Mother of four special needs children rescued from suicide attempt.

Mrs Golda Nunoo, Mother of four children, all special needs has been rescued from a suicide attempt by members of a support group she belongs to.

Golda and her three children

Mrs Nunoo made a frantic call to one of the members of the Special Mothers Group, Madam Linda Clarke amidst tears that someone in her neighborhood has been constantly ruining insults on her, referring to her as “Mother of mad children”

She thus decided to end it all for herself and three of the children currently living with her. When Madam Linda Clarke and Mrs Ellen Affam-Dadzie both members of the Special Mothers group, got to her house in Ashiaman, a suburb of Tema, she had locked two of the children in a room and had left to a church with the two year old son to say her last prayers to God.

Linda Clarke told the media that according to Golda, she has been shunned completely by people in the area.

Golda, 36 years, said: “No one talks to me, even if I am holding money to buy things people refuse to accept the money, they call me the curse one, saying I have given birth to mad children, I feel very isolated and want to move away from this neighbourhood.”

Mrs Hannah Awadzi, Initiator of the Special Mothers Project, an advocacy and awareness creation programme on cerebral palsy, said the project was introduced to Golda about two years ago when she gave birth to her last son with severe club foot.

“We tried to no avail to get the children into schools, even with a letter from the Ghana Education Service Special Education Unit, the children were refused admission,” Mrs Awadzi said.

Two years ago Ghana launched the Inclusive Education Policy supposed to ensure that all children go to school regardless of their disabilities; however, many parents of children with special needs think that the policy is not inclusive enough.

Majority of children with special needs in Ghana are refused admission even in government schools

Golda in tears

Golda spends the whole of her life attending to her four children, three of them non-verbal and is unable to work, her husband even though very supportive earns only 200 cedis a month as a security man.

Her first child has been adopted by her brother to lessen the burden on her 

Mrs Awadzi called on the Department of Social Welfare, non-governmental organizations, philanthropists and corporate organizations to come to the aid of Golda

“The Unexpected” launched to coincide with world CP Day

A book that chronicles a mother’s inspiring journey with her four year old daughter with cerebral palsy was launched over the weekend to coincide with the celebration of World Cerebral Palsy day.

Adwoa Okorewaa reading a portion of her book

The book titled: “The Unexpected” authored by Mrs Hannah Awadzi, Initiator of the Special Mothers Project, with a pen name: Adwoa Okorewaa serves to empower especially parents of a child with cerebral palsy to engage in effective advocacy.

It is also expected to help people have a positive attitude towards life.

Adwoa Okorewaa, author of the book who read a portion of the book to a crowd, said she got inspired to write based on the fact that there was very little awareness on cerebral palsy and how it affected family life.

“Most of the time, parents struggle alone with their children who have cerebral palsy, some get frustrated to the point of killing their own children or wishing them dead,” she said

Okorewaa said she started the Special Mothers Project to serve as a platform that provided encouragement and hope to parents of children with cerebral palsy.

The Special Mothers project also serves to link especially mothers to the limited support services available in Ghana

Mrs Awadzi said she will soon come out with points of sale where the book could be purchased but in the meantime, those who wish to buy a copy of the book should contact her through her Facebook page “Special Mothers Project in Ghana “or look for Hannah Awadzi on Facebook in addition to reaching her via whatsapp only on 0244547980

She said she is also available to speak to groups, corporate organizations, churches and others

Some members of Special Mums Group in a pose with the Member of parliament for the area, Zanetor Rawlings

organizations about cerebral palsy and use it as an opportunity to sell autographed copies.

Rev. Emmanuel Adjetey- Quaye, Youth Coordinator of the Ga Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church who launched the book, said “The Unexpected” is a must-read not only for parents of special needs children but for everybody.

“I have read the book over and over again and each time I read I get inspired,” he said.

The Unexpected is a 33page book with eight chapters that will serve as an inspiration to every human being on this planet earth.

The first copy of the book was bought at 500 cedis by Mr. John Majiti, Member of Parliament for Krachi Nchumuru. Ms Zanetor Rawlings, Member of Parliament for Osu Klottey also bought a copy for 500 cedis. The retail price of the book is 20 cedis

Ghana joined the rest of the world to celebrate World Cerebral Palsy day on 6^th October. The day was characterized with activities including the book launch, a forum, and series of media interviews.

For the first time in the history of Ghana various organizations including the Special Mothers Project, Presbyterian Inclusive Child Development Programme, SWEB Foundation, CP Awareness, Ghana, Sharecare,Ghana, Multikids Foundation and individuals with  a passion for disability issues came under one umbrella “Cerebral Palsy Network, Ghana” to celebrate the day.

World cerebral palsy day is celebrated on the 6^th October, every year to celebrate the lives of persons living with cerebral palsy and their care givers.

This year’s celebration was on the theme:  “Inclusion Now – We Move together.”

Ghana celebrates World Cerebral Palsy Day on October 6

Ghana will join the rest of the world to celebrate World Cerebral Palsy day on the 6^th of October this year.

This year’s celebration is being coordinated by a group of nongovernmental organizations who have come together to form the Cerebral Palsy network, a network that will champion cerebral palsy issues in Ghana.

The organizations involved are the Special Mothers Project, an advocacy and awareness creation programme on cerebral Palsy, SWEB Foundation, an NGO working with persons with disabilities, Sharecare Ghana, an association for people with autoimmune diseases, Multikids Foundation, an NGO championing inclusion, CP Awareness Ghana, The Presbyterian Health Services – Inclusive Child Development programme and some individuals committed to the cause of persons with disabilities in Ghana.

World Cerebral Palsy Day is a movement of people with cerebral palsy (CP) and their families, and the organisations that support them, in more than 60 countries.

Its vision is to ensure that children and adults with CP have the same rights, access and opportunities as anyone else in our society.

Robyn Cummins World CP Day Manager explains: “Cerebral palsy is the most common physical disability in childhood and is also one of the least understood. There are over 17 million people living with CP and 350 million family, friends and supporters who care about them.”

World Cerebral Palsy Day is celebrated on the 6^th of October every year.

In Ghana the day will be commemorated with a public forum to talk about cerebral palsy and the need for policies that enhance the lives of persons living with cerebral palsy.

The celebration is on the theme: “We Move together: Inclusion Now”

Government officials, members of parliament, policy makers and other dignitaries will be present to have firsthand information and interaction with children and adults living with cerebral palsy.

An inspirational book titled “The Unexpected “that chronicles  a mother’s journey of a child with cerebral palsy and how she has risen above that to inspire others will also be launched.

Earlier in the day, flyers with information on cerebral palsy will be distributed to commuters using the main Okponglo road in Accra.

Ms. Jedidiah Abanga, Coordinator of the Inclusive Child Development Programme of the Presbyterian Health Services said the CP Network in Ghana has designated October as the Cerebral Palsy awareness month and urged members of the network to share related information on social media throughout the month