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Addiction counsellor advises youth…  Stay away from alcohol, it can ruin your life

Don Richie looked older at 45 years and battlin

Don Richie looked older at 45 years and battling alcoholism (left) than at 50 and overcoming it

When Richard Nii Adjei Otch­wemah decided to celebrate his completion of secondary school with alcoholic drinks, little did he know it was going to be the begin­ning of a long battle with alcoholism for almost 30 years of his life.

‘The Don’ or ‘Don Richie,’ as he was called, because he was always the boss and leader of most activities among his friends, recalled that after their final exam, he and some of his friends decided to do something ad­venturous to celebrate completion of that level of education.

“Right at the gate of the school, someone was selling palm wine and so we had a good taste of it,” Mr Otchwemah, who is now an Addiction Coun­sellor disclosed this in an interview with The Spectator on the side­lines of an occasion to celebrate persons who had recovered from substance abuse at the House of St. Francis Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment and Reha­bilitation Centre in Ashaiman.

He said while wait­ing for his results, he was taken out regularly by a friend to have a bottle or two of beer.

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“Drinking alcohol was not a hab­it until after Sixth Form when I was posted to a remote village to do my National Service. It was without electricity and water. The food was also bad so the only thing providing us with joy was hard liquor (akpeteshie), which was providing the ‘appetite’ to enjoy the meal” he narrated.

“But at home, I could eat without the alcohol as appetite because the food was good.”

He said after his graduation from University, he got married and was still drinking, recalling how he took his wife to drink.

That continued after marriage as his crave for alcohol became persistent while his wife be­came concerned and started expressing her displeasure about it.

Mr Otchwemah stated that in the process, he lost his influence on his family and community which previous­ly considered him as a role model and very responsible person.

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As if that was not enough, alcoholism affected him greatly when pursuing a Master’s pro­gramme. He struggled to study and pro­crastinated on things to do.

Conse­quently, he felt his life was mov­ing back­wards and begin to lose his friends, family and even his job because he sometimes missed some days at work due to drinking.

The Addiction Counsellor said he spent almost all his time at drink­ing bars and preferred to be with like-minded people in order not to be discriminated upon.

In the process, he sometimes found himself on the wrong side of the law due to excessive drinking and also sus­tained various degrees of injuries from falls or fights caused by his drinking habit.

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The turning point for him was when some old friends who had shown him so much love and respect over the years spoke to him passionately about the developments in his life and the need for him to get help.

He noted that there was an earlier attempt by some family members to get him to seek help from a rehabil­itation centre but he returned home after a month and started drinking again.

According to him, that attempt did not work because he had gone there out of frustration due to the pressure from his friends and a desire to make them happy.

The 50-year old narrated that the approach by his friends did not sound manipulative and so in August 2019, he decided to seek professional help from the House of St. Francis.

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“And to the glory of God, I am back to my old self. The last month of August was exactly five since I tasted alcohol. I communicate well and I am polite with people. I say sorry when I offend them and also communicate well if I have concerns about issues without resorting to alcohol. I have not taken alcohol for five years and the good news is that I am helping others to do same,” he said.

He says it was important for society to treat persons battling addiction of any form with love and respect.

“Such people must be treated with respect. If possible, such people should be referred to persons who they respect and have a lot of regard for, because the process is all about conviction.”

He says after recovery, those who helped them should not use the roles they played as an opportunity to ma­nipulate, blackmail or disrespect them otherwise they might relapse out of frustration.

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The Addiction Counsellor appealed to the Ministry for Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to vigorously start a campaign to get students in the Junior and Senior High Schools to be educated on the dangers of alcohol.

He noted that the focus had over the years been on drugs and weed to the neglect of alcohol which is also destructive to its users.

For the youth, the best advice he could offer them was to abstain from alcohol because it has the potential to destroy them.

 From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Ashaiman

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Prisca Abah: Ghana’s modelling powerhouse

 Ghanaian model, philanthropist and ad­vocate, Prisca Abah, who is known for her contributions to the fashion indus­try, is strutting her stuff on higher levels.

She was recently selected as one of the models for the Big8 Girls Project, an initia­tive by Clinton Samuel to celebrate influen­tial African models.

The project consisted of three episodes: the Bio Shoot which highlighted Abah’s professionalism through a corporate-themed photoshoot; Afrodeity which focused on showcasing her confidence and artistry, celebrating the African divine feminine and royalty which presented Abah as a symbol of African cultural pride, embodying strength and elegance.

The Big8 concept, produced by Clinton Samuel, intentionally highlights and cele­brates the strongest and most influential models on the African continent, congratu­lating their steadfastness and contributions to the African fashion industry, even as they grind and win in other aspects of life.

The Big8 sets hierarchy and high standards in the African fashion and modelling industry, crowning eight of them with the ‘Top Model’ status as the leading female models in Ghana at the moment.

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“Working with these fiery women will sure­ly ignite more creative minds and stir the pot of positive competition,” said Clinton.

Abah’s early life and career

Prisca Abah began her modelling career in 2013, achieving her first notable milestone in 2014 with an editorial shoot for 5-Star International Modelling Agency. In 2015, she made her runway debut at the Ghana Fashion Awards.

From 2016 to 2018, Abah participated in major African fashion events such as Glitz Africa Fashion Week, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Johannesburg, and Rhythms on the Runway.

