Accra: Mary Amoah Kuffour has recounted how misconceptions about autism led her to seek spiritual explanations for her daughter Nana Yaa's behaviour before eventually seeking medical help. Nana Yaa, now 23, was diagnosed with autism at the age of six. Speaking on The Delay Show, Mary Kuffour said she began noticing differences in her daughter's behaviour before she turned three. Although Nana Yaa had started walking at one and could say 'mum' and 'dad' by age two, Mary Kuffour said some of her subsequent behaviours concerned her. 'She would sometimes shake her hands, go round in circles without feeling dizzy; laugh, just stare; sometimes she would go hide behind a seat and try to play alone,' she recalled.
According to Ghana Web, having previously raised two boys, the mother said she recognised that Nana Yaa's development appeared different. But she did not initially interpret the behaviour as a medical condition. Instead, she began seeking spiritual intervention. 'I thought it was an attack; I thought that someone tried to mess up my daughter spiritually,' she said. Mary said she visited pastors and followed various pieces of advice from people who believed her daughter's condition had a spiritual explanation. At one point, she was advised to visit markets after trading had ended, collect foodstuffs from the floor, cook them and give them to Nana Yaa. She was also advised to fetch water from a river for her daughter to drink.
Mary Kuffour said some of the recommendations conflicted with her Christian beliefs, but the desperation to find an answer made her try them. 'It was contrary to my Christian beliefs but sometimes, situations can cause desperation,' she said. As the years passed, Nana Yaa continued to struggle with speech and other developmental challenges. Mary said her husband suggested seeing a doctor, but she remained convinced that the problem was not medical. It was not until Nana Yaa was six that the couple finally took her to hospital. That visit changed Mary Kuffour's understanding of what her daughter was experiencing. Doctors diagnosed Nana Yaa with autism.
Mary Kuffour said the diagnosis was devastating. 'From that place to my home was the longest distance ever even though it was short,' she recalled, saying she cried throughout the journey home. She had initially hoped that medication would solve the problem, but doctors explained that there was no prescription that would cure autism and that therapy could help. The experience forced Mary Kuffour to confront a condition she had struggled to understand for years. Her story has since become part of her advocacy for greater awareness and acceptance of people living with autism and other disabilities. She said stigma remains a major challenge for families, including within religious communities. 'We need acceptance. It makes us feel welcome. The stigma is real,' she said.
Kuffour urged the public to avoid ridiculing children or adults whose behaviours may appear unusual. 'Don't laugh at the pain of others,' she appealed. She also noted that more children are being diagnosed with autism and called for greater understanding and support for affected families.