SPIRIT CHILDREN -
In recent weeks, after hearing first hand
some saddening stories about the plight of "Children with Special Needs" in Ghana,
I began researching past and present news articles, blogs, and
commentary to gain understanding on why many parents make horrific
and desperate decisions affecting the lives of these beautiful children. I
found some unsettling stories that helped me understand why God has directed Step By Step
to this area of need.
In Ghana, traditional views and superstitions within the family, along with a
government infrastructure that has no programs, resources, or services to
offer, has left the parents emotionally and financially "burdened" with these children. Sadly,
many parents turn to evil and have resorted to extreme solutions to ease
their plight. Many children, even newborns are abandoned, but in
one article I read from 2013, it was not uncommon in some rural areas of
Northern Ghana to see parents label their children born with deformities and
mental disabilities as "spirit children" and as a result, the children would be put to death. [Since the publishing
of the article, leaders in Northern Ghana publicly abolished the practice of
ritual killings for children with special needs thought to have an "evil spirit".] But, the problem still exists in the shadows and what instances there are, they are spoken only and not reported.
These parents are faced with the possibility of being stigmatized in
the community. Most killings were done privately. In many cases, traditional
"fetish" priests were called upon to carry out the act in the name of
delivering the family and home of an evil spirit.
"We cannot take care of children with special needs or
disabilities so the best option is to do away with such a child at birth." - Brekum Kosie (2013 article
source)
According to one article, law enforcement is not officially notified and those who are involved or have knowledge of the barbaric act, speak anonymously.
After being “labeled”, these "spirit children" are discarded as worthless and evil, and families just move on after the child's life is taken
Even though "Spirit Child" killings have been exposed and addressed, the abandoning of these special kids is increasing at an alarming rate. Just recently, an article on firstdigitalghana.com stated the Kumasi Children's Home was receiving abandoned disabled infants or children at a rate of at least two every week, since January of 2015. I was told of one abandonment where a five day old baby was just left at their gate.
Even now, since there are no government programs or resources to care for children with special needs, and in the most developed communities, these special and beautiful kids and babies are being abandoned under cover of night, at police stations, orphanages, and children's homes, with no record of where the child came from, or whom the child belongs to.
The Children's homes and orphanages who are relying on private donations and offerings from the public are ill-equipped to handle the additional children since donations are not keeping up with the influx. Yet beyond the difficulties and burdens of the institutions shouldering the crisis, the ones who are suffering the most are the abandoned ones who never make it to the doors of these refuges; and these children are living without the most basic need, love.
As God establishes Step By Step Worldwide Ministries in Ghana, and He gives us these "special Kids" to love, please
join us in prayer for the children, the "least of
these" that we will gain continued understanding on how to
provide them with a Home, A Hope, A Future.
- Papa John
On Facebook -
Step By Step Worldwide Ministries "A Home, A Hope, A Future"
quoted sources:
