Gender
Guzakuza WAW Ghana 2025 calls for gender equity in agribusiness
Stakeholders at the launch of Women in Agribusiness Week 2025, have urged bold action to address gender disparities in agriculture, stressing that women’s empowerment is critical to food security, rural development, and inclusive economic growth.
The Women in Agribusiness Week (WAW) Ghana 2025, organised by Guzakuza-a leading organisation committed to empowering women in agribusiness across Africa—was launched in Koforidua in the Eastern Region, bringing together policymakers, entrepreneurs, and advocates.
Addressing this year’s Women in Agribusiness Week theme: “Innovating for a Resilient Agribusiness: Finance, Technology and Market Access for Growth”, stakeholders took turns to highlight the need for innovation, equity, and investment to unlock the full potential of Ghanaian women in agribusiness.
Hajia Habiba Yusifu, Eastern Regional Director of Agriculture, described women as “the lifeline of rural and national economies,” but noted that they continue to face systemic barriers.
“For decades, African women have been trapped in poverty cycles due to unequal access to education, resources, and technology,” she said.
Adding, “Empowering women in agriculture is not only a moral imperative but also an economic necessity.”
She cited research indicating that closing the gender gap could significantly boost agricultural productivity, reduce hunger, and stimulate economic growth.
“We must provide women with equal access to land, finance, and modern technologies to enable them to become catalysts for innovation, productivity, and sustainable development,” she added.
Hajia Yusifu also called for increased representation of women in farmer cooperatives and decision-making platforms.
“Women’s voices must be heard and their perspectives considered when designing programmes that affect their livelihoods,” she said.
In a speech read on her behalf, Eastern Regional Minister, Mrs Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, echoed the appeal, noting that women constitute 70 per cent of Ghana’s agricultural workforce but face challenges in scaling their businesses.
“Access to affordable credit and investment is vital for women to transition from subsistence farming to commercial agribusiness,” she said.
She highlighted government interventions under the Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda, including the Feed Ghana Programme and the Grains and Legumes Development Programme, which aim to enhance resilience and productivity.
“Our efforts in agriculture are not only about producing more food, but also about building resilience and ensuring that farmers, particularly women, can withstand climate change and market fluctuations,” she said.
Ms Vida Akuamoah Boateng, Project Officer at Guzakuza, said the conference provided a platform for product marketing, networking, and knowledge exchange.
“Industry experts add knowledge that enhances creativity, and through networking, women can support each other long after the event,” she said.
She acknowledged persistent challenges such as limited access to finance, land ownership, and fragile market access.
“That is why we organise exhibitions—to encourage women to add value to their produce and connect them with buyers,” she said.
She also emphasized the importance of agro-processing, noting, “We are still in the early stages of value addition. We encourage women to go into processing to make their products competitive locally and internationally.”
Mrs Perpetual Kyei, Executive Director of Guzakuza, said her organisation has built a pan-African ecosystem for women entrepreneurs in agribusiness.
“Our flagship Ignite programme has trained over 5,000 women from 36 countries since 2015,” she said. “We continue to connect alumni to collaborate and grow.”
Since 2015, Guzakuza has launched programmes such as Ignite, SheFarms, and the continental Women in Agribusiness Week (WAW Africa).
While WAW Africa 2025 will be hosted in Uganda, the Ghana edition marks the first national platform of its kind dedicated to women in agribusiness.
This year’s WAW Ghana was held in partnership with MTN Momo, Ghana Standards Authority, Ghana Export Promotion Authority, Environmental Protection Agency, Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, and the Association of Ghana Industries.
Exhibitors showcased processed foods, packaged staples, cosmetics, and beverages produced by women-led enterprises.
Organisers said the programme rotates annually across Ghana to ensure broad participation.
A continental edition, WAW Africa, is scheduled for November, bringing together women entrepreneurs from across Africa to share innovations and expand market access. -GNA
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THE Breast Society of Ghana has sounded the alarm on a looming surge in the incidence of breast cancer in Ghana as the menace of illegal mining (galamsey) continues to ravage many communities across the country.
It indicated that an average of 5,000 women were diagnosed with the disease every year out of which 2,500 died, but the situation could deteriorate if the galamsey onslaught did not cease immediately.
Prof. Martin Morna, an Associate Professor with the School of Medical Sciences (SMS) of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) and member of the Society, warned that mercury, lead, arsenic and other chemicals introduced into water bodies and the soil were carcinogenic and could increase the susceptibility of women to breast cancer.
The Society issued the warning when it held a grand durbar on breast cancer awareness in Cape Coast, sensitising mostly second cycle students to the fatal disease and mounting a strong advocacy against stigmatisation.
The durbar highlighted the devastating dangers of the breast disease and called for love and support for victims, instead of stigma and ostracisation.
The mammoth gathering was held under the Society’s Empowerment Project as part of its 13th Oguaa Breast Cancer Campaign on the theme: “Breast cancer: Stop the stigma and be supportive.”
Prof. Morna underscored the dangers of the disease noting that cancer cells could invade other organs and parts of the body including the bone, brain and liver and cause them to fail.
He said the disease could happen to anybody but factors such as age, gender, race, family history, smoking, null parity, contraception, and delaying first birth until 30 years increased the risk of getting it.
He said early signs of the disease included bloody or blackish discharge from the breast, adding that the early signs were usually not painful or bothersome.
“Anyone who goes beyond 40 years should quickly see the doctor if they find a lump in their breast,” he said.
