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Early Detection, Better Survival: Why cancer diagnostics matter
For years, 39-year-old Effia from Krofrom, a village in Ghana’s Ashanti Region, endured persistent breast pain.
Since 2015, she had noticed the discomfort but kept postponing a hospital visit, fearing the financial burden of any potential diagnosis. As a single mother, she simply could not afford it.
Instead, she turned to prayers, painkillers, and herbal remedies.
But when her breast began to ulcerate, she finally sought medical help. By then, it was too late—the cancer had already spread to her bones.
Referred to a tertiary hospital, Effia was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer. She fought bravely through treatment, but the disease claimed her life, leaving behind a now 13-year-old daughter to face life without her mother.
Effia’s story is not unique. Across Ghana and other low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), many people are losing their lives to cancer due to late detection and diagnosis, severely affecting treatment outcomes and survival rates.
The Rising Cancer Crisis in Ghana
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is responsible for nearly 10 million deaths annually, with one in six deaths worldwide linked to the disease.
Alarmingly, over 70% of these deaths occur in LMICs, including Ghana, where 27,385 new cases and 17,944 cancer-related deaths were recorded in 2022 alone.
Health experts attribute Ghana’s rising cancer incidence and mortality rates to several factors, including lifestyle changes, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, and delayed diagnoses.
However, there is hope. Various stakeholders—including government agencies, civil society organizations, private-sector players, and development partners—are working to improve public awareness, screening, treatment, and research to curb the country’s growing cancer burden.
Barriers to Effective Cancer Care
Despite these efforts, significant challenges remain. The country faces critical shortages in cancer diagnostic equipment, treatment centers, and trained health personnel. This gap, experts say, is costing lives.
“The gap is wide in terms of infrastructure—diagnostic centers, treatment centers, and their unequal distribution between urban and rural areas. Even screening exercises are mostly centered in Accra and major cities.This contributes to misdiagnosis, late diagnosis, and higher mortality rates,” said Eric Odei Brobbey, Head of the Chemotherapy Unit at the Surgical Department of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
Mr. Brobbey emphasized that while training health personnel is crucial, access to diagnostic tools is even more important for early detection and treatment.
“Take breast cancer, for example, I’m told that in all five northern regions of Ghana, there is no mammogram machine. Imagine how difficult it is to diagnose breast or any other form of cancer in these areas,” he added.
“Some patients must send samples all the way to Korle-Bu in Accra or Komfo Anokye in Kumasi for pathological analysis before they can even begin treatment. If we don’t address this, misdiagnosis will persist, and preventable deaths will continue,” he warned.
Calls for Policy Changes and Investments
As Vice President of the Cancer Support Network Foundation, Mr. Brobbey is advocating for greater government intervention, urging authorities to invest in cancer diagnostics and treatment at the regional level.
He also called for the inclusion of full diagnosis and treatment of leading adult cancers under Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Beyond government action, he stressed the need for public-private partnerships to strengthen cancer care delivery.
He encouraged Ghanaians to be proactive about their health, urging them to seek second opinions if they have doubts about their diagnoses.
“If you are unsure about a diagnosis or the treatment you’re receiving, insist on a second opinion or request a referral to a bigger facility. Don’t wait—by the time you realize it, the cancer might have progressed to an advanced stage,” he advised.
The Role of the Private Sector in Cancer Care
Private sector players like Siemens Healthineers, a global healthcare technology company, are stepping in to support Ghana’s fight against cancer.
The company has been instrumental in installing advanced diagnostic equipment such as CT and MRI scanners, cath labs for cardiovascular care, X-ray, and ultrasound machines in key hospitals in Accra and Kumasi.
“Besides cities, we are also reaching the remote areas of Ghana – a rural hospital in Akwatia now has a CT and MRI, which is the first such in the district and patients need not travel to cities anymore to access these facilities,” Tisha Boatman, Executive Vice President of Siemens shared.
Moved by personal experience, Siemens Healthineers has also recently partnered with the City Cancer Challenge Foundation (C/Can) and Breast Cancer International (BCI) a non-profit organisation, to improve breast cancer advocacy and reduce the time between diagnosis and treatment.
“The motivation stems from the high incidence of breast cancer and the challenges Ghanaian women face in accessing timely diagnostics and treatment, leading to lower survival rates when diagnosed late,” said Boatman, also a breast cancer survivor
She remains optimistic that by 2025, the programme will significantly reduce the time from diagnosis to therapy, saving countless lives.
Adding that “To the Executive President, access to health care healthcare should not be a privilege reserved for a few but a fundamental right for all, regardless of social status, education, or economic background.”
“My advice to all women is this: Examine yourself regularly and demand the best treatment—because we all deserve it, no matter who we are,” she urged.
The Way Forward
The theme for World Cancer Day 2025, “United by Unique”, underscores the importance of recognizing each individual’s distinct cancer journey while advocating for people-centered care.
This is particularly relevant in cancer diagnostics, where advancements in precise medication, early detection, and tailored treatment play a crucial role in improving patient outcomes.
As Ghana grapples with multiple public health challenges, improving cancer diagnosis and treatment must become a national priority.
