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Living beyond autism …Young Phil inspires others
● Phil Benito
Africa’s only autistic cyclist, Young Phil Bertino continues to inspire other children with disabilities to reach out for their goals as the world marked Autism Day recently.
The 16-year-old who is gradually becoming a global icon despite being autistic was engaged in awareness campaigns as the month had been set aside for autism.
With a support from the Liztino Centre for Children with Special Needs, Young Phil since he was diagnosed with autism at age four, fought against all odds to live an independent life to become an example to others.
The young lad who plays the piano, rides bicycle, swims and plays tennis, managed to survive the childhood disorder and now living his best life as a normal kid, setting himself as an example to other children.
He had over the years, made donations to the needy in society, courtesy support from his parents Mr and Mrs Bertino as part of efforts to create awareness and inspire others to become better.
AUTISM DAY
This year’s autism month celebrations was no exception as the mother of Young Phil and the CEO of the Liztino Centre, Mrs Angel Acquah Bertino used her ward’s story to inspire parents and other kids to become better.
The United Nations General Assembly unanimously declared April 2 (every year) as World Autism Awareness Day to highlight the need to help improve the quality of life of those with autism so they can lead full and meaningful lives as an integral part of society.
Autism is a lifelong neurological condition that manifests during early childhood, irrespective of gender, race or socio-economic status.
The term Autism Spectrum refers to a range of characteristics. Appropriate support, accommodation and acceptance of this neurological variation allow those on the Spectrum to enjoy equal opportunity, full and effective participation in society.
SEMINAR
During a seminar at the Aburi Girls’ Senior High School (SHS) on April 2 to mark the World Autism Day, Mrs Acquah Bertino encouraged schools and communities to accept autistic children and provide them with the platform to engage in social and sporting activities to enable them to discover their full potentials.
She emphasised that students needed to be enlightened to carry out the message to their homes and communities.
“We have been engaged in this awareness creation for the past four years and needed to extend the message to schools and communities to get everyone involved,” she stated.
She said, it was important to constantly remind Ghanaians on the need to support autism children to live a normal life by taking a cue from Young Phil’s development.
She urged the government and community leaders to take the canker seriously by providing resources in supporting children with autism and other forms of disabilities.
“It is important to make our schools, churches, work places, play grounds and other facilities autistic friendly so children with such disorders could live comfortably,” she stated.
She also urged corporate entities to come on board to support their awareness campaign as it would go a long way to bring change as far as support for autism in Ghana was concerned.
She said, they would hold this year’s Autism Awareness Creation with Cycling next weekend and urged all to come on board to support.
She said, Young Phil was living an independent life, courtesy support from family and urged communities to come together to support families to raise their children with special needs.
BACKGROUND
Phil Bertino, is the first child of Mr Phil Bertino and Mrs Elizabeth Acquah Bertino. He was born a healthy child and grew up with no sign of abnormality, but his development took a different turn at age six when he was diagnosed to be autistic.
The signs had started when he was about two years old. The one letter words he could easily pronounce had disappeared and he was only making unintelligible sound.
When the condition started to worsen at age three, his parents sought medical attention and were advised to enroll him in a speech therapy. He enrolled for six months but there was no remarkable progress.
Determined to ensure he grew up a ‘normal child,’ his parents tried other medical and spiritual remedies but eventually had to come to terms with the reality that Phil was, indeed, autistic.
The knowledge of the condition and the fact that it has no cure was unbearable for the couple, but this however did not crush Phil’s dream of becoming a professional cyclist.
In September 2021, he was part of over 70 professional riders at the 17th edition of the Teshie Homowo Cycling Challenge.
He put up a splendid performance to finish his 76km race in 2:45:33secs with an average speed of 27.56km/h. He received massive cheers for his efforts and was presented with a special trophy, medal and jersey for his achievement on the day.
By Michael D. Abayateye
Ghana’s parliament has marked the 2nd edition of May Day 2026 under the theme “ Welcome Home”.
It was special day meant to celebrate the invaluable support of the workforce, recognizing the commitment, resilience, and contributions of workers to institutional growth and national development.
Delivering the message on behalf of the Speaker, the 1st Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor, described the theme as very apt, appropriate, and timely, noting that Parliament is more than a workplace, it is a shared home.
He emphasized that we cannot speak about work without speaking about people, reminding everyone that the true measure of our work is the well-being of our people.
He urged that our traditional clothing become an integral part of our everyday clothing, and that our local languages must become integral to our daily lives, interwoven into education and practiced at home.
Referencing Standing Order 63, which captures the use of local language as optional in deliberations, he encouraged a renewed commitment to identity, saying it is significant that we “come home” and present who we are so future generations can inherit a story they can fully tell.
The Clerk, Mr. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, in his remarks commended officers for their dedication and devotion to duty, calling on them to go the extra mile and leave legacies.
Echoing the reminder that an unexamined life is not worth living, he described the event as an invitation to reconnect with our roots through cultural revival.
The Deputy Clerk, C&FMS, Dr. Gloria Sarku Kumawu, urged all not to forget their roots, the people behind the stories of ministries, industries, and the strides made both in-house and beyond.
What began last year has now become a meaningful tradition, showcasing Ghanaian heritage, fostering unity, and encouraging innovation under the principle of diversity for unity and diversity for progress, she added.
The gathering brought together leadership, public officials, and staff across all levels, along with the media, standing as a unifying platform that honored service, celebrated culture, and reaffirmed a shared commitment to national development.
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Manhyia would serve as Ghana’s unifying force …Otumfuo assures on commemoration of 27 years on the Golden Stool
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, last Friday celebrated his 27th enstoolment with a colourful and culture-rich ceremony at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, drawing a distinguished gathering of dignitaries from across Ghana and beyond.
Clad in splendid kente and adorned in rich traditional regalia, the dignitaries added colour and elegance to the occasion, as the palace grounds came alive with a vibrant display of Ghanaian culture.
Traditional drumming, dancing and symbolic rites underscored the deep-rooted heritage of the Ashanti Kingdom, captivating guests and reaffirming the value of tradition in modern society.
Speaking at a high-level Executive Gala organised by the Diaspora Affairs Office of the Office of the President in strategic partnership with the E ON 3 Group, the ‘World-Meets-in-Ghana’ gala, the Asantehene urged Ghanaians to guard against the divisive tendencies of partisan politics.
The event was to honour the Asantehene’s nearly three-decade reign under the theme ‘Advancing Peace and Sustainable Economic Development through Royal Vision’.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II noted that such attitudes threatened the country’s long-standing values of unity, civility and brotherliness.
He assured that Manhyia would continue to serve as a unifying force for the nation.
The celebration also featured the presentation of commemorative gold coins to notable national leaders, including the President, John Dramani Mahama, former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as well as Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, a former Vice President in recognition of their contributions to peace and national development.
By Spectator Reporter
