News
The silent strength of a single father: Augustine Donzuo’s story
The a world that often overlooks the silent burdens men carry, the story of Augustine Santiero Donzuo stands as a powerful reminder of resilience, sacrifice and unspoken struggles of single fatherhood.
As the world celebrates Father’s Day, it’s easy to focus on the traditional image of fatherhood which is provider, protector and a stern loving figure, but beyond these are silent struggles fathers go through especially single fathers.
For the past five years, Augustine has navigated life as a single parent of two children-a boy and a girl on his own while juggling the demands of work, education and emotional survival.
The story of Augustine is not just about parenting, it is about endurance, heartbreak, and an unwavering commitment to his children in the face of overwhelming odds.
He lives and works in Tarkwa in the Western Region, juggling life as a Fire officer, caretaker, and sole emotional support for his children.
His quiet strength is a reminder that fatherhood is not always loud. Sometimes, it’s found in the simple act of staying-when walking away would have been easier.
Augustine’s journey began in January 2010, when he married the woman he loved. Unknown to him at the time, she was already pregnant. Not long after their marriage, he was posted to the Upper West Region following his enlistment into the Ghana National Fire Service.
The distance tested their relationship early on. He tried his best to visit, and eventually brought her to join him. But subtle signs of strain began to show—mostly from his wife’s family. What began as minor disagreements cracked the foundation of their union.
By 2016, after six years of marriage, their relationship collapsed. Augustine was devastated. He had tried to reconcile, visiting her family, calling, sending money, but her responses became cold, distant, and final. “One day she told me, ‘I will never come today, I will never come tomorrow. I am not even bringing your children,” he recalls.
Despite the pain, he continued sending money for their upkeep. “I did it for my children,” he says. “Even when love is gone, responsibility remains.”
In 2017, Augustine’s ex-wife filed a complaint at Legal Aid, claiming neglect. But when questioned, her story shifted, first to abandonment, then to demanding more money. The panel quickly sensed the inconsistencies. Augustine explained how he had continued to support her, even buying food and supplies for her business which included loans he was still paying.
“What hurt me most was the dishonesty,” he says. “She told her family things I never said. At some point, I realised she didn’t want reconciliation, she wanted to cut ties, but with benefits.”
She requested GH¢700 monthly in support, a sum he said was impossible given his salary and loans. “Even after separation, I was paying school fees, buying clothes, sending money. If I wanted to walk away, I wouldn’t have spent a dime.”
Then, in 2018, came a moment that would change everything. One evening, his ex-wife returned the children, unexpectedly and without agreement. Accompanied by her father, she dropped them off, leaving Augustine to become a full-time single parent overnight.
“The girl was nine, the boy six. They didn’t say much. They just stood there, confused. I had to become everything for them, father, mother, friend, protector,” Augustine said.
What followed were years of sacrifice and solitude. Without nearby relatives or a strong support system, he had to rely entirely on himself.
He would leave work and rush home to cook, help with homework, do laundry, and nurse fevers. “I lost a lot,” he admits. “Friends, freedom, even parts of myself.” And yet, he never gave up.
Raising children is never easy, but doing it alone, while still carrying the weight of betrayal and financial hardship which left scars. Augustine recounts the long nights, praying his children would grow up healthy and happy despite the absence of their mother.
His daughter, now 15 and in SHS, has grown quieter. “There are days I just sit and cry,” he says. “When my daughter asks, I say ‘nothing.’ then she says, I see tears flowing, I will still say it’s nothing.
Augustine said there were moments he had considered giving up. “I had thoughts,” he confesses. “When life felt too heavy. When no one checked on me. “I understood why some people commit suicide,” he said.
But then I remembered I have two lives depending on me, if I am gone, who will take care of them?” That question has kept him going, one day at a time.
Today, Augustine’s children are thriving. His daughter is doing well in school, and his son has grown into a thoughtful, cheerful boy. But their success has come at a cost, paid for with sleepless nights, missed opportunities, and invisible emotional wounds.
“I don’t want pity,” he says. “I just want people to understand what fathers feel too. We cry, we break, but we don’t always show it,” he added.
This Father’s Day, Augustine’s journey reminds the world of the quiet fathers, who are often unseen and seldom celebrated.
They are the ones redefining fatherhood in Ghana and beyond, embodying responsibility, patience, and love in the most demanding circumstances.
For Augustine, he would not wish this life for his worst enemy,” but for him, there is purpose, “I will keep going because they need me, and that’s enough.”
Currently in Ghana, Father’s Day is gradually evolving with traditions often marked by cards, media tributes, and public applause, which reflects a growing appreciation of paternal sacrifice.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
News
Prez Mahama opens AU high-level dialogue on democracy and human rights in Accra
President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency (H E) John Dramani Mahama, has officially opened the 13th African Union (AU) High-Level Dialogue on Democracy, Governance, and Human Rights in Accra.
The two day event, slated for 29th to 30th July 2025 and held under the vibrant theme “Justice, Rights, Reparations and State building,” brings together past and present African leaders, traditional authorities, members of the security services, diplomats, students, civil society actors, and other stakeholders to dialogue on strengthening democratic governance and addressing historical injustices across the continent.
The high-level conference is organised every two years by the African Union Commission in collaboration with key partners, serving as a platform for inclusive dialogue, knowledge exchange, and policy reflection on the continent’s democratic and governance trajectory.
