News
Provide support for spouses, parents of PLWDs
Being the spouse of a Person Living With Disability (PLWD) has been tough and frustrating, a wife of a blind man has disclosed.
Ms Aku Dza (not her real name) a resident of Ashaiman said more often than not, it was not the disability of the spouse which was emotionally depleting but the negative comments from family and friends.
She made the statement on Saturday in an interview with The Spectator on life of a spouse of a disabled person.
She has been married to the husband who is disabled seven years ago.
Ms Dza said her marriage had experienced its own ups and downs like many marriages but the toughest aspect has been when one feels his or her concern must be given priority.
Ms Dza said she was a petty trader who moved from one community to the other and house-to-house to sell her goods before she got married.
She said, however, after her second and third child, she was overwhelmed with catering for the children and her husband in addition to walking long distances.
She said as the ‘eyes’ of her husband, she had to assist him with his movements especially if it involves going out.
She said she was aware that her decision to settle with a person with disability was not going to be a walk in the park and so she had been reluctant to complain to anyone.
The-39-year old mother of three, however said a number of people who observed their struggles were always quick to give their unsolicited opinion about how they should live their lives.
She said she was on countless times advised to abandon the man and move on with her life to free herself of that burden.
Ms Dza said no one deserved to be treated in a bad way because they had a disability which happened through no fault of theirs.
She said although the marriage had been challenging, she had been motivated to stay with her husband because he was a good companion who also appreciated all her efforts towards the growth of the family.
She said although both of them were not currently working and compelled to fall on the benevolence of people for survival, she was hopeful that she would be able to raise some money so that she could start a business.
She said, she was unhappy that over the years, the society had not found it necessary to put measures in place to offer some sort of emotional supportto the spouses or parents of PLWDs.
This kind of support system, she said needed not to be financial but psychological and emotional support to ease the burden on them.
She said spouses needsome form of training or counselling about how to live with (PLWD) and handle their disabilities such that it did not take a toll on them.
She urged religious or traditional groups, the government and all public spirited persons to make it a habit to always support the needy.
From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Ashaiman
The Ghana Police Service has launched a manhunt for a suspect in connection with the disappearance of a 27 year old man at Oyibi.
In a press release dated April 14, 2026, the Police identified the suspect as Wisdom Tetteh and said he is being sought over the disappearance of Theophilus Ashitey Amarh.
According to the Police, the case was reported on April 7, 2026, after the victim failed to return home.
He had left the previous day with the intention of selling his Hyundai Elantra saloon car after being introduced to a prospective buyer by the suspect.
Investigations revealed that the victim was last seen at the suspect’s residence at Saasabi, where he had gone to meet the supposed buyer.
The Police noted that a follow up visit to the suspect’s residence on April 10 led to the discovery of suspected bloodstains in a room, raising concerns of possible foul play.
The scene has since been examined by the National Crime Scene Management Team with support from the Anti Armed Robbery Unit of the CID Headquarters.
The Police added that search efforts involving community members and local authorities have been carried out in the area, but the victim is yet to be found.
Further intelligence suggests that the suspect may have fled the country to neighbouring Togo.
The Police indicated that steps, including INTERPOL processes, have been initiated to track and arrest him.
The Command assured the public that all necessary measures are being taken to arrest the suspect and uncover what happened.
It also urged anyone with information on the whereabouts of the suspect or the missing person to report to the nearest police station to assist investigations.
By: Jacob Aggrey
A team member of the Kwahu Business Forum and special aide to the Chief of staff, Benjamin Essuman has revealed that the team is working on developing the forum into a major platform to support business growth and policy dialogue in Ghana.
According to him, efforts are underway to transform the Kwahu Business Village into an International Conference Hub that will attract businesses and investors from across the world.
He made the remarks during an interview with ghanaiantimes.com.gh journalist, Jacob Aggrey in Accra.
He said the forum was designed to bring together regulators, policymakers, entrepreneurs and investors to share ideas and help shape policies that support business development.
According to him, the concept began in 2024 when John Dramani Mahama and his Chief of Staff conceived the idea during the Easter period in Kwahu, where many entrepreneurs gather annually.
He said the first edition created a platform for business people to engage leadership directly and present their concerns.
According to him, the success of the maiden event led to the decision to make it an annual forum.
He said the second edition in 2025 focused on improving access to finance by bringing banks and financial institutions to interact with businesses.
He said institutions such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank participated and engaged entrepreneurs on funding opportunities.
According to him, the forum has now gone beyond dialogue and has become a platform for partnerships, negotiations and investment deals.
He said some entrepreneurs who participated in previous editions have secured support from financial institutions, with their projects progressing steadily.
According to him, the presence of the President at the forum continues to boost confidence among businesses and deepen engagement.
He said the 2026 edition was larger than the previous ones and was held at the newly developed Kwahu Business Village.
According to him, traditional authorities in Kwahu donated about 150 acres of land to support the development of a permanent business conference centre.
He said the forum is attracting both local and international companies, creating opportunities for networking and collaboration.
According to him, the initiative also promotes tourism activities such as paragliding in collaboration with the Ghana Tourism Authority.
He said the forum will continue to be held in Kwahu and is being positioned as Ghana’s version of the World Economic Forum.
Mr.Easuman further challenges such as overcrowding in previous editions have been addressed through the introduction of a digital registration system.
He said small scale businesses must take advantage of opportunities such as partnerships, mergers and government incentives to expand.
According to him, entrepreneurs should also collaborate with institutions like the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and the Ghana Export Promotion Authority to access international markets.
He said the long term vision includes developing the Kwahu Business Village into a world class facility capable of hosting global conferences, with possible plans to construct an airstrip.
According to him, the forum remains an important platform for businesses seeking growth, funding and expansion beyond Ghana.
Background
The Kwahu Business Forum was introduced in 2024 as an initiative to bring together business leaders and government officials during the Easter festivities in Kwahu.
It was conceived as a platform for dialogue but has since evolved into an annual event focused on promoting investment, networking and policy engagement to strengthen Ghana’s business environment.
By: Jacob Aggrey