During this period, she received acco­lades, including the “Best Female Model of the Year” and spoke as a UN Ambassador for Sustainable Development Goal 12 at the Sustainable Rice Platform Conference.

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International recognition and pageantry

In 2022, Abah expanded her reach by entering the pageantry world. She placed as the first runner- up at the Beauty of Africa International Pageant and represented Ghana at the Miss Globe World Finals, where she earned the title of Miss Globe Africa 2022.

Philanthropy

Abah founded the Palins Founda­tion, a non-profit organisation, aimed at empowering women and youth through initiatives in education, skills training, and personal development.

Awards and collaborations

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In 2023, Abah received the Best Model of the Year award at the Time Ghana Arts and Entertain­ment Awards. She has collaborat­ed with leading designers such as Charlotte Prive and Ejiro Amos Tafiri, further solidifying her influence in African fashion.

Legacy

Prisca Abah is recognised not only for her contribu­tions to the fashion industry but also for her philanthropic efforts. Her journey serves as an inspiration to young Africans, encouraging them to pursue their dreams while giving back to society.  

By Edem Mensah Tsortorme

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Juventus Duorinaah, Ghana’s first deaf Lawyer

• Juventus Duorinaah Esq.
• Juventus Duorinaah Esq.

 In a landmark moment for Ghana’s legal landscape, Juventus Duorinaah Esq., has etched his name in histo­ry as the country’s first lawyer with a hearing impairment.

His journey from a humble back­ground to breaking barriers in the legal profession serves as a powerful inspiration for countless individuals in the disability community, proving that determination and resilience can defy societal expectations and create path­ways to success.

For Juventus, the recognition as Gha­na’s first deaf lawyer feels surreal.

“It feels like a dream,” he reflects, acknowledging the stereotypes sur­rounding deafness and the humble background from which he hails.

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Juventus’ passion for law sparked in 2008 while seeking admission to the University of Ghana (UG). Although he initially faced challenges due to the nature of the application process, the help of his older brother and his deter­mined spirit led him to pursue a Bache­lor of Arts degree in 2012, followed by a Master of Laws at Cardiff University in 2014.

His passion for the study of law became highly intense when he had to study alongside qualified lawyers from several jurisdictions, even though he did not have a legal background. Here, he faced the unique challenge of study­ing without sign language interpreters, relying instead on a palantypist to tran­scribe lectures.

Juventus’ role model was his profes­sor and mentor, Professor Luke Clem­ent, who profoundly inspired him in shaping his understanding of law and human rights.

He remembers Prof. Thomas Stephens from the University of Ghana School Of Law, who inspired him with his way of dressing, in-depth knowledge of the law and engagement with students.

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He recounts the enormous challenges he encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when lectures moved online, and Dr Stephen’s tremendous support to ensure things moved quickly and smoothly for him.

“I also had the chance to have a few classes with the Dean himself, Prof. Raymond Atuguba. He taught the course such that some of us never felt scared as other lecturers made the course,’ he recalled.

Juventu’s academic journey was fraught with challenges, particularly in communication.

The year 2007 was the last time he studied with deaf peers. He was of­ten the only deaf person in his classes throughout the following years of his education, which made interaction with peers difficult.

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Despite these hurdles, he remained high-spirited, studying late into the night and seeking help from kind class­mates when necessary.

Reflecting on his academic experience at UG, he connected his affection for the university to his older brother, who is also an alumnus. He felt inspired to be a student of the premier university, saying he would choose the University of Ghana any time, any day, if given the chance to further his studies or work.

The University Of Ghana School Of Law, along with its Dean, Professor Raymond Atuguba, the Director of Legal Education of the Ghana School of Law, Yaw Bramiah Oppong, and his capable team, including the Registrar and Depu­ty Registrar of the Ghana School of Law and the Office for Students with Special Needs (UG), made significant contribu­tions to his journey.

Prof. Atuguba acknowledged Juven­tus’ achievement as evidence of the university’s commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

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Commenting on how the school accommodated his special needs, Prof. Atugugba explained that ‘In the case of Juventus, we worked closely with him to understand and address his special needs, ensuring he had access to the teaching and learning resources in the appropriate formats that would support his academic journey.

Professor Atuguba noted that Juven­tus’s journey is just beginning, and the future holds promise for him and the many lives he aims to touch along the way.

Juventus’s close friend, Ida Esi McOw­usu Esq., described her first encounter with Juventus as ‘intriguing.’ “My first meeting with Juventus was in class, where he sat right in front of me in first year,” Ida reveals. She was intrigued and wanted to find out more about him, especially how Juventus navigated his way to this level. “I got closer and we became friends from there,” she remarked.

Mr Francis Kweku Essel, Juventus’ interpreter, shed light on the primary challenges he faced in carrying out his job, particularly the complex nature of legal terminology and concepts. This validates Ida’s comment on the inter­preters’ lack of legal background as a challenge Lawyer Duorinaah encoun­tred.

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Juventus dreams of becoming a judge and aims to enhance justice delivery while serving as a role model for young people with disabilities.

He is currently mentoring a group of young deaf students interested in pursuing law, hoping to pave the way for future generations. What’s next for Lawyer Juventus? His next step is to complete his pupilage, after which he can decide further his legal career.

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