In a busy corner of Sunyani Area Two, where the hum of daily life rarely slows, a remarkable story of sacrifice, resilience, and unwavering love has quietly endured for more than two decades largely unseen, yet deeply profound.
At the centre of this story is Abena Asantewaa, a woman known simply by name in her community, but whose life tells a story far greater than words. Now 60, she has devoted 26 years to caring for her late sister’s five sons, men in their 40s who live with severe paralysis, leaving them unable to walk, speak, or feed themselves.
As the world marks Mother’s Day, her journey stands as a powerful reminder that true motherhood is defined not just by birth, but by sacrifice, endurance, and love lived out daily.
A Responsibility Born from Loss
Her path into this life of service began with tragedy. When her sister passed away, Abena Asantewaa stepped forward not only to mourn, but to assume full responsibility for the five young men left behind, each requiring constant, round-the-clock care.
What began as a duty within the family home soon evolved into a lifelong commitment one marked by quiet endurance and extraordinary sacrifice.
“I didn’t have a choice in my heart,” she reflects. “They are family. I had to be there for them.”
Caring for the five brothers is a task that never pauses. They depend entirely on her for survival from being fed spoon by spoon, bathed and cleaned, to being carefully repositioned to prevent sores and complications. Every moment of her day is shaped by their needs, making her routine both physically exhausting and emotionally demanding.
Yet through it all, she has remained steadfast.
For years, she struggled to balance caregiving with her work as a trader, determined to provide for the household. But as the demands intensified, she made a painful but necessary decision to abandon her business and devote herself fully to their care.
It was a sacrifice that changed the course of her life.
Today, her life revolves entirely around the five men, whose silence has become a language she alone understands.
Through subtle gestures and expressions, she has learned to interpret their needs an unspoken bond forged through years of patience, attentiveness, and love.
Neighbours describe her as a woman of rare compassion and strength.
“What she is doing is beyond ordinary,” says Vida Awuni, a tenant in the house. “Not everyone can do this for even a short time, but she has done it for 26 years.”
Her granddaughters, Amanda Asare and Mommie, also speak of her with admiration, describing her as a strong woman who continues to give everything for her family despite the hardships.
But such unwavering devotion has come at a cost.
With no steady source of income and limited support, Abena Asantewaa faces ongoing financial challenges, alongside the physical strain that comes with years of caregiving. Age is gradually taking its toll, but her resolve remains unshaken.
She is not driven by recognition or reward only by a deep sense of responsibility and love.
In a world where compassion can often be fleeting, Abena Asantewaa’s life stands as a powerful testament to enduring care.
Her story reminds us that love is not measured in words, but in sacrifice in the quiet, daily choices to show up, to give, and to endure.
And as the years pass, one truth remains constant: for 26 years, she has carried a burden many could not bear and in doing so, has redefined what it truly means to care.
In Sunyani, her story may not make headlines every day. But in the five lives she has sustained, her legacy is already written deep, enduring, and unforgettable.
Reporting by Daniel Donkor, Bono Region
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