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Lack of basic amenities cause of high attrition rate in Afram Plains
Poor access to water, healthcare and education in four remote island communities in the Eastern region has resulted in high attrition of key workers in such areas.
This has led to adverse results recorded in education, health and birth registration in the Afram Plains North and South districts.
This came to light when Ghana’s Representativefor the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF),Osama MakkawiKhogali,concluded a week-long visit to the four remote island communities in the two districts.
The visit was to appreciate the pressing challenges impacting children in these communities, including significant barriers to birth registration, access to education, health, and adolescent and child protection issues.
This is the first time a head of a development organisation in Ghana has undertaken such extensive and direct engagement with hard-to-reach communities in the Afram Plains North and South districts.
MrKhogali travelled by ferry, canoe, and motor bicycle engaging directly with residents in Bumpata, Ekyiamenfrom, two communities in KwahuAfram Plains South, and the remote fishing village of Kpatalidza and Senafukope in KwahuAfram Plains North from June 22- 28,2025.
He stated that UNICEF’s presence in these remote communities reaffirm its core principle to protect and promote the rights of every child irrespective of where they live, however, isolated.
According to MrKhogali, understanding the unique barriers children face in accessing quality education and essential health services to addressing concerns around adolescent pregnancy and birth registration was crucial for tailoring UNICEF’s support effectively.
During his visit, MrKhogali held dialogues with the Regional Coordinating Councils and District Chief Executives, community members and their leaders, teachers, health workers, and religious leaders.
The discussions were centred on challenges hindering birth registration, barriers to accessing quality education, availability of essential health commodities, and adolescent pregnancy.
Findings from the visit and engagement revealed that inadequate water supply, health facilities and difficult access to education in the area caused children to trek long distances to access these facilities.
Furthermore, the UNICEF rep on the visit noted that weak implementation of birth registration protocols and the charges associated with children over 12 months were major drawbacks to achieving universal birth registration.
Strategic engagements were held with the Regional and District Health Directorates to assess the availability of basic health supplies.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
News
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
