News
Two soldiers grabbed for brutalising widow
For refusing to vacate the house of her late husband, a 28-year-old widow has been subjected to severe beatings allegedly by two military men at Bonwire in the Ejisu Municipality of the Ashanti Region.
The incident, which took place on Tuesday at about 6am, saw the military men vandalising some property in the house also.
A report made to the Bonwire Police led to the arrest of the two soldiers whose names have been kept for security reasons.
Ashanti Regional Crime Officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Felix Kwasi Cosmos confirmed the arrest to The Spectator saying the two had been handed over to the Military Command for further action.
Major Christiana Osei-Duah, Public Relations Officer of the Fourth Battalion of Infantry also corroborated the story adding that, investigations into the matter were underway but would not give further details.
But, reports available to The Spectator indicated that, the two military men stormed Mrs Yaa Boatemaa Agyapong’s house on Tuesday, November 24, 2020, around 6:00 am and ordered her to vacate the premises.
Information is that, since the demise of her husband about two years ago, her late husband’s family members had been pestering her to vacate the house but she would not budge.
The mother of the victim, Madam Abena Serwaa, narrated that, the house was built by “my daughter’s husband and he gave it to my daughter but the family of my daughter’s late husband is demanding the ownership of the property”.
She claimed a sister-in-law, Nana Ama, went to the house with the two military men on that fateful day to eject the daughter.
According to her, “they told my daughter to produce documents to prove that her late husband gave the house to her and my daughter told them to take her to court if they need the documents”.
“They, then, started beating my daughter and vandalised some property in the house,” she added.
As at the time of filing this story, Mrs Yaa Boatemaa Agyapong had been treated and discharged from the Ejisu Government Hospital.
From Kingsley E.Hope, Kumasi
AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine has broken ground on a modern 1,500-seater multipurpose assembly hall and a secured main gatehouse for New Edubiase Senior High School, in the Adansi South District.
The project, being executed by local contractor AA Engineering and Construction, is expected to be completed within 17 months and forms part of the Mine’s 10-Year Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP) — a strategic framework for delivering sustainable development in its host communities.
Beyond the expansive assembly hall, the facility will house a fully integrated administrative complex featuring a dedicated sound room, a 16-seater staff eatery, and suites for the Headmaster and Assistant Headmaster, a bursar’s office, an 18-seater conference room, a 24-seater staff common room, six faculty office spaces and ancillary stores and washrooms.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, the Mine’s Director of Sustainability Management, Edmund Oduro Agyei, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to improving educational outcomes in host communities through impactful and sustainable investments.
The Edubiasehene, Guahyia Oduropanin Birikorang, commended the Mine for the investment, saying the project demonstrated that the company’s development agenda extended well beyond its immediate operational areas.
The Headmaster of New Edubiase SHS, Mr Christopher Appiah Mensah, described the intervention as timely and transformative, noting it would address longstanding infrastructure deficits, improve conditions for teaching and learning, and create adequate space for academic and social gatherings.
“This will greatly enhance administrative efficiency and improve the overall welfare of both staff and students,” he said.
The facility is also expected to boost the school’s capacity to host national examinations and major events, and strengthen its standing as a centre of academic excellence within the district.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
Stakeholders have been urged to help raise awareness and eliminate the stigma often associated with clubfoot, a treatable condition which occurs in children.
Parents are to seek early treatment for the condition while policymakers strengthen support for early detection, disability inclusion, and child health services in the country.
Clubfoot is a condition present at birth in which one or both feet are twisted inward and downward. If left untreated, experts say a child may face lifelong challenges with walking, which could affect education, employment, and social inclusion.
In Ghana, an estimated 1,000 babies are said to be born with clubfoot every year.
In commemoration of the World Clubfoot Day, marked on June 3 every year, stakeholders create awareness about the condition and, among other things, celebrate the dedication of health professionals who ensure children receive treatment.
In a release copied to the Ghana News Agency, Nana Afua Adutwumwaa Adjetey, Programme Manager, Ghana Clubfoot Programme, noted that many families were unaware of the free treatment available for the condition in Ghana. 
She observed that the lack of awareness continued to delay treatment for children who could have received prompt and life-changing care at no cost.
Treatment, she said, was provided free of charge for children under age five at Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG–Hope Walks) partner clinics across the country.
More than 9,000 children born with clubfoot had received treatment and care through the programme over the past 18 years.
“The treatment follows the internationally recognised Ponseti Method, which uses a series of gentle casts to gradually correct the position of the foot, followed by a brace to maintain correction and prevent relapse. When treatment begins early, success rates are extremely high,” Madam Adjetey explained.
“For many children, the journey begins with a health worker who identifies clubfoot at birth and makes a referral. A few moments of observation can change the course of a child’s life forever.”
“Clubfoot is not a curse; it is not caused by wrongdoing…it is a medical condition that can be treated successfully. Families should never feel ashamed to seek help.”
The Programme Manager said children born with the condition deserved equal opportunities, dignity, and inclusion, and called on communities to support parents rather than “judge them.” -GNA
