Features
Rescue the perishing, care for the dying (Part 2)
The previous article discussed the issue of casual workers scattered all over the country who have been unjustly consigned to the status of “permanently temporary” employees against all conventions of fair employment practice. According to Ghana’s Constitution and the Conventions of the International Labour Organisation, (ILO),which Ghana has ratified, no worker should be deemed to be casual after working continuously for six months but that has remained just a mere rhetoric.
People have worked for periods ranging from 10 to 20 years and are considered and treated casual labourers, an anomaly reported to be more widespread within public health institutions across the country. What is worse, these employees work for chicken feed, despite all their toil, and in conditions far from conducive. Worst of all, the Inspectorate Department of the Ministry of Employment and Labour that should monitor these things and serve justice, appears to be either nonchalant or plainly irrelevant.
In this article, the emphasis is on the abuse of women’s rights in the workplace. I would not talk about sexual harassment because even though it is prevalent, it is so subtle that it has assumed the status of normalcy without being seen for what it really is. Since Adam, some Ghanaian men, especially those in management positions, have seduced their female subordinates and pressurised them to succumb to their advances or face their wrath. Some have yielded out of fear of losing their jobs and have been left scarred for life. Yet, out of shame, and for fear that their story might be repudiated, they keep it under wraps while suffering in silence.
You see, men in Western countries cannot even pass suggestive comments without serious consequences. The Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, lost his very lucrative job because of this. His younger brother, Chris Cuomo, one of the best journalists at CNN, who was found to have attempted to offer some advice to his brother’s staffers on how to wriggle his way out of trouble, also lost his job. The network fired him. In Africa, and for that matter, Ghana, it has become and remained normal and harmless. Consequently, the practice persists unabated, and offenders do not face any sanctions. Who will rescue the perishing? Who will care for the dying?
Another area of abuse concerns maternity leave, that is, the period granted a female worker by law to be absent from work before and after childbirth. Ghana has ratified the ILO Maternity Protection Convention, 1952, (No. 103) and has a legislation that stipulates 12 weeks paid maternity leave which works up to three months. Some groups, including the Ghana Medical Association, have advocated six months.
That is the ideal thing to do but there is a big problem. The elders would tell you:“Ko kompow’annya a, 3na treeee?” which loosely translates to: “If you did not get mere drops, how can you get a flow?” Some employers do not so much as educate their workers on their bill of rights, talk less of paying maternity leave. That is to say, even the mandatory 12 weeks are not given, not to mention doubling the period to six months as has been proposed in some quarters. In fact, some bosses keep beneficiaries in the dark about the requirement of the law and take advantage of their ignorance.
Paid maternity leave must not be allowed to be toyed with. Medical experts explain that conceiving a baby and having one, changes a woman’s body in ways that are hard to predict, making her moody, exhausted, restless, and ultimately depressed, if care is not taken. Unfortunately, employers do not consider the gravity of this concern and factor it into their plan as they design their benefit packages for their female employees if they do it at all.
Apart from the crime such employers are committing by denying women of such rights, they are also losing indirectly as giving that paid maternity leave would afford nursing mothers many benefits which would indirectly inure to the good of their companies by way of higher productivity.
In the first place, it would enable the women to exclusively breastfeed their babies which medical experts recommend as being far healthier and better than tinned infant formula. That would have a positive impact on the health of both mother and baby as it would serve to prevent post-partum depression which is common among women. It is estimated that about one in every eight women is affected.
A healthy mother will not absent herself from work unnecessarily and be in the right frame of mind to take care of her baby. Denying her sufficient time for maternity leave is bad enough, how worse does it get with none at all? Do such employers have any bowels of compassion at all? What do they think of a nursing mother without the benefit of family support leaving her tiny three-month old infant in the care of a stranger at a nursing home when she has not sufficiently bonded with her baby, but still has to resume work?
Some employers think they are even being considerate when they offer you a fraction of the stipulated leave period. They think it is a favour they are doing, especially if the workers are ignorant of their rights. Some are aware of the existence of the provision but do not know the details and so, anything goes.
In some cases, there is ample evidence that the new mother needs additional time to rest due to complications in delivery requiring surgical operation, and, therefore, additional days. But some callous employers deny the woman such medical rest even though the law provides that she should be given two additional weeks to the 12 weeks due her as her normal maternity leave.
What about the requirement that an hour a day should be given the new mother to nurse her baby? I will turn the earlier Akan proverb and say: “Treeeempo antre mu a, na ko ko?” meaning: “If a flow does not suffice, what good would mere drops do?”The boss does not even want to give you the real deal, that is, the 12 weeks maternity leave, how much less an hour a day to nurse your baby? In some instances, some employers have even been so mean as to punish pregnant women with dismissal even though they have genuine reasons for pre-natal and post-natal bed rest. And this is done without recourse to the laid down procedure for termination of employment spelt out in Section 15 of the Labour Act.
