Ghanaian sister rescues disabled children shunned by their villages

Although the government said the victims died due to a cholera outbreak and were among 243 deaths in Ghana, neighbors said that, since Sarah was disabled, she was responsible.

Sarah, now 12, was born mute and did not start speaking until she was 10. Sarah was suffering from autism spectrum disorder, a developmental disorder that impairs one's ability to communicate and interact. It can be a great burden for parents of affected children, especially in African countries where information about this condition is insufficient or hard to find.

In some parts of Ghana, children born with physical and mental disabilities, including hearing and visual impairment, are believed to be "spirit children" and are considered bad omens for the family and society at large.

These "spirit children" are blamed for deaths in the village, failed harvests, infertility, a mother's death during childbirth, family poverty, famine and poor performance of children in school. In some cases, babies born at the same time as a family misfortune are also accused of being "spirit children" and are killed.

"I was told that my own parents wanted to kill me because I had been born dumb," said Sarah as a stream of tears rolled down her face. "They tried to starve me to death, but God saved me. However, when the cholera outbreak killed people in our village, they blamed it on me, saying I possessed evil spirits."

When neighbors wanted to kill her, Sr. Stan Therese Mumuni came to her rescue and took her to the Nazareth Home for God's Children, which she founded to serve one of the most vulnerable populations in Ghana.

"They attacked me, but I was rescued by Sister Stan from our local church," said Sarah, who is now in fourth grade. "My parents rejected me. They called me a witch because I could not speak. I thank the church and Sister for saving my life."