News
Photo exhibition to mark World Water Day
Water is life, yet millions across Ghana, especially in the Northern Region, continue to face severe water shortages that threaten livelihoods, agriculture, and public health.
As the world observes World Water Day 2025, a resounding call for urgent action has been made – not just to raise awareness but to push for bold policies, committed action, and the use of powerful visual storytelling to drive real change.
At the World Water Day Photography Exhibition, organised by Foto4Change, leading experts, policymakers, and visual storytellers convened to emphasise the critical need for water preservation and climate resilience.
Through striking photography and immersive virtual reality (VR) experiences, the exhibition highlighted the daily struggles of communities grappling with water scarcity and the pressing need for immediate intervention.
In his opening remarks, Geoffrey Buta, Team Lead at Foto4Change, underscored the power of visual storytelling in amplifying the voices of affected communities and ensuring their struggles are seen and heard.
“Tamale has been facing water crises for almost a decade. As a visual journalist, I see it as my duty to document these issues, bring them to light, and hold those in power accountable,” Mr Buta stated.
He further urged organisations and policymakers to collaborate in tackling water challenges, emphasizing that real-life stories have the potential to inspire both public and political action.
“At Foto4Change, we have documented the struggles of mothers walking miles for water, children missing school due to unsafe drinking water, and farmers losing their crops to droughts. These stories have directly contributed to policy shifts and increased funding for water projects,” he noted.
Mad. Fauzia Aliu, Advocacy Campaigns and Inclusion Manager at WaterAid Ghana, said access to clean water is not a privilege but a fundamental human right.
Despite this, millions of Ghanaians still lack this essential resource, highlighting the urgent need for action.
Mr Sammy Adjei, Senior Project Officer – WASH/ Agric at Catholic Relief Services (CRS), shared insights on community-led water governance, which has proven successful in many regions where CRS operates.
Mr Yakubu Alhassan Kassim, WASH Officer at UNICEF’s Tamale field office, described the exhibition as a powerful advocacy tool that highlights the urgent need for water preservation and sustainable water management.
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
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
Hot!
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
