News
Miss Ghana Foundation pays cost of surgery for 9-Year-old with spinal cord defect
The Miss Ghana Foundation (MGF) on Monday, February 14, 2022, extended a helping hand by donating to cater for the cost of surgery to correct a spinal cord defect of a class one pupil, Linda Ocloo.
The Foundation with the kind support of a philanthropist, Mrs. Oghogho Omame Dixon, donated GH₵40,000.00 to Foundation of Orthopaedics and Complex Spine (FOCOS) Hospital to cater for the cost of surgery for the nine-year-old Linda Ocloo, a scoliosis patient.
The donation was the first instalment to commence surgical procedure which would cost GH₵78,400.00 in total.
Linda’s father disclosed that her deformity was noticed in February 2020 and they had been to the Swedru Government Hospital for care on many occasions but were later referred to see a Specialist at FOCOS on february 2021 for further investigation and treatment.
But for the intervention of the MGF, Linda, a class one pupil of the Catholic Family School at Gomoa Adukwa in the Central Region of Ghana, whose parents are small scale farmers would not have been able to bear the cost of the surgery.
With keen interest in Science, Linda aspires to become a Medical Doctor in future.
Making the donation, Chairperson of MGF, Miss Inna Mariam Patty, reiterated that the foundation was passionate about impacting lives positively through it projects such as helping pay the cost of surgery for children suffering from scoliosis as one of the firm’s social intervention projects under health.
She added that this was a unique way of commemorating the Exclusive Events Ghana limited, the organisers of the Miss Ghana Beauty Pageant’s 10th anniversary as Franchise holders of the most prestigious Beauty Pageant in Ghana, by giving back to society.
She hinted that there would be similar social intervention projects in the course of the year to mark the 65th Anniversary of Miss Ghana beauty pageant and the 10th anniversary of Exclusive Events Ghana.
The reigning Queen and Ambassador of MGF, Monique Mawulawe Agbedekpui, said “February is the season of love and for this reason MGF decided to illustrate through a philanthropic gesture which would go a long way to change the life of young Linda.”
Philanthropist, Mrs. Dixon also appealed to individuals and corporate Ghana to support the works of the Miss Ghana Foundation to help impact the lives of mankind.
“My motivation is that my family and I have been blessed in various ways during our stay in Ghana. And as a woman leader who drives women empowerment, I want to give back to the women of Ghana before I leave the country.”
The Chief Executive Officer of FOCOS Hospital Dr. Irene Adorkor Wulff, who received the donation on behalf of the Hospital, commended Miss Ghana Foundation for their kind gesture over the past years and asked for more support for the almost 3000 children waiting in line.
Also present at the ceremony were Miss Ghana title holders, past contestants over the past decade and Mr. Ghana Brand Ambassador; Bright Ofori among others.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
President John Dramani Mahama has clarified that the proposed free primary healthcare policy is designed to support the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), not to take its place.
He explained that the initiative will work alongside the NHIS to improve access to basic healthcare services across the country.
He made the remarks at the official launch of the free primary healthcare programme held on Wednesday April, 15th 2026 at the Shai Osudoku District Hospital in Dodowa.
According to him, the introduction of free primary healthcare does not mean Ghanaians should stop registering for the NHIS.
He urged citizens to continue obtaining their NHIS cards, stressing that the scheme remains important for healthcare delivery beyond the primary level.
He further explained that under the new arrangement, patients seeking care at polyclinics, health centres, CHPS compounds, and health kiosks will not be required to present an NHIS card at the point of examination and treatment.
Instead, individuals will only need to show a Ghana Card or any valid form of identification to prove they are Ghanaians and residents within the community to access services.
He noted that the policy aims to remove barriers to basic healthcare and ensure that more people can receive treatment at the primary level without difficulty.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Ghana Police Service has arrested three (3) suspects in connection with a case of possession of narcotic drugs and engaging in prohibited drug-related activities within the Accra metropolis.
On April 10, 2026, the Special Operations Assistant to the Inspector General of Police received intelligence that a group of individuals were planning to engage in the sale of suspected narcotic drugs at Dzorwulu in Accra.
A surveillance operation was mounted and on 11th April 2026, a Police team proceeded to the area and arrested two suspects, Bright Ayivor and Ifeanyi Ijeoba.
The suspects were found in possession of twenty-two (22) compressed substances suspected to be cocaine, which were being prepared for sale to a prospective buyer.
Further interrogation of the suspects led to the identification of a third suspect, Kwabena Botwe as a key figure in the drug trade.
A follow-up operation at Caprice resulted in his arrest after Police mounted surveillance during a planned transaction involving proceeds from the sale of the suspected drugs.
The suspect later led Police to his residence at Greda Estates, where a search resulted in the retrieval of an amount of GHc400,000 and a counting machine.
According to the police, during the operation, he attempted to bribe the arresting officers with an additional GHc420,000, which has been retained as evidence.
All the suspects are currently in Police custody assisting investigations and will be put before the court.
