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Bleaching creams can cause breast cancer -Dr Wiafe Addai
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President of Breast Care International (BCI), Dr Beatrice Wiafe Addai, has cautioned women against the use of bleaching creams as some contain cancerous chemicals which can cause breast cancer.
According to her, some skin lighteners contain variety of substances, including topical steroids, mercury and hydroquinones as well as hormonally active compounds like phthalates which commonly known as “fragrances” or “perfumes.”
Speaking in an interview with The Spectator at a breast cancer awareness programme in Accra on Thursday, Dr Addai noted that some hair relaxers also contributed to breast cancer, saying they contained phthalates.
She indicated that although the cause of breast cancer was still unknown, there were lifestyles like intake of alcohol, smoking, not washing the bra on regular basis, excess fatty consumption, lack of exercise, skin bleaching injection and pills were risk factors.
Dr Addai observed that 10 per cent of women who had breast cancers in Ghana were from genetic mutation while 90 per cent were not.
She urged women to get themselves examined on monthly basis, and get clinical breast screened once every year, stressing that “early detection saves the breast and life.”
“Breast cancer is the most common cancer that affects women in the world. When it is not diagnosed early the cancer can spread out and it will lead women to lose a breast or both breasts or the ability to produce children. That is why it is important to get screened to detect the lump for early treatment,” she added.
Dr Addai observed that 15 per cent of women who had breast cancer were below the age of 50 years, and that “in Ghana the youngest person who was diagnosed of the cancer was 13 years.”
She dispelled the rumour that breast cancer was only common among the adults and denounced claims that it could be prevented through stimulation and sucking of the breast by one’s spouse, adding that “men can also get breast cancer.”
Mr. Sidoine Rodrigues, Manager of Delta Air Lines explained that since October has been the month set aside to create awareness on breast cancer, his outfit had deemed it mandatory to support awareness creation of cancer to get women treated with screening programmes.
He said that for the past five years, Delta Airline had supported BCI outreach project and was proud that the partnership had enabled many women and men to have access to screening programmes and seek treatment.
“Through our partnership, thousands of people have been screened with many suspected cases found. Catching breast cancer early is the key to a cure,” he added.
The programme which was organised by Delta Airline was done in collaboration with Breast Care International and Women in Aviation Ghana.
By Joyceline Natally Cudjoe
Deputy Director of Operations at the Presidency, Mustapha Gbande, has alleged that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) appears more concerned and emotionally invested in the imprisonment of its Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, than the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Speaking on Joy Prime on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Accra, Mr. Gbande argued that the NPP played a major role in the legal process that led to Wontumi’s conviction.
According to him, the law under which Wontumi was convicted originally carried a maximum prison sentence of three years but was later amended by the NPP administration to increase the maximum punishment to 15 years.
“The law that jailed Wontumi was three years. The NPP enhanced it to 15 years,” he stated.
Mr. Gbande further claimed that the evidence used to prosecute Wontumi was gathered during the previous NPP administration.
He maintained that the case against the NPP chairman did not begin under the current government but was built by officials who served in the former administration.
“The docket that jailed Wontumi was built by the NPP. The evidence that convicted him was built by the NPP,” he asserted.
To support his argument, Mr. Gbande referred to actions taken by the former Minister for Lands and Natural Resources in July 2022, when the minister declared activities linked to Wontumi in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve illegal.
He stressed that once an activity has been declared illegal, it remains a breach of the law regardless of who is involved.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has warned that traders, transport operators, businesses and individuals who refuse to accept Ghana cedi coins as payment for goods and services could face arrest, prosecution, fines or imprisonment.
In a public notice issued on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, the central bank expressed concern over the widespread refusal to accept 1 pesewa, 5 pesewa, 10 pesewa, 20 pesewa and 50 pesewa coins, as well as the GH¢1 and GH¢2 coins.
It explained that all coins issued by the Bank of Ghana remain legal tender and must be accepted for transactions across the country.
According to the BoG, none of the coins has been withdrawn from circulation or demonetised, and no trader, transport operator, business or individual has the right to reject them because they consider them inconvenient or of low value.
The bank cited the Bank of Ghana Act, 2002 (Act 612), as amended, and the Currency Act, 1964 (Act 242), as the laws governing the use of the country’s currency.
It noted that under the Currency Act, refusing to sell goods or provide services simply because a customer is paying with legal tender coins or banknotes is a criminal offence, unless the currency has been withdrawn from circulation.
The BoG stated that anyone convicted of the offence could face up to three years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both.
It added that people who encourage or instruct others to reject coins, including business owners who direct their employees to do so, are equally liable under the law.
The bank further indicated that a person caught committing the offence may be arrested without a warrant.
To ensure compliance, the BoG said it would work with the Ghana Police Service and other law enforcement agencies to enforce the law against offenders.
It encouraged members of the public to report cases of coin rejection to the nearest Bank of Ghana office, the Ghana Police Service or through the bank’s official communication channels.
The central bank called on individuals, businesses and institutions to accept and handle Ghana’s currency responsibly in all its denominations, saying this would help uphold confidence in the country’s legal tender.
By: Jacob Aggrey
