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World Clubfoot Day: GIS students paint foot braces for clubfoot children in Ghana
Students of the Art Club of the Ghana International School (GIS) in Accra have participated in a “Paint a Brace” initiative as part of activities to commemorate this year’s World Clubfoot Day on June 3, 2023.
This initiative led by the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) and Hope Walks, a non-governmental organisation, was to put a smile on the faces of children receiving treatment for clubfoot at various facilities in the country.
Some of the braces designed by the pupils
Clubfoot is a range of foot abnormalities usually present at birth in which a baby’s foot is twisted out of shape or position.
With the guidance of teachers and the team from CHAG and Hopes for Life, the art students actively participated in the project and came up with colorful footbraces last Wednesday in Accra.
Mrs. Nana Afua Adutwumwaa Adjetey, Programme Manager, CHAG/Hope Walks Clubfoot Project, said the collaboration was to create clubfoot awareness and treatment.
“About one in 1,000 babies born in Ghana have the deformity. Because the cause is largely unknown, the disease is considered a curse with the belief that the babies are “river babies” or “dwarf babies.”
“These beliefs and the high stigma associated with the deformity force some families to abandon their children,” she said, adding that the disease was treatable and about 8,000 children had received treatment since 2008.
Treatment for clubfoot comes in two stages.
The Corrective Phase involves a series of manipulation, casting, and tenotomy (minor surgical procedure).
The Maintenance Phase involves wearing of foot abduction brace. At this stage, a clubfoot child wears the brace to maintain the correction achieved till age five.
In the first three months, the child wears the brace for 23 hours a day. The brace is taken off during bath time and exercise (stretches) is done for the baby’s foot. After three months, the child wears the braces during the night and nap time till age five to avoid clubfoot relapse or re-occurrence.
CHAG and Hope Walks urged individuals and institutions to replicate the project and support children with clubfoot.
By Ernest Nutsugah
The Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has pledged to work closely with the Judiciary and the Ministry of Justice to address challenges affecting the delivery of justice in Ghana.
He made this known after receiving the Chief Justice, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, who paid a courtesy call on him earlier today.
The Chief Justice was accompanied by Supreme Court Judge, Justice Gabriel Pwamang, the Acting Director of the Ghana School of Law, Professor Raymond Atuguba, and the Judicial Secretary.
The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, was also present at the meeting.
Dr. Forson said the Chief Justice explained that the visit was to express appreciation for the continuous support the Ministry of Finance has given to the Judiciary.
According to him, the Chief Justice raised concerns about congestion in the courts, describing it as a major challenge that affects the speedy delivery of justice.
He said several solutions are currently being considered to help reduce the pressure on the courts.
“The Chief Justice also highlighted issues regarding the working conditions of staff within the Judiciary,” Dr. Forson stated.
He assured them of his commitment to helping resolve these problems through collaboration with the Judiciary and the Ministry of Justice.
“I am committed to working closely with the Judiciary and the Ministry of Justice to tackle these challenges,” he said.
As part of the measures being considered, Dr. Forson revealed that his ministry is examining the possibility of allowing the Judiciary to use 100 percent of its Internally Generated Funds (IGF) to meet urgent operational needs.
He said this move, if approved, would help improve the efficiency of the courts and enhance justice delivery across the country.
The meeting forms part of efforts to strengthen cooperation between the Executive and the Judiciary in addressing systemic challenges within Ghana’s justice system.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana has begun talks with the family of Guinea’s first President, Sékou Touré, to take possession of the house where Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah lived and worked during his final years in exile.
The Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, announced that the move follows instructions from President John Dramani Mahama.
According to him, the Mahama administration plans to renovate and preserve the residence in Guinea as a mark of respect for Nkrumah and to protect his legacy.
He explained that the site is expected to become part of a broader historical and tourism experience that traces Nkrumah’s life from Ghana to Guinea.
The decision was formally communicated to the Sékou Touré family on Saturday during a visit led by Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang.
The visit took place after the investiture of Guinea’s President Mamady Doumbouya.
Mr Ablakwa noted that the Ghanaian delegation toured Nkrumah’s abandoned home and was warmly received by three generations of the Sékou Touré family, led by the former president’s eldest son.
He added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is currently negotiating the terms and conditions of the arrangement and engaging preservation experts to handle the restoration works.
The minister assured the public that the process will be handled openly, stressing that Ghanaians will be kept informed at every stage in the interest of transparency and accountability.
Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah was Ghana’s first President and a leading figure in Africa’s independence and Pan African movements.
His years in Guinea symbolised the strong political and ideological ties between the two countries.
By: Jacob Aggrey
