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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
The Ghana Tourism Development Company Limited (GTD) in collaboration with the Department of Organisation and Human Resource Management, University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) has marked the 2026 World Safety Day Celebration in Accra.
The event held on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at the Cedi Conference Centre, Legon was under the theme “Good Psychosocial Working Environment: A Pathway to Thriving Workers and Strong Organizations.”
The day is observed globally to promote safe and healthy working conditions and to raise awareness about both physical and psychological risks at the workplace.
The event formed part of efforts by stakeholders to deepen national conversations on workplace safety, particularly the growing concern about psychosocial well being.
In his keynote address, the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Abdul Rashid Hassan Pelpuo stressed that workers must not be treated as machines but as human beings with dignity, rights and families.
He explained that unsafe work environments marked by fear, harassment, intimidation and excessive pressure reduce productivity and weaken organisations.
He noted that although physical hazards such as faulty equipment and unsafe buildings remain a concern, psychological risks including excessive workload, bullying, job insecurity and toxic communication are equally dangerous and must be addressed.
According to him, psychological hazards are real, measurable and preventable, and should be treated with the same urgency as physical risks.
He maintained that safe and healthy working conditions are not a luxury but a fundamental right that supports productivity and social justice.
Dr Pelpuo further stated that the government remains committed to strengthening occupational safety and health systems, adding that worker wellbeing is a core responsibility of leadership and not a public relations issue.
He urged employers to create environments where dignity is protected, and workers are empowered to speak without fear.
The Dean of University of Ghana Business School, Prof Ernest Y Tweneboah Koduah noted that the school is committed to shaping a better world of work that is equitable, productive and sustainable.
He announced that the school has secured accreditation from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission to introduce a programme in organisational health and safety.
He explained that gaps in workplace safety in Ghana are linked to weak enforcement, underreporting and limited professional training.
He added that the new programme will equip graduates with the skills to prioritise employee wellbeing as a key organisational responsibility.
Prof Tweneboah Koduah urged organisations to assess psychosocial risks, invest in human resource capacity and create environments where workers can openly discuss mental health concerns.
He emphasised that collaboration between academia and industry is essential to addressing workplace safety challenges.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, the Registrar of the University of Ghana, Emelia Naa Kwantsua Agyei Mensah described the event as historic, noting that it is the first time the university is marking the global observance.
She explained that the focus on psychosocial wellbeing reflects current realities in the world of work.
She stated that employee health, including mental and emotional wellbeing, directly affects productivity, morale and institutional performance.
Mrs Agyei Mensah added that the university is committed to creating a safe and supportive environment for staff and students, beyond minimum legal requirements.
She called on leaders to reflect on the kind of workplaces they create and to prioritise the wellbeing of employees.
CEO of the GTDC, Prof Kobby on his part noted that its participation aligns with its commitment under the Riyadh Declaration, which calls on member states to improve infrastructure and public safety, as well as enhance services, transport, connectivity and accessibility.
He indicated that the company intends to use the platform to highlight Ghana’s readiness to implement the declaration, with a strong focus on worker safety and wellbeing as a foundation for sustainable tourism development.
The event brought together policymakers, academics, industry players and students to discuss strategies for improving workplace safety and promoting healthier work environments across the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Ghana Armed Forces has confirmed that an escort convoy protecting civilians was attacked in Binduri in the Upper East Region, leaving three people dead.
In a press release issued on April 27, 2026, the military said the convoy, which was escorting about 140 civilians from Bawku to Bolgatanga, came under gunfire from unknown attackers.
It said the attackers shot at the convoy several times, killing three of the civilians being escorted and injuring one other person.
According to the statement, soldiers returned fire and were able to repel the attack. In the process, seven of the assailants were killed.
The military added that during a follow-up operation, weapons and ammunition were retrieved from a suspect who had taken refuge in a mosque.
The items included a G3 rifle, two loaded magazines, and additional rounds of ammunition.
It said ten other suspects have been arrested and are assisting with investigations.
The Ghana Armed Forces cautioned the public against engaging the military or any security agency during operations.
It extended condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wished the injured person a speedy recovery.
By: Jacob Aggrey
