Accra: The story of the Awuku family has been a tragic one since four brothers who mysteriously lost their sight shared their experience in 2024. The family of six, made up of four brothers, recounted how they each lost their sights at the age of six.
According to Ghana Web, David Awuku, the eldest brother, narrated how they all lost their visions under strange circumstances. They also revealed that their father, who became their sole breadwinner after their mother passed away, was shot in one eye.
David Awuku shared that in 2017, their father was shot in one of his eyes. Their mother was the primary caregiver at that time but passed away, leaving their father to take care of the family. David mentioned that they were not born blind, and they could see perfectly well until they turned six years old.
Emmanuel, one of the brothers, provided a detailed account of how their father got shot. He explained that their parents were burning and selling charcoal when an incident occurred. They waited for their parents to return home, but they never did. The next day, they learned from a man that their father had been shot in the eye while burning charcoal and was hospitalized. The identity of the shooter remains unknown.
The brothers recounted visiting the Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital for eye checks, where a specialist informed them that their eyes were healthier than his own. Despite having perfect eyes, the specialist could not prescribe any medication, as there was nothing visibly wrong with their sight.
Joshua, one of the brothers, expressed the challenges they face due to their condition, highlighting the difficulty of supporting their families and even finding food sometimes. Although they have considered exploring different approaches to understand their plight, including consulting shrines, they have not yet taken action.
In addition to the four blind brothers, their youngest sibling, Blessing, lost her sight after turning ten years old. Before becoming completely blind, she could see from morning until 6 pm. Blessing is currently a student at the Bechem School for the Deaf and Blind.