News
Seek early medical care to increase chances of childbirth- Fertility Specialist
Women who desire to become mothers have been advised to seek early medical attention when they are experiencing a delay in child bearing as this could increase their chances of conception.
This advice follows an observation that some women often made the decision to get help from specialist when the situation was almost too late for any medical intervention thereby denying themselves the opportunity to have their own babies.
A Gynaecologist and In Vitro Fertilisation ( IVF ) Specialist, Dr. Wanjiru Ndengwa delivering a lecture on “Fertility Management Options – Messages for the Community ” at the Merck Foundation Health Media Training Programme said it was heartbreaking that some women wasted too much time moving from one place to the other due to misinformation and ignorance and only went to fertility centres as a last option.
The programme organised for journalists from various countries among others was aimed at building the capacity of media personnel for advocacy on infertile issues and stigmatisation.
She said issues of conception were but a serious subject which should not be taken for granted and so expert advice should be the first rather than last option explaining the basics of couple infertility treatment as “searching, finding and treating the causes”.
She said time was very critical in the life of women because child bearing age was time bound compared with men.
Dr. Ndengwa said women who had visited fertility centres on time had saved themselves unnecessary stress as talks, investigations, imaging investigations, ultra sound scan among others were done on time to fix their challenges unlike those who sought treatment late.
She mentioned infertility as infections, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), abortions, deliveries (example child birth complications), blocked tubes, fibroid and other pathologies of women as some of the major causes of infertility.
She said early treatment increased the chances of a woman to have more children explaining that for instance a woman in her twenties who consulted Specialists early could have about four children while a woman in her forties could not do same due to the age factor.
The Gynaecologist and IVF Specialist said it was important for everyone to get the right information to prevent unfortunate cases of denying themselves the opportunity to be mothers due to ignorance.
She said upon examination, it had been found out that some women needed a small intervention in lifestyle change such as losing weight, change in diet or exercise to get pregnant.
She said others also needed treatment of infection, hormonal treatments, antibiotics, fixing of tubal blockage among others.
She disclosed that it was important for men to also seek medical attention when a woman was not conceiving because male factors such as poor quality sperms (azoospermia) could be the reason and so the blame should not be laid solely at the door step of a woman.
Dr. Ndengwa appealed to the public to desist from stigmatising childless couples as it caused them stress which affected the results of efforts to get pregnant.
From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Tema.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has opened applications for members interested in contesting as its parliamentary candidates in the 2028 general elections.
In a statement issued on Thursday, October 29, 2026, the party said interested members must declare their intention to contest between Sunday, November 1, and Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
According to the statement signed by the party’s Communications Director, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, prospective candidates must complete an online form within the specified period.
The party said a non-refundable application fee of GH¢5,000 would be charged to each prospective candidate.
It added that all applicants would undergo vetting and screening to determine their eligibility to contest on the party’s ticket.
The NPP announced plans to organise capacity-building workshops for prospective candidates in December 2026. The workshops will be held across the Northern, Middle and Southern zones, with details of the venues to be announced later.
The party stressed that the guidelines would apply to all prospective candidates, including sitting NPP Members of Parliament who wish to contest again.
It further warned aspirants against starting campaign activities following the opening of the application process.
According to the statement, the existing directive prohibiting campaign activities remains in force until the party gives official clearance.
It cautioned that anyone who violates the directive would face appropriate sanctions under the party’s constitution and regulations.
The NPP said the process was designed to promote fairness, transparency and equal opportunities for all aspirants as it prepares to select candidates for all 276 constituencies ahead of the 2028 elections.
It urged prospective candidates to follow the guidelines and conduct themselves with discipline and respect for one another throughout the process.
The party said its broader objective was to strengthen unity within its ranks and rebuild public confidence ahead of the 2028 general elections.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
eputy Foreign Minister accompanies Veep to Shanghai to champion Global South reform, industrial drive
Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, James Gyakye Quayson, accompanied Vice-President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang on a successful working visit to Shanghai, China, from 15th to 19th October 2026, at the invitation of the East China Normal University (ECNU).
The highlight of the visit was the 2026 Global South Academic Forum held on 17th October, which brought together over 200 scholars, policymakers, political party leaders and media professionals from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, under the theme “Global South Political Parties: Governance and Modernisation.”
In her keynote address, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang asserted that political independence is only truly the beginning, stating that “winning political power and governing effectively are related but not the same responsibility.” She called for stronger South-South cooperation, multilateralism and reform of the global financial architecture to end debt traps, ensure fair risk assessments and promote climate policies that respect different national circumstances.
On 18th October, she addressed a business forum with Chinese investors, linking Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy policy to industrialization. Warning that training youth without factories creates unemployment, she appealed for factories to be established in Ghana to serve the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) market, with priority on value addition in cocoa processing, shea butter, cashew, coconut and timber.
On October 19, Ghana’s Ambassador to China, Kojo Bonsu, hosted a dinner at the Shangri-La for the Vice-President, attended by members of the Ghanaian community and business leaders, who praised the thorough preparation by the Ghana Embassy staff for the visit.
Throughout the trip, Mr. Quayson coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to align the engagements with Ghana’s jobs and transformation agenda.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