What is Parliament championing for women? The empty platitudes must stop. The rhetoric will not help. Last month, the MP for Nadowli-Kaleo, Mr. Anthony Suumah Mwinkaara, brought the attention of parliament to the unfair treatment of people unjustly classified and treated as casual workers even though they have long exceeded the maximum six months tenure stipulated for such staff.
The issue of women’s rights is another problem that this column is placing on the radar for consideration by parliament. It is long overdue for Ghanaian women to be treated with some dignity. Even if the House would not pass legislation to mandate a six-month paid maternity leave, it must pass a law to criminalise refusal to comply with the existing requirement of 12 weeks.
Besides, the House can propose a graduated scheme that provides for a percentage of the regular salary after the first 12 weeks if additional leave days are added. That could be a good compromise before the period may be formally extended to the ideal six months. Rescue the perishing, care for the dying! And remember, mothers cannot wait.
Contact: teepeejubilee@yahoo.co.uk
By Tony Prempeh
The driver stopped the vehicle at the gate of the large, fenced property along the Nsawam Highway, and Kakraba stepped out to meet the several workers who had gathered to wait for him.
He greeted them and went straight to the point.
“Gentlemen, I am glad to see that you have almost completed the clearing of the land. I’m happy to report that we have concluded all arrangements with Nana Serebour, and construction of the palace will start in a few days.
“I will need you to go and level the ground, and then come back to start this project. Some workers from a construction company will come and join us.
“My plan is to build twenty houses in four months. Then we will do twenty more until we reach two hundred.
“I am relying on you to help me deliver good-quality work to satisfy our clients and, as I have already indicated to you, I will reward you for your work.”
After an hour’s discussion, he closed the meeting and moved to drive away. Wofa Yaw drew closer.
“Director, can you please spare me five minutes? I would like to discuss a small issue.”
“Why, Wofa Yaw? Your wife has threatened to leave you?”
“No, Director. My wife will never leave me. This concerns a young niece of mine.”
“I hope it’s something I can help with. Please sit in the car and let me hear you.”
“Boss, my niece, Beesiwa, is a polytechnic graduate, very beautiful and with very good character.
“Unfortunately, her parents virtually forced her into a relationship with an idiot based in the US, which affected her badly. She has now recovered from that experience and, Boss, I am respectfully asking if you would find a job for her.
“I promise you that you will never regret it.”
“Well, Wofa Yaw, let me meet her and speak with her. I may be able to help, maybe not in the way you expect, but let me meet her.
“I will not be back here for another week, but I will be at the office throughout next week. You can come with her.”
On Monday morning, Wofa Yaw and Beesiwa were seated at the office by nine o’clock. Three young ladies welcomed them warmly, offered them soft drinks and assured them that Kakraba would be there shortly.
They then returned to their desks and sat behind computers with large screens displaying various building designs.
Kakraba walked in and greeted them warmly. After chatting briefly with the three ladies, he ushered Wofa Yaw and Beesiwa into his office.
“Director, this is my niece, Beesiwa. I mentioned her to you when you came to Nsawam.”
“Yes, indeed. Madam Beesiwa, you are very beautiful, just as your uncle said. Wofa Yaw is my colleague.
“We have just started a building project that will take about three to four years. He mentioned that you have a small problem, so I said I would like to meet you and see how I can help.
“So, Beesiwa, please tell me a little about yourself.”
Beesiwa described her childhood, her school experience, her brief work at the bank and the nasty episode with Sammy Abrokwa, which shattered her peaceful life. She also explained how she had been recovering from the experience.
“I am really sorry to hear this,” Kakraba said. “Now, here is what we are going to do.
“We are a small but very busy company. The three ladies out there spend most of the day on site and come back to report on their work in the morning.
“I have three main projects. The big one is an estate project in Nsawam, where your uncle is one of my main colleagues. I need a personal assistant who can take care of my activities, especially when I am not in town.
“Now, we will have to start with trust. Based on what I know about Wofa Yaw, and based on what you yourself have told me, I think we can start on a sound basis.
“So, Wofa Yaw will take you to my home. You can move into one of the four guest rooms.”
“Sir, I have taken some computer lessons, and I have even done graphics and web design,” Beesiwa said.
“Fantastic! I will give you a good phone and a laptop. I will also arrange computer lessons for you.”
“Now, Wofa Yaw, take her home. My sister, Kuukuwa, will meet you and show you around, and then you can return to Koforidua.
“When would you like to start work?”
“Sir, I would like to start today, but I would need to go and bring my things.”
“No problem. Take a taxi to my house, meet my sister, and let me know what you decide.”
Later that day, Kakraba and the three ladies met with some bank officials to conclude the sale of the three buildings at Adabraka.
They closed at five-thirty and, after rewarding the ladies for their hard work, Kakraba got home just after dark.
He was surprised to find Kuukuwa and Beesiwa sitting at the table enjoying supper.
“What’s happening here?” he asked. “Beesiwa, I thought you would return to Koforidua.”
“She changed her mind,” Kuukuwa said. “We went to the mall and bought a few things for her. Then we came back to cook. She has made some nice changes to your bedroom and cooked a couple of interesting dishes. Sit down; we will serve you.”
