News
When desire overpower: A family guide to sexual addiction recovery
Easter is already in the air church plays, family trips to Kwahu, fish money count in Kumasi market stalls. But for some families, the season also sharpens a private pain: a teenager who hides his phone under the mattress, a wife who finds transfers to unknown numbers, a father who smells stale hotel soap on his son’s shirt. Sexual addiction does not announce itself. It steals trust slowly, then all at once.
I see it at CPAC intake rooms: mothers trembling not from anger but exhaustion, men blaming themselves for “raising him badly.” Here is what we know and what actually helps.
Research frames compulsive sexual behaviour less as moral failure and more as an intimacy disorder tied to anxiety, untreated trauma, and a dysregulated reward system (Giordano et al., 2021).
In Ghanaian homes, shame thickens the silence. Carnes (2020) found that structured family disclosure guided by a therapist raised treatment entry by 38 per cent. Grubbs et al. (2020) showed spiritual support lowers relapse risk only when paired with accountability, not preaching.
Name the behaviour without drowning the person
At our Adenta Oyarifa-Teiman office, I often ask a couple to write down one line: “I felt scared when I saw __; I need __.” Not “you are dirty,” but “I saw pornography at 2 a.m. on your laptop; I need us to meet CPAC on Thursday.” I remember Kofi (name changed), a car dealer from Spintex, sitting across me saying, “If I call him addict he will run.” We drafted a text instead: “Yaw, I love you. I saw Mastercard bills. I’ve made us an appointment. I’ll drive you.” He came.
Use Easter’s rhythm, not its sermons
The season’s power is ordinary belonging. Invite your son to peel yam for Good Friday soup; ask your husband to lead the family in a simple sunrise prayer at 6 a.m., phone left in the hall.
A Shai Hills walk, a shared taxi to church-these re-anchor a nervous system.
Invite, do not ambush. Then bind that belonging to a step: install accountability software that blocks explicit sites and sends a report to a trusted person, agree on weekly attendance at a Sex Addicts Anonymous meeting, schedule therapy session with experts from Counselor Prince & Associates Consult – CPAC. Grubbs’ finding holds: faith helps when it carries accountability.
Build containment the Ghanaian way
Few Accra families have study rooms; rural families share one chamber. Make rules fit: “No phones in bedrooms after 10 p.m. -all devices charge in the sitting room.” Keep a single MTN phone for night calls. Agree on cash, not mobile money, for daily spend. For betrayed spouses, CPAC names betrayal trauma without gossip; the relief is immediate.
Parents need their own slice: a 20-minute walk, a radio prayer, a friend who listens. Empty cups spill.
City reality versus village reality
In Accra, you may afford an expert from CPAC and monitoring software. In Bawku, you may lean on CPAC’s online service or a community nurse, a well-trained and trusted pastor or imam, and a strict routine.
Both depend on three moves: containment, treatment, connection. I have watched both work.
Sexual addiction thrives in secrecy. It withers in small, repeated honesty. One week clean, one meeting attended, one budget table opened-these are Easter’s quiet resurrection.
At CPAC we do not promise miracles; we promise a plan. Some sons make tea safely again. Some husbands show receipts. Shame shrinks when families speak early, set boundaries, and bind to help.
Source: Field notes from Counselor Prince Offei’s practice in mental health, marriage counselling, and addiction support at CPAC.
References
Carnes, P. J. (2020). Sexual addiction and compulsivity: Journal of Treatment & Prevention, 27(1), 1-12.
Giordano, A. L., et al. (2021). Family communication in sexual addiction recovery. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 47(2), 312-327.
Grubbs, J. B., et al. (2020). Spirituality, shame, and compulsive sexual behaviour. Archives of Sexual Behaviour, 49(5), 1665-1677.
To be continued …
Source: REV. COUNSELOR PRINCE OFFEI’s insights on sexual addiction, relationships, and mental health in Ghana. He is a leading mental health professional, lecturer, ADR Expert/Arbitrator, renowned author, and marriage counsellor at COUNSELOR PRINCE & ASSOCIATES CONSULT (CPAC COUNSELLOR TRAINING INSTITUTE)
The Minority Caucus on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee has called for urgent and decisive action following recent xenophobic attacks on Ghanaians living in South Africa.
In a statement issued in Accra on April 29, the caucus expressed concern about what it described as a growing pattern of violence against foreign nationals, including Ghanaians, in areas such as KwaZulu-Natal, Durban and Gauteng.
