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2 breast cancer survivors share their stories with The Spectator
Mrs Vivian Gyasi- Sarfo
Two women who have survived breast cancer through the instrumentality of the president of Breast Care International(BCI) Dr(Mrs) Beatrice Wiafe Addai have shared their experiences, exclusively with The Spectator to mark this year’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October).
Dr Wiafe Addai is again the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Peace and Love Hospitals in Accra and Kumasi.
Her contribution to the fight against breast cancer in Ghana can never be swept under the carpet following the number of human lives she has saved.
Mrs. Vivian Gyasi-Sarfo, President of Peace and Love Survivors Association (PALSA) stated that she was 47 years old when she began feeling pain in her breast and losing weight which resulted in other sickness.
“I didn’t know I had lump in my right breast. I only experienced some thickness close to my armpit, dizziness, and pains around my chest” she disclosed.
The breast cancer survivor, having survived cancer for the past 18 years said she visited the hospital when the disease was at stage one because she was aware she had a family history and this made her treatment easier.
President of Peace and Love Survivors Association told The Spectator that as part of her treatment she went through breast conservation, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and later did her surgery.
Talking about her challenges after the treatment Mrs. Gyasi- Sarfo said she lost interest in sex and lost her hair during her chemotherapy.
She urged the public to disregard the notion that breast cancer was not treatable, adding that over 300 others in the Association were living witnesses to the curable nature of cancer.
She stated that, she was now confident and a better version of herself stressing that “it has taken me to places like South Africa, Abidjan, Germany, Malaysia etc for conferences”
“Sometimes I wish the world could see us when we gather for our meetings so that they will know the exploits of Dr Wiafe Addai in helping us recover from cancers for so many years ’’
“The possibility of getting breast cancer is real, so anytime you see a breast screening programme somewhere find the time and get screened because the end stage of it is very terrible,” she said
Madam Joyce Aidoo, another survivor of breast cancer for the past nine years said she was diagnosed with breast cancer after she had her first daughter, and decided to seek herbal treatment but to no avail.
She recounted that a man who was diagnosed with breast cancer directed her to Peace and Love Hospital to seek early treatment and she has never regretted taking that bold step.
According to her, she became a laughing stock in her community because her right breast was becoming bigger and bigger which resulted in her husband divorcing her.
Miss Aidoo said her treatment was breast conservation, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
With excitement, she said even though she had lost her right breast she used silicone.
She disclosed that she had never had any complications after surgery and advised women not to be afraid when the need arose for their breast to be cut off.
“I will use this opportunity to thank Dr. Wiafe and her team for the special care given to me. If we do not shake the conscience of the public about this reality, we will wallow in self-deception and self-denial about this disturbing trend, as our women perish, even though a cure exists,” she stressed.
Breast Cancer, a non-communicable disease is the number one killer among women. The fight against the disease is a global one and Ghana is no exception.
About 4,650 women are diagnosed with breast cancer annually in Ghana but more than 2,000 women die annually.
Every year, October is set aside as breast cancer month to create awareness about the non-communicable disease.
Interestingly, the myth surrounding the disease makes a lot of people to go for herbal treatment or prayer camps or resort to concotions at the high risk of losing their lives.
Yet, others have been able to survive the breast cancer after going through treatment and this is how two survivors shared their success stories with The Spectator.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
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Ghana to locally refine its gold starting October 2025 – Sammy Gyamfi
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board, Sammy Gyamfi, has announced that plans are far advanced for the establishment of a state-owned gold refinery in the country.
Speaking at the 2025 Minerals and Mining Convention, Mr Gyamfi said the refinery will process locally mined gold into bullion instead of exporting it in its raw state.
According to him, it is unacceptable that Ghana, despite being a leading gold producer in Africa, continues to export raw gold known as dore.
He explained that the Gold Board, working with the Bank of Ghana and local refineries, will from October 2025 begin refining gold locally.
He also disclosed that an ultramodern assay laboratory will be built to ensure international standards in testing gold quality.
Mr Gyamfi noted that the refinery will be wholly state-owned and will help Ghana move away from raw mineral exports to value addition.
This, he said, will boost foreign exchange earnings, create jobs, and position Ghana as a hub for gold refining and jewellery production in Africa.
The CEO stressed that the project forms part of government’s strategy to ensure the country benefits fully from its natural resources and to transform the mining sector into a driver of economic growth.
By: Jacob Aggrey
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There is strength in diversity; let’s live in peace – Zanetor Rawlings urges Ghanaians
Member of Parliament for Korle Klottey, Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has urged Ghanaians, especially the youth, to value the peace the country enjoys and to see diversity as a source of strength.
Speaking at the National Youth Conference held at the Pentecost Convention Centre under the theme “Igniting Potential; Inspiring Change”, she warned against being lured into conflicts and divisions fueled by reckless statements from politicians, traditional leaders, religious figures, or academics.
According to her, many young people have no idea what it means to live in a country torn apart by war, and therefore must not take Ghana’s peace for granted.
She stressed that the harmony among different ethnic and regional groups should be protected at all costs, since it is peace that allows citizens to gather freely and safely.
Dr. Zanetor said Ghana’s development depends on embracing diversity and working together.
She urged the youth to tap into this strength so that Ghana would continue to shine as the “Black Star” of Africa and serve as an example for other nations.
She expressed appreciation to the participants for attending the conference and asked for God’s blessings on the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
