehabilitation home.
According to Lady Akpene Justine Egbenya, Founder of AJ Foundation, it was important for individuals to lend a helping hand to children living in deprived communities.
She underscored that, giving children their basic needs such food, clothing, and shelter helped make their dream a reality indicating that, caring for the needy children cintributed to eliminating hunger among African children which she called “Zero Hunger for the Needy Children”.
Lady Akpene said that, the purpose for the donation to the children at Hour of Grace Children’s Home was to help sustain them in their day-to-day activities as part of harnessing their potentials for the future.
Highlighting on the “Zero Hunger for the Needy Children”, the Founder said it aligned with the Sustainable Development Goal one which is “to end poverty in all forms and dimensions by 2030”.
According to her, the mission of AJ Foundation-Ghana was to create awareness and provide healing, hope for the communities towards achieving quality health care, quality education, zero hunger and entrepreneurship development.
Narrating an ordeal, she went through while growing up, she said “I grew up in a village where we had no health facilities and health workers to cater for patients suffering from a disease”. stressing that, one would have to travel a long distance between six and 10 miles before accessing healthcare.
This, she said, endangered health conditions in deprived communities and must be a thing of the past.
According to the Founder, the foundation had made several donations in some parts of the regions since its establishment five years ago.
“it has empowered women and given equal opportunities to children in deprived communities”, she added.
Mr. Lawrence Gbengor, Father of the Children’s Home received the items and commended the foundation for the gesture shown to the children.
Mr. Clifford Ewudzie, a representative of AJD Foundation also said that he was always happy to see smiles on the faces of under privileged children who got support from philanthropists and benevolent organisations.
From Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah, Huhunya,E/R.
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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