Public-private partnerships, investment in healthcare infrastructure, and widespread awareness campaigns will be crucial in ensuring timely and effective cancer care.
For now, one message is clear: early detection saves lives and that thrives on accurate diagnosis and for thousands of Ghanaians, this could mean the difference between life and death.
BY ABIGAIL ANNOH
ODORGONNO Senior High School (SHS) has won the maiden 2026 Senior High School Plastic Waste Reuse Innovation Awards, organised among five SHSs in Accra to promote plastic waste recycling and reuse.
Odorgonno SHS received a cash prize of GH¢8,000 after securing 97 points. Accra Senior High School placed second with 96 points and received GH¢4,000, while O’Reilly SHS placed third with 90 points and received GH¢2,000.
Forces Senior High Technical School placed fourth with 83 points, while St John’s Grammar SHS came fifth with 72 points. Both schools received GH¢1,000 each as cash prizes.
Outstanding students from the participating school clubs were also recognised with gold medals and certificates. St John’s Grammar SHS received five plastic recovery cages as the school with the highest volume of recovered plastic waste.
The awards formed part of the CSIR-Institute of Industrial Research (CSIR-IIR) Schools Plastics Recovery Project, an initiative aimed at promoting plastic waste recovery, responsible environmental practices and the productive use of recovered materials.
The project included educational campaigns in all five participating schools, the provision of metal cages for plastic source segregation, an educational excursion to a Miniplast recycling factory and a plastics challenge that encouraged innovative reuse of plastic waste.
The Project Lead and Senior Research Scientist at CSIR-IIR, Dr Boniface Yeboah Antwi, said the project demonstrated how young people could become active contributors to solving Ghana’s environmental challenges while providing financial incentives to sustain their efforts.
He said when schools generated income from recovered materials, they could support the maintenance of collection infrastructure, reinforce responsible waste management and instil an entrepreneurial mindset in students.
Dr Antwi explained that within the first month, the participating schools recovered 1.5 tonnes, or 1,500 kilogrammes, of plastic waste—equivalent to the weight of approximately 15,000 one-litre water bottles.
He said the recovery generated GH¢2,000 in revenue for the schools, demonstrating that plastic waste could become a source of value rather than an environmental burden.
The Group Head of General Operations at OmniBSIC Bank, Mr Dominic Donkoh, urged the participating schools to sustain their plastic waste segregation, collection and sales activities.
He said the proceeds could support school environmental clubs and other worthwhile initiatives while providing students with practical lessons in saving, budgeting and responsible financial management.
“We encourage students to apply the financial literacy lessons acquired during this engagement. Learn to manage the proceeds from your recycling activities responsibly, appreciate the importance of saving, and explore innovative ways to create both environmental and financial value,” he added.
–GNA
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Parents have been urged to prioritise girls’ education over early marriage to protect them from losing their childhood, education and opportunities for a better future.
The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Girl Child Coordinator, Madam Margaret Blay, said child marriage disrupted girls’ education, threatened their health and well-being, and limited their ability to realise their full potential.
“Keep her in school, not in a man’s house,” she urged parents, stressing the need for families and communities to protect girls’ right to education and personal development.
She made the call in a welcome address at the 2026 celebration of the International Day of the Girl Child in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, held under the theme: “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights.”
Madam Blay said ending child marriage required collective action from parents, teachers, traditional leaders, government institutions and communities to ensure that girls were protected and given the opportunity to pursue their aspirations.
She noted that child marriage often forced girls out of school before they were physically, emotionally and socially prepared for the responsibilities associated with marriage.
She said investing in girls’ rights was not merely a moral obligation but also an investment in the future of communities and the nation.
According to her, girls who remained in school, had their voices heard and received the necessary support could grow into leaders, professionals, innovators and active contributors to national development.
Madam Blay called on teachers to protect girls’ access to education, create supportive learning environments and empower them to express themselves confidently.
She also appealed to traditional leaders to help address harmful cultural practices and social norms that denied girls opportunities to develop their potential.
The government and relevant institutions, she said, must strengthen the enforcement of child protection laws to ensure that every girl received adequate protection.
She further urged communities to speak out against child marriage, report cases and work together to create safe environments where girls could learn, grow and thrive.
Madam Blay said every girl deserved the freedom to dream, acquire an education and determine her own future.
She expressed the hope that the celebration would strengthen stakeholders’ collective resolve to end child marriage and invest in the rights, education and future of every girl.
Madam Karen Ama Moses, Assembly Member for the Takoradi Railway and Harbour Electoral Area, said keeping girls in school would lead to enlightened mothers, well-informed families, resilient communities and, ultimately, a better Ghana.
She stressed that no child should be forced into marriage, adding that “every child must have the freedom to learn, grow, dream and choose her future.”
Some of the schoolchildren expressed concern that their parents did not always listen to their concerns during difficult times, while others said some children were exposed to abuse and early marriage.
Madam Henrietta Quabu, the Metropolitan School Health Coordinator, urged children experiencing abuse or any situation that threatened their well-being to report to the police, the Department of Social Welfare, the media, their teachers or the Metropolitan Education Directorate for assistance.
— GNA
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