“Well, I certainly can’t refuse that. It’s been a busy day.
“So, what’s the plan now? Will Beesiwa go to Koforidua tomorrow, gather her things together and come down?”
“No, I will stay here for a while,” Beesiwa replied. “Kuukuwa bought me the things I need, so I may go back next week. I’m ready to start work. What would you like me to start with?”
“Well, you can come to the office tomorrow morning, meet the three girls and get a feel for what we do.
“Since you are living here, at least for now, we can discuss the plans for the next few weeks.
“Sometimes there are gaps when I travel up north. You can take care of things from now. I think the girls would like having someone like you around.”
By Ekow de Heer
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A frequent question following breast surgery is whether human tissue possesses the regenerative capacity to restore an excised organ.
From a strict physiological standpoint, a completely removed breast cannot regrow. Unlike certain organisms that can regenerate complex limbs or organs, adult human tissues—particularly specialised glandular structures—lack the cellular machinery required to rebuild an entire organ after its total surgical removal.
Instead, the body heals the surgical site through processes such as scar tissue formation and re-epithelialisation rather than complete cellular regeneration.
What a mastectomy actually removes
To understand why natural tissue regeneration does not occur, it is important to examine the surgical scope of a mastectomy.
Depending on the type of procedure and the medical reason for surgery, a mastectomy may involve the removal of:
Glandular architecture: The milk-producing lobules and ducts that form the functional core of the mammary gland.
Adipose tissue: The fatty tissue that contributes to breast volume, projection and contour.
Other breast tissue: The extent of tissue removal varies according to the type of mastectomy and the need to achieve appropriate surgical clearance.
Because specialised breast structures are physically removed, the body does not rebuild a complete mammary gland. Instead, healing occurs through tissue repair and scar formation.
Distinguishing residual tissue from “regrowth”
Patients or observers may notice changes in the chest area after surgery, sometimes leading to misconceptions about tissue regeneration.
Skin- and nipple-sparing procedures
Modern breast surgery may preserve the outer skin envelope or, in selected cases, the nipple-areola complex. Small amounts of breast tissue may remain depending on the surgical technique. Any changes in remaining tissue due to hormonal fluctuations represent residual tissue responding to the body, rather than the regrowth of a completely removed breast.
Adipose accumulation
Weight gain after surgery can increase the amount of subcutaneous fat across the chest wall. However, this is part of general body fat distribution and does not represent the regeneration of a mammary gland.
Modern reconstructive pathways
Because a completely removed breast does not naturally regenerate, modern medicine offers reconstructive options aimed at restoring physical symmetry, contour and body image.
The two main approaches are implant-based reconstruction and autologous, or tissue-based, reconstruction.
Implant-based reconstruction
Implant-based reconstruction uses synthetic medical devices, typically filled with silicone gel or saline, to rebuild the breast mound following a mastectomy.
The two-stage process: This approach may begin with the placement of a temporary tissue expander to gradually create space and stretch the surrounding tissues. A later procedure may then be performed to place a permanent implant.
Recovery profile: Implant-based reconstruction generally involves a shorter initial surgery and recovery period compared with procedures that require tissue to be harvested from another part of the body.
Long-term considerations: Breast implants are not lifetime devices and require ongoing medical monitoring. Some patients may need additional procedures over time because of complications or changes in the implant or surrounding tissue.
Autologous or tissue-based reconstruction
Autologous reconstruction uses the patient’s own living tissue to create a new breast mound. Tissue may be transferred from another part of the body, commonly the lower abdomen, using procedures such as a DIEP flap.
Natural look and feel: Because the reconstruction uses living tissue, it can provide a natural warmth, texture and softness. The tissue may also change with the patient’s body weight over time.
Long-term durability: Once healing is complete, autologous reconstruction can provide a long-lasting result without the need to replace an implant. However, some patients may still require further procedures.
Complex surgery: This option usually involves a longer operation and recovery period. In microsurgical procedures, surgeons may need to reconnect tiny blood vessels to establish blood flow to the transferred tissue.
Direct comparison
When choosing between these two reconstructive pathways, patients and their surgical teams must consider several physical, medical and lifestyle factors.
Surgical burden: Implant surgery is generally less invasive, while flap reconstruction involves surgery at both the chest and the donor site.
Foreign material versus native tissue: Implants involve the use of a medical device, while autologous reconstruction uses the patient’s own tissue.
Recovery: The recovery timelines and rehabilitation requirements differ significantly between the two procedures.
Recovery and physical rehabilitation
Recovering from breast reconstruction requires patience, careful pacing and, in some cases, structured physical rehabilitation.
Because implant-based and autologous tissue-flap procedures involve different surgical techniques, their healing timelines and physical therapy milestones can vary considerably.
Understanding these differences is important for patients considering reconstruction, as the choice involves more than restoring physical appearance. It also requires careful consideration of recovery, long-term monitoring, lifestyle and individual medical needs.
Part 2 will examine recovery timelines, physical therapy milestones and other factors patients should consider when choosing between reconstructive options.
By Robert Ekow Grimmond-Thompson
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