News
VRA hospital campaigns against cervical cancer
• Dr Valmont(Inset) addressing participants at the durbar
The Volta River Authority (VRA) Hospital in the Aboadze enclave of the Western Region has set itself to eradicate cervical cancer by 2100, in tandem with World Health Organisation (WHO) targets.
As part of this, the hospital has intensified public education includ ing durbars, medical conference among staff, screening and vaccination of women against the disease that killed about 47,500 in 2020, globally.
On Tuesday, staff of the hospital assisted by management, organised a float from Aboadze through Abuesi, Shama and Inchaban to Aboadze, for durbar to climax the cervical cancer awareness Month which falls on January each year. This year’s theme is “Get informed, get screened, get vaccinated”.
The Medical Superintendent of VRA Hospital, Aboadze, Dr Taurus Valmont, noted that, although, much had been said about cancer of the cervix, it remained a major cause of cancer death in the world.
Dr Valmont said the fight against cervical cancer had been a major objective of VRA medical directorate as it had intensified screening, vaccination and treatment of precancerous conditions at its health establishments.
“The cost of screening is reduced by 50 percent. Screening is done at the VRA Hospital every Wednesday, although, vaccination can be done on every working day. I would like to reiterate the commitment or the VRA to improve health delivery to the communities in the districts.
“I have to say that cervical cancer is still a major killer in our communities. Let’s all come together, get informed and ensure that our women are screened and vaccinated to help eradicate cancer of the cervix,”he said.
District Director of Health, Ms Naa Deide Okai, explained that cervical cancer affected the entrance of the vagina and the uterus, stressing “it could be eradicated.”
She said the cancer affected women and that almost 99 percent of cases were due to human tumour virus commonly transmitted through sex.
Cervical cancer, Ms Okai told the gathering, was the sixth most commonly cancers in women and that 89,500 got infected in 2020.
She advised women aged 30- 45 on the need to be screened and also repeat screening periodically, saying that the girl child between ages nine and 14, could also get vaccinated.
For 2023, she said, the WHO conference held in Cairo, Egypt, on January 13 , had set a 70 percent screening coverage for women between age 35 and 45 and 90 percent treatment for cervical cancer and management for women with cancer by 2030.
On preventive measures, she streesed “safe sex practices including abstinences,being faithful to one’s partner and the use of condom if one cannot abstain.
The Queen mother of Aboadze, Nana Korbabo III, praised the VRA campaign to reduce cervical cancer and encouraged women to participate in sensitisation programmes.
From Clement Adzei Boye, Aboadze
A new international whitepaper on democracy in Africa has placed Ghana’s Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, at the centre of a major research study on the role of opposition parties in strengthening democratic governance across the continent.
The study is being conducted by the African Chamber of Content Producers (ACCP) in partnership with the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) Ghana.
It uses Ghana’s 2025/2026 parliamentary session as a case study to examine how opposition parties can contribute to peace, development and democratic stability.
President of the ACCP, Nana Dwomoh-Doyen Benjamin, said the research forms part of a wider continental project aimed at identifying successful governance models in Africa.
He explained that the chamber is interested in promoting positive African stories and finding practical democratic systems that other countries can adopt.
Mr. Dwomoh-Doyen said political differences should not create division or hostility among leaders and citizens.
He stated that despite belonging to different political sides, people must work together in the interest of national development.
According to him, Ghana’s democratic journey and parliamentary system made the country an important case for the study.
The whitepaper, titled “A Strong and Responsible Opposition in Africa: A Ghanaian Case Study (2025/2026 Review)”, reviews the Minority Leader’s parliamentary activities, including his statements, motions and media engagements.
Researchers are also conducting public opinion surveys in Accra, Kumasi and Tamale as part of the study.
Head of ACCP’s Liberia branch, Dr. Murphy T. Jackson, said African countries should formally recognise and support the office of the Leader of the Opposition through legal structures and institutional resources.
He noted that such systems would help reduce the chances of unconstitutional changes of government on the continent.
Head of Research at ACCP Ghana, David Adofo, described Ghana’s opposition institution as one of the strongest in Africa.
He said although the current research focuses on Ghana, future studies would examine opposition institutions in other African countries.
Deputy Secretary General of UPF-Ghana, Tegha King, stressed the importance of a responsible opposition in national development.
Speaking on behalf of the Universal Peace Federation and the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP), he said opposition parties should not be seen as enemies of progress.
According to him, respectful debate, alternative policy ideas and cross-party dialogue are necessary for strong democratic institutions and national peace.
The research comes at a time when some African countries are experiencing political instability and military takeovers.
Despite these challenges, Ghana continues to be recognised as one of Africa’s stable democracies, having recorded several peaceful transfers of power since 1992.
The completed whitepaper will later be submitted to an international peer-reviewed journal, while the abstract has already been made available upon request.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
NuGhana Expat Center to launch ‘AfroTango Platform’ to support diasporans in Ghana and Africa — Nana Kofi Opoku-Agyemang
The Executive Director of the NuGhana International Expat Center, Nana Kofi Opoku-Agyemang, has disclosed that the organisation is preparing to launch the “AfroTango Platform” to support diasporans with integration in Ghana and across Africa.
According to him, the platform is intended to help diasporans navigate African systems, which many often find difficult to understand after relocating from Western countries.
“The AfroTango Platform will provide a structured bridge, offering orientation, vetted service referrals, and a trusted community to help them integrate smoothly for business or relocation,” he said.
Mr. Opoku-Agyemang made the disclosure while speaking about a proposal submitted by the NuGhana International Expat Center to the government of President John Dramani Mahama for the establishment of a specialised multi-agency Diaspora Protection and Human Capital Task Force.
According to their statement, the proposal has been submitted to the President and shared with key institutions, including the Bureau of National Intelligence (BNI), the Ministry of the Interior, the Office of National Security, the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of Diaspora Affairs, and the Black Star Experience Secretariat.
Mr. Opoku-Agyemang explained that the proposed task force would help protect diasporans and foreign nationals from organised fraud and exploitation while also helping the country benefit from their expertise, investments, and professional skills.
He noted that many diasporans relocating to Ghana often face challenges such as land disputes, business fraud, and difficulties finding trusted people to guide them through local systems.
President of the African Chamber of Content Producers (ACCP), Nana Dwomoh-Doyen Benjamin, who endorsed the proposal, described the initiative as timely and necessary.
According to him, the leadership of NuGhana understands the realities and expectations of diasporans because of their experience living in Western countries.
He appealed to the government to consider the proposal seriously, stating that it could help protect lives and investments while encouraging more diasporans to contribute to national development.
The statement identified key challenges facing diasporans, including organised land and business scams, the absence of a unified system to engage skilled professionals entering the country, and fears over investment security.
Some diasporans who spoke on condition of anonymity also welcomed the initiative and said a state-backed protection system would give them more confidence to relocate and invest in Ghana.
NuGhana said it has already built a human capital and risk database over the past four years to catalogue diasporans and foreign nationals according to their professions, skills, investment interests, and reported incidents.
The organisation added that it is ready to engage the President’s designated team to demonstrate its database and begin a pilot phase of the proposed framework.
By: Jacob Aggrey