In his opening remarks, the President of Ghana, H E John Dramani Mahama, underscored the importance of justice, human rights, and inclusive governance as the foundation for peace and stability in Africa.
He noted that sustainable peace could only be achieved when the rights of citizens were protected, and governance structures were accountable and owned by the people.
President Mahama said Africa could no longer build its future on systems inherited from colonial rule.
He highlighted how the continent still suffers from the legacies of slavery, colonialism, systemic racism, and economic inequality.
He stressed the need for Africans to shape their own systems that reflect their history, identity, and aspirations.
He praised the African Union Executive Council for extending the AU’s theme of reparations from a year to a decade, 2026 to 2036, and called on member states to support this commitment with action.
He also urged the timely operationalisation of the AU Commission of Experts and the Reference Group of Legal Experts on Reparations, so they can deliver truth, justice, and restitution.
The President warned that African citizens, especially the youth, were becoming impatient with empty promises and called for meaningful civic participation.
He advocated for legal frameworks in all AU member states to protect civil liberties, including freedom of speech, protest, and the press.
President Mahama further highlighted the importance of political and civic education in schools and communities.
According to him, civic disengagement was often caused by mistrust and exclusion, and therefore governments must make democracy relatable and relevant to everyday life.
He encouraged participants to take bold action beyond speeches, adding that the “dialogue must mark a new beginning for the continent, a moment when African leaders choose justice, truth, and unity over complacency.”
African Union (AU) Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), H E Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, who delivered a speech on behalf of the AU Chairperson, said reparative justice, peace, and stability should guide Africa’s development journey.
He emphasised that reparations are deeply connected to justice and human rights, offering opportunities for economic renewal, healing, and sustainable peace.
He noted that the High Level Dialogue is essential for helping member states reflect on how to strengthen democratic systems.
Ambassador Adeoye reminded participants that Africa has endured centuries of oppression from slavery to apartheid and now needs to take full ownership of its future.
He said the legacy of colonialism should no longer weigh down the continent, and African culture and identity should be protected and celebrated.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration and MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, expressed warm appreciation to the delegates gathered in Accra for the important continental dialogue.
Mr Ablakwa stated that for Ghana, justice, human rights, and good governance are not mere slogans but part of the country’s identity and values.
He noted that the chosen theme aligns with Ghana’s commitment to correcting historical injustices and promoting inclusion.
He urged African nations to move beyond symbolic gestures and take real action toward restorative justice.
Mr Ablakwa added that Ghana believes in fairness, unity, and building a continent where all voices are heard, especially those of youth, women, and the diaspora.
The Minister praised the efforts of the African Governance Architecture and the AU’s Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department for convening the dialogue.
News
Stakeholders converge in Accra for ETHOCON 2025 Cyber Security Conference
Stakeholders in Ghana’s digital and cybersecurity space have converged in Accra for the Ethical Hacking and Offensive Cybersecurity Conference (ETHOCON 2025) to deliberate on safeguarding the country’s digital systems amid growing technological advancement.
Themed “Cyber Resilience for Ghana’s Digital Leap,” the high-level event is being organized by the Ethical Hacking and Offensive Security Centre (Ethosec), a cybersecurity-focused organization, to discuss strategies for strengthening the country’s cyber infrastructure in the face of increasing digital transformation.
The conference brought together representatives from government, industry, academia, civil society, leading cybersecurity experts, tech entrepreneurs, and policy advocates.
ETHOCON 2025 featured expert panel discussions and thought leadership sessions exploring emerging threats, national preparedness, digital policy direction, and the future of cybersecurity in Ghana.
Speaking with journalists, the CEO of the National Youth Authority, Osman Ayariga, said the government had taken cybersecurity seriously since the rise of the internet, putting in place laws and institutions to protect Ghana’s digital space.
He explained that laws such as the Data Protection Act and the Cybersecurity Act were helping to secure the country’s online platforms. 
He added that government had also established offices like the Signal Bureau and supported infrastructure that ensures digital safety.
According to him, while protecting cyberspace, the government was also creating opportunities for young people through tech-based programs like the One Million coders Program, Innovation Hubs, and soft skills training under the National Apprenticeship Program.
Mr. Ayariga stressed that these initiatives were part of efforts to ensure young Ghanaians were not left behind in the global digital race.
He said digital literacy, coding, online marketing, and awareness of risks like cyberbullying and hacking were now essential skills for the youth.
He also emphasized that President John Dramani Mahama’s vision for national programs was inclusive, not political.
He pointed out that the aim was to reduce unemployment and security risks by training Ghanaians regardless of their political background.
Founder of Ethosec and lead organizer of the conference, Ashraf Saaka, noted that while Ghana had made progress in building cybersecurity structures, public understanding of the issue remained narrow.
He explained that most people associate cyber threats with scams or mobile money fraud, but in reality, attacks on hospitals, electricity, and water systems could cause more serious national problems.
Mr. Saaka urged organizations to move beyond profit-focused thinking and make security a top priority.
He highlighted the importance of strategies like Zero Trust, which ensures that digital tools are secure from the ground up.
He urged cybersecurity professionals to constantly learn and adapt “because attackers only need to succeed once, but defenders must get it right every time.”
By Jacob Aggrey
