News
Religious institutions urged to engage sign language interpreters
- /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/2023/09/Ms-Nukunu-Akushika-Deku-an-Advocate-for-Persons-who-are-Deaf.jpg&description=Religious institutions urged to engage sign language interpreters', '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/2023/09/Ms-Nukunu-Akushika-Deku-an-Advocate-for-Persons-who-are-Deaf.jpg&description=Religious institutions urged to engage sign language interpreters', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
Ms Nukunu Akushika Deku, an Advocate for Persons who are Deaf
An advocate for the deaf, Ms. Nukunu Akushika Deku, has asked religious institutions to engage the services of sign language interpreters to make their meetings friendly for the hearing-impaired in society.
In an interview with The Specta¬tor on Tuesday, Ms. Deku, pointed out that the deaf have not been fairly treated in this regard and said it was about time every religious institution saw the need for inter¬preters to facilitate communication between the hearing community and the deaf.
The absence of the sign language interpret¬ers in the churches, mosques and religious institutions has for decades, restricted the deaf from joining their events, a situation Ms Deku found as discrimi¬natory.
“Clearly, this de¬feats the purpose for the establishment of these institutions whose messages are supposed to be propagated to all manner of persons, re¬gardless of their physical challenges,” she said.
The deaf, she said, “just like other physically chal¬lenged persons, suffer various forms of discrimination and injustice and to think that the church or the mosque and others which should be places for them to find solace have not addressed these concerns; it leaves much to be desired.”
She recalled as a child how she followed her grandmother to church and there was no sign language interpretation, making her uncom¬fortable because she could not hear to benefit in any way.
Ms. Deku said her grandmother explained that she did not want her to go to churches with interpreters for the deaf because she hoped to hear with time.
She said her ability to follow church proceedings was a huge relief to her and so she could appreciate the inconvenience religious institu¬tions which do not have sign lan¬guage interpreters were taking their members through.
She said if the churches and mosques assisted deaf persons to un¬derstand their sermon and activities, it would encourage more of them to patronise their activities and begin to enjoy that sense of belonging.
Ms. Deku said the current state of affairs made deaf persons feel excluded because every activity obviously was not planned with them in mind.
She questioned how they were supposed to understand readings, teachings, songs and announcements if there were no sign language inter¬pretation.
She said it was about time reli¬gious institutions prioritised the deaf like all other persons by train¬ing sign language interpreters to bridge the gap between the hearing and non-hearing.
She said when the deaf were offered the platform, they would be efficient to enhance growth wherev¬er they find themselves.
She bemoaned the development where decisions or major policies about them can be taken without consulting them and appealed to religious institutions to take the initiative to embrace the deaf com¬munity.
From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Adjei Kojo
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has directed all aspirants campaigning in the Greater Accra Region to suspend their campaign activities on August 5 and 6 and instead mobilise supporters for the party’s planned “Democracy Under Attack” demonstration.
The directive was issued by the party’s National Steering Committee in a statement signed by the NPP General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, on Tuesday.
According to the statement, the decision forms part of efforts to ensure a strong turnout for the demonstration, which is scheduled for Thursday, August 6, 2026.
The party said the protest would begin at 5:00 a.m., with participants expected to gather at the Supreme Court in Accra.
It further directed Regional, Constituency and Polling Station Executives in Greater Accra to work closely to mobilise members and supporters for the event.
“The National Steering Committee is calling on all aspirants currently campaigning across the Greater Accra Region to temporarily suspend their campaign activities on the 5th and 6th of August and join in mobilising support for the upcoming demonstration,” the statement noted.
The NPP appealed to party members and supporters to remain peaceful, disciplined and orderly throughout the protest.
The demonstration forms part of the party’s response to concerns it has raised over issues relating to Ghana’s democratic governance and the justice system.
The NPP leadership expressed confidence that party members would cooperate fully to ensure a successful and peaceful event.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has commissioned an expanded dialysis unit at the Upper West Regional Hospital in Wa to improve access to kidney treatment for people in northern Ghana.
The project, estimated to cost about GH¢4 million, was undertaken in partnership with Sustainable Health Education and Interventions Limited (SHEILD), the Upper West Parliamentary Caucus, the Ministry of Health, the Ghana Health Service and other development partners.
The new facility was inaugurated on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, in Wa. It adds six dialysis machines, supporting equipment and staff training to strengthen renal care services at the hospital.
According to the Parliamentary Service, the expansion is expected to reduce the burden on patients with chronic kidney disease who previously travelled long distances to Accra, Kumasi and other major cities for dialysis treatment.
Commissioning the facility, Mr Bagbin described the project as an important investment in healthcare equity and social justice.
He noted that many families in the Upper West Region struggle to access specialist kidney care because of distance and cost.
“The people of the Upper West deserve to live with dignity. We deserve access to quality healthcare,” he stated, adding that the facility would bring treatment closer to patients and their families.
He commended SHEILD and the other partners for supporting the project and called for continued collaboration to improve specialist healthcare services across the country.
Board Director of SHEILD, Dr Sylvie Anie, indicated that the organisation remained committed to addressing critical healthcare gaps through sustainable interventions.
She explained that the expanded dialysis unit represented hope for patients who had struggled for years to obtain specialised kidney treatment.
Another Board Director of SHEILD, Dr John Nkrumah Mills, stressed that sustainable healthcare required investment in people, systems, partnerships and continuous capacity building.
He noted that the project demonstrated what could be achieved when institutions worked together to improve patient care.
Medical Director of the Upper West Regional Hospital, Dr Philip K. K. Baabiineh, stated that the expanded unit would significantly improve the hospital’s ability to provide comprehensive renal care.
He observed that many patients previously had limited treatment options and often travelled under difficult conditions to receive dialysis.
The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, described the project as consistent with government’s efforts to expand specialist healthcare services and reduce regional disparities in access to treatment.
He encouraged stronger partnerships between government, private organisations, development partners and healthcare institutions to address the growing burden of non-communicable diseases.
The Parliamentary Service stated that chronic kidney disease was becoming a major public health challenge in Ghana, driven by increasing cases of hypertension, diabetes, obesity and late diagnosis.
It noted that access to dialysis services remained uneven, with most treatment centres concentrated in Accra and Kumasi, while many patients in northern Ghana faced high transport costs and long waiting times.
The commissioning ceremony was attended by government officials, traditional leaders, Members of Parliament, healthcare professionals, development partners, civil society organisations and community representatives.
By: Jacob Aggrey
