Chief supports five disabled brothers
By: Sebastian R. Freiku, Kumasi
Otumfuo's Atenne Manwerehene, Nana Boafo Konadu Yiadom, has taken up the challenge to provide paternal responsibility and cater for the needs of the five disabled brothers at Sunyani.
They are Frederick Kwarteng, 32, Benjamin Kwarteng, 30, Isaac Antwi, 27, Emmanuel Yeboah, 18, and David Djan, 14.
Their father, Benjamin Kwarteng, is said to have abandoned them to their fate due to their conditions.
The three older brothers are unable to care for themselves at all, but thanks to their Aunt's (Rebecca) intervention, the younger two are attending 'normal' school and are able to perform a lot of their own personal tasks.
A sixth brother, Vincent Acquah, 22, now undertaking studies at the Catholic University in Sunyani, believes he was born 'normal' to help his brothers.
Over the past five months, Nana Konadu Yiadiam, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Ashan Children's Home, has been providing three bags of rice, sugar, cooking oil, soap and detergents, as well as money every month for their upkeep.
The latest news is that Nana Konadu Yiadom, known in private life as Jim Akwasi Konadu, has moved to provide a befitting shelter for the five brothers.
He has acquired a plot of land at Sunyani for the construction of a GH¢30,000 three bedroom house for them.
The project has started with the moulding of cement blocks for the foundation to be laid, and about GH¢2,000 has so far been sunk into it.
The chief hopes that the completion of the project would give their 'mother' (caretaker) Rebecca Asantewaa, who has since taken over the responsibility to care for her sister's family, a big relief.
Nana Konadu Yiadom has, therefore, appealed to corporate entities, organisations, religious, and spirited individual members of the public to complement his efforts in providing for the disabled brothers.
Nana Konadu Yiadom's orphanage (Ashan Children's Home), established 15 years ago at Denase near Kumasi, is catering for about 80 inmates, the eldest being 20 years old, while the youngest is seven months old.