Hot!
Rachel Tugbedzo …Ghana’s youngest author changing the narrative with the pen
- /home/u249204778/domains/spectator.com.gh/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 27
https://spectator.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Rachel-with-the-Asantehene-Otumfour-Osei-Tutu-II.jpg&description=Rachel Tugbedzo …Ghana’s youngest author changing the narrative with the pen', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
- Share
- Tweet /home/u249204778/domains/spectator.com.gh/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 72
https://spectator.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Rachel-with-the-Asantehene-Otumfour-Osei-Tutu-II.jpg&description=Rachel Tugbedzo …Ghana’s youngest author changing the narrative with the pen', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
Rachel with the Asantehene, Otumfour Osei Tutu II
Have you ever dreamt of having your books on a shelf in a library?
Well, eight-year-old Rachel Yram Perpetual Brain Tugbedzo is living that dream to the fullest. She is among the few Ghanaian children using the pen to change the narrative and raise the country’s flag high.
Rachel is arguably Ghana’s youngest writer at the moment. At age six, she had her first book, “More Nice City” published.
BACKGROUND
Rachel was born on November 20, 2014, in Mepe in the Volta Region to Mr Enoch Mensah, an Education Consultant and Mrs Portia Akosua Tomeleku Tugbedzo, a Teacher.
At age three, she was said to have read more than a dozen novels. She kept reading till she felt that spark to put down her first few words.
These few words became a sentence, a sentence became a paragraph, and a paragraph became a full story. Her parents impressed by the interest their daughter showed in writing, kept encouraging her to continue.
By age six she had written more than 50 stories. This had led to the conception of the idea “More Nice City”, a book she cherishes so much.
The 22-page book takes readers on an imaginative journey through the mind of the young author. The book also sought to give readers a sense of hope and enable them face life head-on despite challenges.
Rachel told The Spectator that the book was motivated by her favourite author “Nana Ama”. The moral lesson behind the “More Nice City”, she said was to encourage people not to give up no matter what others do to make them unhappy. We shouldn’t let that take our happiness away.”
“Daddy Sam and Mummy Sandra”, her favourite characters in the book are fictional representations of her parents. Aside from her love for writing, she enjoys track and field events.
ACHIEVEMENT/ADVOCACY
Rachel holds the award for being the Youngest Author in 2022. She has achieved this feat at the “6th Ghana Association of Writers (GAW) Literacy Awards, 2022”.
Prior to that, she presented copies of her book “More Nice City” to personalities who later endorsed the book due to its compelling content.
They included the Asantehene, Otumfour Osei Tutu II; United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultured Organisation (UNESCO) Country Representative, Mr Rahaman Abdou Diallo; the Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Adutwum among others.
The above-mentioned had supported her in various ways. The Asantehene took some of her book for the Palace Library and donated an undisclosed amount of money to support her writing journey.
The UNESCOC Country Representative, Mr Diallo, ensured that the book got the international recognition it needed. Through his endorsement, Rachel had been called by international news outlets to share her experience so far.
Rachel has taken the mantle to ensure that all children in the country get access to books to read so they can benefit from the treasures hidden in books. With the support of her parents she has organised reading clinics in some communities and schools.
She has also donated copies of her books to various schools and libraries nationwide.
Recounting one of her proudest moments, she revealed that “one time I was on my way to the washroom in school, I heard students from Kindergarten (KG) 2 reading my book. I felt motivated and fulfilled.”
By Jessel Lartey Therson-Cofie
General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Kodua Frimpong, has filed his nomination to contest the position of General Secretary again as the party begins its rebuilding efforts ahead of the 2028 general elections.
He was accompanied by party stalwarts and supporters who were in high spirits, expressing confidence that he is the right person to hold the position.
Speaking after filing his nomination, Mr Kodua Frimpong assured the rank and file of the party that he would not disappoint them.
“I can assure you that the faith the rank and file of the party have had in me, I will never disappoint them,” he said.
He also pledged to run a clean campaign devoid of personal attacks.
“I can assure you that our internal campaign will be devoid of personal attacks,” he told his fellow contestants and the rank and file of the party as he seeks to retain his position.
His tenure has seen the party through the 2024 general elections, where the NPP lost power to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) after eight years in government.
The party is currently in a rebuilding phase, with internal elections scheduled to elect new national executives to lead its reorganization towards the 2028 polls.
The General Secretary position is considered one of the most influential in the party’s administrative structure, responsible for the day-to-day running of the party secretariat and implementation of party decisions.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) has disputed claims made on social media by comedian Michael Blackson concerning the treatment given to his late mother, saying a review found that the allegations did not accurately reflect what happened during her stay at the hospital.
In a statement issued in Accra on August 5, 2026, the management of UGMC expressed condolences to Mr. Blackson and his family over the death of his 83-year-old mother, who died at the facility on July 16, 2026.
The hospital said it had taken the concerns raised by Mr. Blackson seriously and conducted a thorough review in line with its clinical and administrative procedures.
According to the statement, the facts presented by Mr. Blackson on social media contained “numerous inaccuracies” and did not accurately reflect the medical care provided to his mother.
UGMC explained that she was referred to the facility from another hospital and received treatment there from May 27 to July 16, 2026, a period of about eight weeks.
The hospital stated that it would not release details of her diagnosis, treatment, medical records or other aspects of her care because it had a duty to protect patient confidentiality, even after death.
It said the decision was intended to respect the dignity of the deceased and the privacy of her family.
UGMC further stated that all clinical decisions at the facility are made by qualified healthcare professionals based on medical judgment, established standards of care and the best interests of the patient.
The statement added that such decisions are made in consultation with authorised family representatives where necessary and that billing and financial procedures are governed by institutional policies and are separate from clinical decision-making.
The hospital noted that it values feedback from patients and their families and considers both positive and negative comments important for improving the quality of care.
Mr. Blackson had earlier used social media to criticise the care his mother received at UGMC, prompting the hospital’s response.
By: Jacob Aggrey