The group noted that Ghanaian-owned businesses have been attacked, while some individuals have been harassed and assaulted. It added that, in certain cases, victims have also been denied access to essential services.
According to the statement, claims that foreign nationals are responsible for crime and economic hardship are unfounded and should be rejected.
The caucus referred to the widely circulated assault of a Ghanaian, Emmanuel Asamoah, as an example of the severity of the situation. It also raised concern about reports that some incidents occurred in the presence of law enforcement officers without effective intervention.
The Minority acknowledged steps taken by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, including his engagement with South African authorities and efforts to provide consular support to affected Ghanaians.
It noted the public condemnation of the attacks by President Cyril Ramaphosa, describing these as necessary but not sufficient.
The caucus called on the South African government to ensure the immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible and to hold security agencies accountable where they fail to act.
It urged authorities to take practical steps to protect foreign nationals across the country.
On the part of Ghana, the Minority urged the government to adopt a stronger and more structured response.
It called for direct engagement between President John Dramani Mahama and President Ramaphosa to secure firm commitments on the safety of Ghanaians.
The statement further recommended increased consular support for citizens in affected areas and called for the issue to be escalated to the African Union for an urgent inquiry into recurring xenophobic attacks.
It urged the government to work with regional partners within ECOWAS to present a unified response.
The Minority suggested that Ghana should seek assurances from South Africa, including confirmed arrests, clear prosecution processes and a plan to protect foreign nationals.
It added that compensation should be considered for victims who have suffered losses.
The statement, signed by the Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abu Jinapor, urged Ghanaians in South Africa to remain cautious and maintain contact with the Ghana High Commission.
It stressed that Ghana must act firmly to protect its citizens and uphold the principles of cooperation and solidarity among African countries.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
Climate Change and Sustainability Ministry backs WiSA International Festival to promote women-led climate action
The Office of the Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability has expressed support for the Women in Sustainability Africa (WiSA) International Festival, aimed at promoting inclusive climate action and sustainable development across the continent.
In a statement, the Office said it recognises WiSA as an important platform that brings together governments, development partners, the private sector and civil society to drive climate solutions and economic transformation.
The Festival is scheduled to take place on May 1, 2026, at the Cedi Conference Centre from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
This year’s event under the theme: Empowering Women For The Economic Sustainability of Africa, will feature, Liu Yaw Nana, Acting Secretary of Ghana-Chinese Business Chamber of Commerce, Issifu Seidu, Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, Dr.Agness Naa Momo Lartey, Minister for Gender Children and Social Protection, Bishop E.O Ansah, General Overseer, Eternal Life Church, President, Women’s Development Association, Turkey, Nilgün Zaimoğlu and Chief of Government Relations and Africa UN Global Compact.
Additionally, it will host, Dr.Charity Binka, Chairperson, Chairperson, African Women Leaders Network , Pearl Opoku, Trader and GUTA National Organiser, Lydia Abbey, Makola Market Queen, actress Juliet Ibrahim, CEO of FZ Global Legacy, Francesca Zoppi, The Revival Founder, Yayra Agbofah and many others.
According to the statement, WiSA’s vision, led by Nana Yaa Serwaa Sarpong, aligns with national and continental goals on climate resilience, green growth and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Office noted that WiSA’s focus on empowering women as key drivers of sustainability and economic productivity is a practical approach to addressing climate challenges and development gaps.
It highlighted WiSA’s track record of engaging global institutions and organising multi-stakeholder events as evidence of its ability to mobilise partnerships and deliver results.
The Ministry said the 2026 Festival presents an opportunity to promote climate-smart investments, green innovation and scalable solutions in areas such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture and the circular economy.
It added that the event will also support public-private partnerships and strengthen Africa-led solutions in global sustainability discussions.
As part of its commitment, the Office said it will support policy coordination, facilitate engagement with relevant government agencies, and promote an enabling environment for climate finance and green investments.
It also pledged to contribute to knowledge sharing, technical support and stakeholder mobilisation.
The statement emphasised that investing in initiatives like WiSA is key to driving inclusive economic growth, building resilience and achieving long-term development goals.
It further stressed that empowering women remains central to delivering sustainable and equitable outcomes.
The Office called on organisations to partner with WiSA to support climate action and sustainable development efforts across Africa.
By: Jacob Aggrey
