Connect with us

News

‘Don’t stigmatise children with autism’

Founder of Liztino Centre for Children with Special Needs, Mrs Angel EIizabeth Bertino, has asked the public to stop stigmatising children with autism.

According to her, people suffering from autism (a serious development disorder especially among children), could live a normal life with the right support and assistance without any form of stigmatisation by society.

“It is very important for society to accept the children as they are harmless and can be better when they feel loved and accepted,” she stated in an interview with The Spectator.

Mrs Bertino said that in the developed countries such children got the needed support and acceptance to realise their potentials as normal children, and Ghana could do same if the public did not discriminate against them.

Advertisement

She said that there were many children with autism living in Ghana but were usually kept indoors for fear of attacks and discrimination.

“This makes their condition worse and they suffer from childhood to adulthood. We can do better as a country to make life easier for such children,” she stressed.

Her organisation which was formed over two years ago and some private entities she said, were currently championing the course of autism in Ghana and would require support from government to create more awareness about the condition.

“Government must come on board for more education and awareness campaigns to be staged to enlighten the public on the condition. This would go a long way to stop the discrimination and stigma attached to persons living with autism.

Advertisement

“Largely, discrimination is borne out of ignorance, especially when people continue to think the condition is spiritual and contagious. 

“We need a lot of education in schools and homes so the public would understand the need to show love to autistic persons,” she intimated.

Mrs Bernito indicated that she would begin to visit schools and churches to educate them on the condition for them to know how best to handle people suffering from the disorder and alleged that some churches were even guilty in terms of discrimination as she had encountered several situations where her biological son, an autistic child, was maltreated because of his condition.

“The condition is not spiritual and children can perform better when they are understood and assisted by society,” she said.

Advertisement

This concerned parent said that children who had visited her facility received above 50 per cent of recovery and now lived normal lives with their families.

She called on organisations, schools and churches to understand that people living with autism were normal and could do better with love and care.

By Michael D. Abayateye

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement

News

High Court issues bench warrant for disputed Akwatia MP following contempt conviction

A Koforidua High Court has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Ernest Yaw Kumi, the presumed winner of the Akwatia parliamentary seat in the Eastern region, after convicting him of contempt of court.

The court issued the bench warrant for Kumi’s arrest after he failed to attend court.

The conviction comes after he disobeyed an interim injunction against him on January 7, prohibiting him from being sworn in and admitted as the Member of Parliament-elect for the Akwatia constituency due to an ongoing legal contest over his election.

Mr Kumi presented himself in Parliament to be sworn in on January 7, 2025.

Advertisement

The Judge, Justice Senyo Amedahe held that the convict, throughout the hearing of the contempt case, failed to appear in court in person.

He also rejected a letter from the minority side of Parliament claiming the MP was busy with parliamentary duties, hence his continuous absence from court.

The judge rejected the letter, insisting he would be going against his own ruling should he accept the letter from the minority caucus.

Source: Myjoyonline.com

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News

Asset declaration is good, but lifestyle audit is key among public officials – Domelevo to Mahama

Former Auditor General Daniel Yaw Domelevo has commended President John Mahama for declaring his assets but stressed the need for a lifestyle audit to effectively curb corruption among public officials.

Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Tuesday, February 18, he acknowledged the President’s move as a “good gesture” but raised concerns about the process.

“It is good to see that the President has declared his assets,” he said.

According to him, “I was not too happy seeing the envelope being given to the Auditor General because that goes more or less to support what people have all along been saying—that you put your declaration in an envelope, seal it, and give it to the Auditor General, which is not the case anyway.”

Advertisement

“This should have gone through the entire process so that they capture it because you are supposed to verify the signature and be sure that the form has been properly completed. That at least should have been done, but it was not done,”he said.

While appreciating President Mahama’s directive for his appointees and public office holders to declare their assets by March 31, Domelevo expressed reservations about the timeline.

“To be honest with you, I think March 31 is too far away because the Constitution provides that it should be declared before you take office,” he argued.

He added that “Some will argue that Act 550 allows six months, but Act 550 contradicts the Constitution. I have a letter in my possession, written by former Attorney General Gloria Akuffo, confirming that the provisions of subsection 4(1) of Act 550 contradict the Constitution. However, we have all been upholding and following that.”

Advertisement

Daniel Domelevo was particularly pleased with Mahama’s commitment to hold non-compliant officials accountable.

“I’m also happy the President says those who don’t declare are going to be punished or asked to leave office. I think that will cut across everybody, and that will be good,” he stated.

However, the former Auditor General stated that asset declaration alone is insufficient in tackling corruption.

“This declaration is good. We must add to it what we call a lifestyle audit and the reversal of the burden of proof,” Mr Domelevo insisted.

Advertisement

“If we don’t do these two things so that we can audit and find out ‘how did you get this money?’, people are going to hide their resources or their assets with their families and friends. Everybody who is suspected of being an ally of a political or public office holder must be subjected to a lifestyle audit,” he concluded.

Source: Myjoyonline.com

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending