Gender
Unique wives honour husbands for their marital commitment
Fifteen distinguished married women have honoured their husbands with gifts to express their love for long and dedicated services and contributions to their stable marriages.
The special event was an initiative of Bishop Dr Ellen Dua-Agyemang Akoto founder of Kings Universal Chapel (KUC) and Mount Horeb Glory Ministry (MHGM) at Odumase- Sunyani.
The celebration dubbed “Couples Appreciation Day” was under the theme “Remember like it’s yesterday’’.
The purpose of the programme was to create the awareness for married couple to understand the need to express their love while the other partner was still alive.
It was also an opportunity for married women to cherish and adore their husbands who had been able to marry them for a decade.
Among other criteria were a husband who practices monogamy, a husband who has been able to educate the children to the tertiary level and other responsibilities.
The longest couple had married for 56 years and the freshest among the 15 couples was only three months in marriage.
The crowning of the ceremony was the Diamond Award given to a couple who had been married for 60 years and given birth to 12 children out of which nine had survived.
The man, Mr Emmanuel Kwame Obiri is now 96 years while the wife Mama Esther Kyeremaa, is 80 years.
Bishop Dr Dua-Agyemang Akoto addressing the gathering said “Most often a sweet tribute is read after the death of the husband to show that he was the best when he was alive.”
She said this platform was to enable spouses to express their love in a form of presentation of gifts to appreciate their husbands irrespective of the challenges they had encountered.
She said that gift was a language to express love and respect to the receiver.
Bishop Dr Dua-Agyemang Akoto said she would be reaching out to as many married couples as possible so that such an event could address some marital issues.
She noted the event was going to be organised twice in a year during Christmas and Easter festivities and the target group would be middle age and old couples to share their love stories for others to learn and fraternise since they have limited outing activities.
She called on well-meaning Ghanaians who have interest in sustaining and reconciling marriages to bring out the beauty in both Godly and socio-economic perspective to collaborate with her vision in achieving this feat.
The Dwantoahemaa of Sunyani Nana Boah Boahemaa applauded the initiative and indicated that it would help complement the efforts of the traditional authority in solving disputes.
Other women also presented gifts to special men who had made positive impacts in their lives.
The Dzidula Pink Foundation, a new organisation dedicated to cancer awareness, early detection, and patient support, has been officially launched in Accra, with a passionate call for national commitment to fighting the disease. The launch event, held last week Friday, carried the theme: “Beyond the diagnosis: A future of restoration, care and courage.”
Speaking at the event, Madam Abena Brigidi, founder and CEO of Nimed Capital Limited, emphasised that cancer remains one of the most devastating health challenges facing families across the country. “Cancer does not discriminate—it affects mothers, fathers, daughters, and sons. It drains families emotionally and financially, and behind every statistic is a human story and a future suddenly thrown into uncertainty,” she said.
Sharing her personal encounters with cancer, having lost both her husband and father to the disease, Madam Brigidi highlighted the emotional, financial, and physical scars left behind. “I stand here not just as a speaker, but as a witness to what cancer can take away,” she stated. “I have watched loved ones fight bravely, and I have felt the deep pain that loss leaves behind.”
She stressed that awareness and early detection are critical to reducing deaths, noting that many Ghanaians still lack access to proper screening, reliable information, and adequate treatment. She appealed to healthcare professionals, corporate institutions, policymakers, the media, and the general public to join hands in the fight. “Early detection saves lives. Your support today can lead to someone’s healing tomorrow,” she said.
Madam Brigidi further called for collective responsibility to sustain the foundation’s mission. “To our medical professionals, we need your expertise. To corporate partners, your resources. To the media, your voice. To policymakers, your support. And to the public, your compassion,” she urged. She also insisted that breast cancer awareness should not be limited to annual campaigns, saying, “Breast cancer awareness must not be seasonal.”
