News
Put cleft care on NHIS to reduce reliance on donor support – Dr Ernest Konadu-Asiedu
DR Ernest Konadu-Asiedu, Head of the Medical and Dental Unit at the Ministry of Health, has underscored the need to embed cleft care into Ghana’s national health policy framework.
Speaking at the Partner Forum held at the Smile Train Leadership has supported more than two million procedures globally since its founding in 1999.
Centre in Kumasi, Dr Konadu-Asiedu emphasised that cleft lip and palate were not merely surgical conditions but public health and developmental challenges, often linked to nutrition, speech, stigma, and long-term functional limitations.
Currently, Smile Train—the world’s largest cleft-focused non-profit organisation—provides free surgeries and In Ghana alone, over 3,000 children have received primary cleft surgeries, generating an estimated $67 million in economic benefit since 2003.
Cleft refers to a split or division, like a cleft in a rock or a cleft palate (a birth condition affecting the roof of the mouth). In a broader sense, it describes a separation or fissure.
He noted that while Smile Train continues to provide free surgeries, long-term sustainability requires Ghana to take ownership of cleft services within its health system.
Financing is also critical, and embedding cleft services into the National Health Insurance Scheme and exploring the Ghana Medical Trust Fund would reduce reliance on donor support.
His vision is for cleft care to be fully institutionalised, locally led, and sustainably delivered through Ghana’s health system, ensuring that children born with cleft conditions can access comprehensive, life-changing care even beyond Smile Train’s support.
Ms Susannah Schaefer, President and CEO of Smile Train, lauded Ghana’s pioneering role in cleft care in Africa, describing the National Cleft Care Centre in Kumasi as ‘a beacon of hope’ for children and families across the continent.
She emphasised the urgency of tackling stigma and misinformation surrounding clefts, pointing out that one in 770 children in Ghana is born with the condition.
Without treatment, they struggle to breathe, eat, and speak, and too often face bullying and isolation. By encouraging families to seek free, safe, and high-quality care, she said, children are given the chance to thrive, to smile, and to contribute to building the nation.
Prof. Solomon Obiri-Yeboah, Head of the National Cleft Care Centre, also noted that one in 770 children has cleft condition.
He celebrated the resilience of families and children living with clefts, describing them as an inspiration.
The six storey centre, the first of its kind in Africa, was fully sponsored with equipment by Smile Train at a cost of over $2 million and is located within the precincts of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
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The 24 Hour Economy Authority has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Hunan Architectural Design Institute Group to support the planning of the Volta Economic Corridor.
The agreement aims to guide how land within the corridor will be used, design key infrastructure, and develop systems that will support large scale production.
The partnership will focus on detailed planning to make the area ready for investment and smooth business operations.
The project will include the development of agroecological parks, industrial zones, and transport networks to connect production centres to markets.
According to the Authority, proper planning is critical to building strong economic systems and expanding production across the corridor.
It noted that the collaboration with the Chinese design firm will help lay a solid foundation for industrial growth and long term development within the Volta Economic Corridor.
By: Jacob Aggrey
President of the Ghana Bar Association, Efua Ghartey, has called on judges and lawyers to carry out their duties with humility, fairness, and a strong sense of responsibility.
She made the appeal during the Supreme Court at 150 celebration held at the University of Ghana, under the theme “Honouring the past, celebrating the present and defining the future.”
Addressing participants, she noted that those in the legal profession occupy positions of great power and influence, and must therefore remain humble in the discharge of their duties.
She urged both the bench and the bar to deliver justice without fear or ill will, stressing the need for fairness in handling cases.
Reflecting on the significance of the celebration, she explained that the year 1876 marks not only the establishment of the Supreme Court but also the beginning of formally trained lawyers in the Gold Coast.
The GBA President questioned what Ghana would be without the rule of law, which is upheld by judges and lawyers, adding that the country could descend into a system where only the strongest survive if justice is not properly administered.
She further encouraged legal practitioners to reflect on their responsibilities and remain committed to upholding the rule of law for the benefit of all citizens.
By: Jacob Aggrey
