The Director of the Ghanaian Genome (Gh-Genome) Project, Prof. Solomon Fiifi Ofori-Acquah has said that it is only right for marriage counsellors and family therapists, especially, to make the right medical consultations when it comes to working with families and couples before they go ahead with final plans as part of their counselling procedures.
“Most counsellors barely take into consideration and delve into the biological make up of couple and people about to get married & undergoing counselling. The genetic makeup of both adults must at all times be carefully looked at to ascertain if they can get married without any after-effects regarding health. People who are about to get married and don’t know their sickle cell status, for every pregnancy there is a 25% chance of their child being SS. You being told to find out your sickle cell status before you get married is information”, the Professor of Medical Laboratory Science and Associate Professor of Medicine and Human Genetics bemoaned.
Speaking at a Pubic Lecture held at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology’s (KNUST) School Of Business, on Friday, December 16, 2022, on the Ghanaian Genome (GhGenome Project), under the topic “The Ghanaian Genome – Our Duty To Decode”, he mentioned that the human genome is the entire set of DNA instructions found in a cell, containing as part of a whole the coding regions of the DNA. He stated that the genome contains every bit of information an individual needs to develop and function well.
The Founding Director of the West African Genetic Medicine Centre (WAGMC) expatiated,” Genetics & DNA are the things we inherit from our parents. The genes we inherit sometimes increases are our risk of getting some diseases, and so any disease we contract which is influenced by genes is a genetic disease which affects genetic health, and so then any disease one acquires of which the genes contribute has to do with genetic health.”
The renowned basic and translational researcher in sickle cell disease alluded to lifestyle as another factor which accelerates one’s risk of acquiring, or not acquiring genetic diseases and counselled patrons to be very mindful of their things they do which go a long way to impact on their health.
On a project his outfit is about to pursue, he disclosed that plans are far-advanced on a national campaign to reach out to about a million Ghanaians, of which funds have already been secured for five hundred (500), through a donor, & further called on corporate Ghana & charitable institutions to come support their cause to address issues related to the Ghanaian genome