Mrs Diana Fafa Gozo, founder of the Dzidula Pink Foundation, shared her own cancer journey, describing the shock of diagnosis, the fear that followed, and the difficult path through treatment. Her experience transformed her pain into purpose and inspired her to create a foundation to ensure no cancer patient walks alone.
Mrs Gozo explained that many patients struggle not only with treatment costs but also with emotional resilience. She outlined the foundation’s initiatives, which include awareness and early detection campaigns, patient support funds, community outreach, and survival support circles. “This foundation is my offering of gratitude, courage, and compassion and a reminder that no one should walk the cancer journey alone,” she concluded.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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When Adjoa’s (not her real name) phone was hacked on November 16, 2025, the perpetrator demanded money in exchange for her private videos. The 20-year-old student had none to give, and within hours, the intimate content was circulating online.
Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, launched the 2025 edition of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence at Kaneshie Market on November 25. The campaign, themed “Unite! End Digital Violence Against Women and Girls,” focused on addressing online harassment, sextortion, and image-based sexual abuse, which are increasingly significant forms of violence against women and girls in Ghana.
At the event, Dr Lartey cited national statistics, noting that the 2016 Domestic Violence Survey found 27.7% of Ghanaian women had suffered at least one form of domestic violence, while 32% of girls aged 15 to 24 still believed that wife-beating was justified. She described digital violence as a serious human rights violation that often goes unreported due to cultural norms placing women and girls at greater risk.
“The ministry is working to operationalise its shelters in Accra, as well as construct the 16 regional shelters promised by His Excellency within three years. The National Domestic Violence Policy has been approved by Cabinet, and a new Domestic Abuse Law is being drafted by the Attorney General’s Department,” Dr Lartey explained.
For Adjoa, the threats are already real. Her ordeal began innocuously on Snapchat when she shared her contact believing she was communicating with another young woman. It was later revealed that she was speaking to a man with malicious intent.
“The first thing he said was, ‘Your leaks or we talk business,’” Adjoa recalled. The man sent a link compromising her Snapchat account and demanded money. When she could only provide GH¢16.65, he escalated his demands, insisting on access to all her social media accounts. She refused, and he threatened, “I have uploaded it again. You can check it on Leaktube and Telegram.”
Within days, her videos circulated online with captions claiming she performed sexual acts for money—a claim she denies. Adjoa promptly reported the case to the Cybersecurity Division, providing links, screenshots, and the perpetrator’s number. Twelve days later, she received only a single update confirming the videos had been reported for takedown, and the content remains accessible.
Under Ghana’s Cyber Security Act 2020 (Act 1038) and the Criminal Offences Act, hacking, illegal access to computer systems, extortion, and non-consensual sharing of intimate images are criminalized. Adjoa’s case illustrates the slow pace of enforcement and the urgent need for swift action.
The psychological impact has been severe. “I can’t eat. I don’t want to talk to anyone. I can’t even bring myself to bathe,” Adjoa shared. She experiences suicidal thoughts and constant anxiety about who has seen her videos. Only the support of a few friends has helped her maintain some stability.
Adjoa advises young women to be cautious online: “Your privacy online is never guaranteed. Be careful who you trust. Not everyone who smiles at you on social media has good intentions.” She also encourages victims to report incidents immediately, emphasizing that documentation provides protection, support, and a chance for justice.
For government officials, Adjoa urges: “We need action, not just words. Young girls are vulnerable to online abuse, and stronger protections and faster responses are essential.” She stresses the need for systemic reform, faster removal of harmful content, stricter consequences for perpetrators, and better support systems including counselling and legal guidance.
The campaign brought together development partners, civil society organizations, transport sector leaders, and members of the public to intensify advocacy, strengthen community action, and promote protection for women and girls. While the 16 Days campaign aims to protect women and girls, for Adjoa, its impact is yet to be felt. For now, she waits.
Eyram M.A. Yorgbe is a postgraduate student at the University of Media, Arts and Communication, Ghana, and NLA University College, Norway.
By Eyram M.A. Yorgbe
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