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Some parents, guardians engaging in ‘mercy killing’ of children with special needs?
Aid children with special needs
Parents and guardians of children with special needs have been advised to stop molesting and engaging in ‘mercy killing’ of these unfortunate children.
The Unit Headmistress of Ofori Panin Primary Special Needs School at Kukurantumi in the Eastern Region, Mrs Charity Yaa Otu, in an interview, hinted that some parents and guardians were abusing and allegedly killing these children who had disability in their intellectual abilities — such as those with cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome, autism, hydrocephalus among other intellectual and developmental disabilities.
She revealed that as headmistress of the school, she had received reports from some parents about their in-laws, family and community members impressing on them (parents) to allegedly kill or abuse these children.
“In some of our cultural settings they describe these children as spirit children or children from the gods and some people feel they should not be made to live and kill them or treat them badly by abusing them,” she said.
She further alleged that some guardians and parents intentionally take them for shopping to win their trust and later mix poisonous concoctions for them to drink and die.
“Because these special needs children may be difficult to live with some parents abuse them in their homes at the slightest provocation,” she added.
She disclosed that some of the children received harsh treatment from some community members who again physically assaulted or raped them.
Mrs Yaa Otu revealed that recently one of her students, Yaw Manteh aged 20 years who had cerebral palsy was physically abused by some unknown persons in his area, recalling that the school management together with some teachers had to contribute about GH¢3,000 to take the boy to the Kukurantumi Community Hospital, where they were later referred to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital for laboratory tests.
The headmistress noted that such domestic and societal abuse as well as alleged killing were unfortunate, adding that it was high time society changed their negative perception about special needs children and rather showed them the needed love and care they deserved.
“These children even though challenged, have capabilities which if positively harnessed can empower them to be self-reliant and will be able to contribute their quota to the development of their households, their communities and the nation as a whole.”
She advised parents of children with special needs to report to the police if anyone including family and community members pressured them to mistreat their children or kill them.
She hinted that the school was the only special school in the area catering for about 50 pupils and prayed that Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Philanthropists, among others will come to our aid.”
She mentioned some key stakeholders such as the Municipal Education Director, Mrs Abena Gyamerah and MP for Abuakwa North, Mrs Gifty Twum Ampofo who have been helpful but added that more help was needed to properly train the children.
Speaking to the Eastern Regional Secretary of the Ghana Federation for Persons with Disability, Ms Felicity Amponsem Kyere, on the issue, she confirmed that her attention had been drawn to issues of similar nature.
She said there was the need for a revision of cultural norms to change the negative perception towards such children.
She, therefore, called on government and stakeholders in the disability sector to come to the aid of these special children.
She called on the Municipal and District Assemblies to give the PWDS the needed three and half per cent of the common fund due them to organise disability days to educate the public on disability and their rights.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Kukurantumi
Madam Sandra Seyram Kpedor, the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Anloga in the Volta Region, has emphasised the importance of parental involvement in children’s education, stating that education is free, but parents need to do more to support their children.
She said parents, teachers, and students must be involved in addressing the challenges facing the district’s education sector, particularly the poor Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results.
Madam Kpedor outlined some key roles parents should play to promote their children’s education, including providing a conducive learning environment, monitoring their children’s progress, and supporting teachers.
The DCE highlighted some challenges the district faced such as inadequate infrastructure and a shortage of teachers, which have also contributed to the poor BECE results and called on well-to-do parent to help solve the situation through and other supports.
To address the issues, she also announced that plans have been taken to utilise the district’s common fund to implement educational projects, such as constructing school blocks and teachers’ bungalows at Sodzi community, and 2-unit classroom blocks each at Akplorwutorkor and Tegbi-Afedome respectively, among others.
Madam Kpedor also noted that her office had earlier notified the Ministry of Education to deploy more teachers to the area to improve teaching and learning, and encouraged students to work hard and strive for excellence, and work beyond their limit to succeed.
“To my wonderful and beautiful girls, you have to know it clear that women and girls have equal opportunities to compete with men for greater achievements,” she indicated.
The DCE cited her own achievement as a testament to the fact that women can excel in leadership positions, alongside Vice President Nana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, and stressed that girls were no longer limited to domestic roles but can pursue their dreams and become leaders.
Additionally, she mentioned that a meeting was held earlier with assembly members, and other stakeholders to address the district’s educational challenges and improve academic performance.
She promised that the district’s education oversight committee and stakeholders would work together to address the challenges and improve the district’s BECE results and called for parental involvement and support to boost the district’s education sector for children to chase their dreams to become future leaders for the success of the district and the nation.
She urged parents not to leave everything to the government but rather help in the provision of some necessary materials such as textbooks, exercise books, pens, pencils, food, and guidance to children for the successes of young learners. –GNA
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The spokesperson for Dr. Bawumia, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has criticised the implementation of the NDC government’s No Fee Stress policy, arguing that the programme has failed to deliver on its core promise.
According to him on Starr fm, the policy, which was introduced to ensure stress free payment of fees for level 100 tertiary students, has rather turned into what he described as post stress support.
He explained that students are required to pay their fees first before applying for reimbursement, a situation he believes defeats the purpose of the policy.
He questioned claims by government officials that the policy has been successful and that citizens are happy.
In his view, such claims do not reflect the lived realities of many Ghanaians. He stressed that while some people may appear satisfied, many others continue to struggle.
Dennis Miracles Aboagye pointed to the situation of trained teachers and nurses who have been picketing for nearly six months, demanding employment.
He noted that government responses suggesting it cannot accommodate all of them contradict claims of economic stability.
He further argued that economic indicators such as a stable currency mean little to people who are unable to secure jobs or access promised support.
He observed that telling an unemployed teacher or a struggling student that the cedi has strengthened does not address their immediate challenges.
On the issue of tertiary education, he maintained that no level 100 student benefited from stress free fees in 2025, despite the policy being announced.
He added that in 2026, students have already reported to school without receiving the promised support.
He insisted that asking students to pay fees first and seek reimbursement later amounts to support after hardship, not stress free education.
According to him, this approach goes against what was promised during the policy announcement.
Dennis Miracles Aboagye questioned why a government that presents the economy as strong is unable to fulfil what he described as simple and clear promises.
He added that there is a fundamental problem with the way the economy is being managed and indicated that he is prepared to explain his position further.
By: Jacob Aggrey
