News
Mohammed Dauda launches maiden book titled ‘Chattel’
Playwright Mr Mohammed Dauda launched his maiden book in Accra last Sunday. Titled Chattel, the 196 page book when disjoined simply means ‘Chat’ and ‘Tell’.
The book speaks about slavery and emancipation in the late Fifteenth Century where Aggrey Tandoh, a prince of a kingdom, defies the orders of his father by freeing the slaves.
Aggrey dreams of travelling abroad in his pursuit of freedom. Along the line, he falls in love with a slave and, because of his choices; his royal status is stripped, affecting his chances of travelling abroad.
Speaking about what prompted him to put down such piece, Dauda said that in one way or the other, “there are numerous trials which people encountered in their lives hence such a piece.”
He noted that the play was dedicated to the souls that perished and the families that broke through slavery. He, therefore, extended his gratitude to Mr Prince Mensah, President of the Ghana Writer’s Marathon, for giving him the opportunity to have his work published.
This was his first official publication aside others on various social media platforms.
Some of the audience, graced the occasion by performing excerpts of the play as well as poetry recitals.
Mr. Dauda is a teacher and a writer. His writing skills and style are widely sought after. Enthralling, outstanding, thought-provoking and creative are the traits that define him.
He has successfully published articles, short stories and poems on social media and online portals (notable one being the Publisher Online).
The playwright informed his fans to keep their fingers crossed and expect more of his works.
Chattel sells at GH¢60 cedis.
By Yunusah Essandoh
Mrs Patience Antonio, a Child and Family Development Advocate, has called for a national campaign to reduce the growing reliance on breast milk substitutes among nursing mothers in Ghana.
According to Mrs Antonio, scientific evidence shows that breastfeeding improves a child’s emotional stability, boosts intelligence, strengthens the immune system, and provides long-term health benefits. She made these remarks in an interview with The Spectator in Accra last week, emphasizing the importance of breastfeeding for a child’s overall development.
She explained that breastfeeding is not just a biological act of feeding but a key emotional and developmental bridge between mother and child. She also highlighted the need for the recommended six-month maternity leave period to ease the pressure on mothers to return to work prematurely.
“Breastfeeding creates intimacy and trust. It assures the baby of love and security, which becomes the foundation for their emotional health,” Mrs Antonio noted, warning that abandoning exclusive breastfeeding could have long-term implications on children’s social and emotional wellbeing.
Consequently, she called for a minimum of five months of fully paid maternity leave for Ghanaian mothers to enable effective breastfeeding, bonding, and healthier child development. She also urged workplaces to implement family-friendly policies, including private spaces for breastfeeding, flexible working arrangements for nursing mothers, and stronger support systems for new parents.
Mrs Antonio further encouraged families and society to actively support mothers during breastfeeding, stressing that many women struggle due to lack of assistance at home or the pressure to return to work too soon. She emphasized, “If we want a healthier, emotionally stable generation, then we must make breastfeeding a priority and support mothers to do it without stress.”
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
Spectator
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The Nanvili Community School in the Mion District of the Northern Region is facing severe infrastructural challenges, affecting teaching and learning for pupils in the area.
The school, which serves five surrounding communities with a total of 58 pupils, has deteriorated to the extent that many children have stopped attending classes. Poor classroom conditions and the lack of desks have made teaching and learning difficult. During a visit to the school, the gate-free classrooms were found filled with goat and sheep droppings.
During the rainy season, both teachers and pupils are often cut off from the school due to bad roads and flooding. Teaching activities are frequently suspended for weeks, negatively affecting academic performance.
The Assemblyman for the area, Mr. Dawuni Mutawakil, expressed concern, noting that the situation is worrying since these pupils are expected to compete with their counterparts in urban areas who have access to better facilities. He added that due to limited space, classes have been merged, with pupils from Primary One and Two, Three and Four, and Five and Six sharing the same classrooms.
The Chief of Nanvili, Abu Kassim, also appealed to the government and non-governmental organisations to come to the aid of the community. He emphasized that the current state of the school discourages children from nearby communities from attending.
Both the Chief and Assemblyman have called for urgent intervention to improve infrastructure and provide furniture for the pupils to ensure quality education for children in the Nanvili area.
By Geoffrey Buta, Nanvili, Northern Region
Spectator
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