The stigma of childlessness in Ghana drives many women into vulnerable situations as they struggle to escape societal ridicule. These women often face mockery from their families, humiliation from society, and exploitation by those who prey on their desperation, including so-called “men of God” who take advantage of their pain.

This is the story of a 48-year-old woman, referred to as Auntie Naa for anonymity, who sought spiritual help for her barrenness but instead encountered deceit and exploitation. After being recommended by a friend, Auntie Naa visited a prophet in Mamprobi, a suburb of Accra, hoping for a solution to her infertility. Instead of receiving help, the prophet tried to manipulate her into sleeping with him, claiming it was a divine requirement for her to conceive.

“He told me that I was nice and wanted to sleep with me, saying that God had told him it would help me get pregnant. But I refused because I knew it was wrong,” Auntie Naa recounted.

This was not an isolated incident. Auntie Naa had encountered several other “men of God” who either sought to exploit her financially or take advantage of her body. In her desperation to have a child, she had visited numerous spiritual leaders, forests, and mountains, only to be met with false promises and demands for money or sexual favors.

Infertility treatment in Ghana is expensive, often driving women like Auntie Naa to seek unapproved interventions due to a lack of funds. She had spent a significant amount on herbal treatments, which yielded no results. Tragically, she had been pregnant six times but suffered miscarriages each time. Due to misguided advice, she avoided medical help, believing her condition to be spiritual rather than medical.

It was only at the age of 46, during a medical outreach program in her area, that she learned she had issues with her uterus, which made it difficult to carry a pregnancy to term. If she had sought medical attention earlier, she might have found a solution.

In addition to the financial and emotional toll, Auntie Naa also had to endure the stigma of being childless. She was often ridiculed and called names instead of being supported or encouraged to seek medical help.

Her story is a stark reminder of the need for greater compassion and understanding towards women facing infertility, and for society to provide them with proper support rather than adding to their burdens.