“It is good to do screening regularly; do it once every two years if you are at average risk, and once every year if you are at high risk,” he added.
Prof. Akwasi Anyanful, Former Vice President of the Society and Associate Professor with UCC SMS, painted a global picture of the breast cancer disease, noting that 2.3 million cases were recorded in 2022 alone out of which 665,000 succumbed.
He observed with worry that the incidence of breast cancer was higher among Caucasians, but mortality was higher among blacks.
He also observed that breast cancer could also affect men, adding that men died faster when affected.
Mrs Georgina Kumah-Dzagah, a survivor of breast cancer, shared her experience with the disease and how she suffered stigma at the hands of friends and family.
She said she had gone through all the stages of the disease including lumpectomy, mastectomy, radiotherapy, hormonal therapy, and chemotherapy even though she detected the disease at the early stage.
“The deepest wound doesn’t come from the cancer but how people respond to it. I was 31 years when I was diagnosed, and my world changed in an instance.
“I didn’t just lose my breast, I lost friends. Social gatherings became more painful because people looked at my chest instead of my face,” she recounted.
She emphasised that breast cancer was real but not contagious, urging people to be more supportive to patients.
—GNA
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October is globally observed as Breast Cancer Awareness Month -a period dedicated to raising awareness, honouring millions of lives touched by the disease, and reaffirming the worldwide commitment to equitable access to care and improved survival for all.
This annual observance, marked in countries across the globe, serves as a rallying point to increase attention and support for early diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. The 2025 theme, “Every story is unique, every journey matters,” places a spotlight on the deeply personal experiences of breast cancer survivors and patients. It underscores the diversity of their struggles while reinforcing the urgent need for compassionate, timely, and quality care regardless of geography, income, or background.
Behind every diagnosis lies not only a medical condition but also a story-one filled with courage, resilience, and hope. These stories extend beyond individuals, shaping the experiences of their families, friends, and entire communities.
Breast cancer continues to be the most diagnosed cancer among women worldwide. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), approximately 2.3 million women were diagnosed in 2022, and about 670,000 died from the disease.
“These are not just numbers but mothers, sisters, daughters, and friends who deserve hope and dignity,” the WHO emphasises.
Survival rates, however, differ starkly across regions. While the five-year survival rate exceeds 90 per cent in high-income countries, it drops to 66 per cent in India and 40 per cent in South Africa. The reasons are clear: unequal access to early detection, timely diagnosis, and effective treatment.
If current trends remain unchecked, both incidence and mortality are projected to rise by 40 per cent by 2050. To address this, the WHO established the Global Breast Cancer Initiative in 2021, working with partners to strengthen health systems and reduce preventable deaths worldwide.
The situation in Ghana
In Ghana, breast cancer poses a particularly pressing public health concern. It is the most common cancer among women, accounting for about 15 per cent of all malignancies.
Studies reveal a troubling trend: almost 70 per cent of women are diagnosed at advanced stages, where treatment options are limited and survival rates much lower. In 2012, nearly half of Ghanaian women diagnosed with breast cancer lost their lives to the disease.
These statistics point to late presentation, cultural stigma, and limited access to screening facilities as some of the key factors fuelling high mortality.
Experts warn that unless more women come forward for early screening and timely treatment, these figures may remain stubbornly high.
Executive Secretary of the Breast Cancer Society of Ghana (BCSG), Mrs Georgina Kumah-Dzagah, said the numbers are not just statistics, they represent lived experiences. A survivor herself, she knows first-hand the difference early detection and treatment can make.
“My journey could have ended differently if I had ignored the early signs,” she reflected. “That is why the theme ‘Catch it early, treat it right, survive it’ is not just a slogan to me. It is a lifeline that can save countless women.”
Mrs Kumah-Dzagah believes awareness is the first weapon in the fight. She stresses that women must be proactive, know their bodies, and act quickly when something feels unusual.
“A lump, nipple discharge, or changes in the skin should never be ignored or treated with fear and silence,” she explained. “Hospitals and screening centres are there to help us, not to harm us. Early detection gives the best chance for a cure.”
The Executive Secretary also raised concern about the role of misinformation and reliance on untested remedies saying, too often, delays and misplaced trust in alternative cures cost lives.
“Treating it right means trusting science and trained professionals,” she stressed. “Modern treatment -whether surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or hormone therapy -may be tough, but it saves lives. I went through these treatments myself, and though the journey was not easy, I am living proof that treatment works when given at the right time.”
Her message resonates strongly in a society where cultural beliefs sometimes discourage women from seeking hospital care, and myths about breast cancer fuel stigma.
For Mrs Kumah-Dzagah, survival is not simply about conquering the disease. It is also about reclaiming life, hope, and purpose.
“Breast cancer is not a death sentence,” she affirmed. “Survivorship comes with challenges, but it also brings strength. Today, I speak not just for myself but for every woman still in the fight.”
A call for collective action
Mrs Kumah-Dzagah believes that breaking the silence and stigma around breast health is critical. She called on women, families, and communities to support open conversations and proactive health checks.
She said “let us be bold to check, quick to act, and committed to supporting each other. If we catch it early and treat it right, we will surely survive it.”
She said, BCSG continues to lead nationwide campaigns to create awareness, encourage screening, and support patients and survivors.
Through advocacy and education, the organisation, she said reminds women that vigilance, timely treatment, and community support can turn the tide against breast cancer.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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