For 5-year-old Priscilla, school was supposed to be a fresh start—a place where she could learn, play, and dream of a brighter future.
But just two weeks into her enrollment at Faith Montessori, she was dismissed, not because of her academic performance or behaviour, but because of her past.
Born into poverty in Dafeama, a small community in the Upper West Region, Priscilla has faced rejection and hardship all her life.
Her caretaker, Barbara Humphrey, recalls the struggles the little girl has endured.
“Her family wanted to kill her. She has been through so much at such a young age. But despite all the pain, she is a bright, cheerful child who just wants to go to school,” she told GhOne TV in an interview.
Priscilla had already overcome so much. After months of medical treatment and recovery, she was finally ready to start school. But her excitement was short-lived when the school dismissed her without explanation.
Her foster father, Rev. Father Campbell, was heartbroken and frustrated.
“This is unfair, this is clear discrimination. This child has suffered, and she deserves the right to education. Every child deserves the right to education.”
Medical experts have long confirmed that leprosy is curable and that once treated, it poses no health risk to others. But stigma and misconceptions about the disease continue to persist, robbing survivors of opportunities they rightfully deserve.
Dr. Benedict Quao, Program Manager for Leprosy at the Ghana Health Service, explained:
“Once a person has completed treatment and is fully healed, they are no longer contagious.”
Despite this, Faith Montessori has refused to provide an official reason for Priscilla’s dismissal, raising concerns that she was excluded because of her past illness.
For Priscilla, the battle is not just about returning to school—it is about fighting against stigma, discrimination, and the right of every child to an education, no matter their history.
