News
KNUST initiates the Africa Breast Cancer Screening Study
Researchers at the College of Health Sciences of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), have commenced studies into efforts to advance cancer prevention, early detection and health equity in Africa.
The study, dubbed “Africa Breast Cancer Screening” (ABCS), which is being carried out in partnership with the College of Science, will look at the association between metabolic syndrome, the gut microbiome and breast cancer risk
The study will also look at the individual parameters of metabolic syndrome, which will be performed by screening many women and find out if they have breast cancer, the stage and the type and screen them for the risk factor of metabolic syndrome, analysis and their interrelationships.
Chosen cross-sectional study sites in Ghana will be the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Breast Center, Tamale Teaching Hospital Breast Center, Peace and Love Hospital in Kumasi, Western Regional Hospital, Effia Nkwanta, Cape Coast Teaching Hospital Oncology Department and the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
Professor Reginald Annan, the Principal Investigator and a Professor of Public Health Nutrition at the KNUST, at the Study’s Inception meeting, said later studies will be conducted in other African countries for informed decisions on breast cancer.
The study will also look at the individual parameters of metabolic syndrome, which will be performed by screening many women and find out if they have breast cancer, the stage and the type and screen them for the risk factor of metabolic syndrome, analysis and their interrelationships.
Prof. Annan said there was little or no study in Africa on cancer and nutrition and this was the first study to delve into the disease’s prevalence.
Breast cancer remained a major public health concern in sub-Saharan Africa with increasing incidence and a challenging burden on healthcare systems. He said the incidence of especially, triple negative breast cancer, an aggressive subtype of breast cancer tends to be higher among women of African descent.
However, through early detection, awareness creation and access to screening services, a significant impact could be made on lives. Prof. Rita Akosua Dickson, the Vice-Chancellor, KNUST, commended the World Cancer Research Fund for funding the study and the dedicated researchers from the KNUST for leading the transformative work.
The VC said the study was a significant milestone in researchers’ collective efforts to advance cancer prevention and improve health attention of the disease in Africa. Prof. Dickson indicated that the findings from the research would not only enhance breast cancer screening efforts in Ghana but also set precedent for other African nations to follow.
She said the KNUST was deeply committed to becoming a leading research-intensive institution, driving innovation and scientific discovery that addressed pressing global and regional challenges. GNA
News
SEND Ghana engage Gender Minister for strategic dialogue on social protection and gender equality
A delegation from SEND Ghana visited the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, to discuss collaboration on gender equality, social protection, and economic empowerment.
SEND Ghana, known for its policy advocacy and equitable development efforts, works closely with farmers and empowers young women aged 18–35 through Mastercard Foundation-supported projects focused on livelihood and agricultural support.
The Minister welcomed SEND Ghana’s initiatives and highlighted the Ministry’s alignment with their priorities.
She reaffirmed that social protection is a top priority under President John Mahama’s government and emphasized ongoing efforts to expand coverage and enhance service delivery through flagship programmes like Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), which remains vital for vulnerable households.
Regarding the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP), the Minister noted plans to introduce legislation to ensure its sustainability and improve the nutritional quality of school meals.
She praised civil society’s role in monitoring local implementation.
The Minister also voiced strong support for menstrual hygiene and reproductive health campaigns, stressing education and access to sanitary products for adolescent girls, and encouraged efforts to break menstrual taboos and keep girls in school.
Broader gender issues discussed included reducing unpaid care work, promoting gender-sensitive leave policies (maternity and paternity leave), and boosting women’s economic opportunities.
Both parties agreed on the need to build gender-responsive systems that empower women socially and economically.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to work together for inclusive development, gender equity, and stronger social protection systems in Ghana.
News
3-Day in-country capacity building workshop on Women, Peace and Security Reporting Frame Work held
In 2018, the African Union developed the Continental Results Framework (CRF) to track the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda across Africa.
To support this regional effort, ECOWAS introduced a simplified version of the CRF in 2022 to guide member states in implementation and reporting.
As part of a broader regional effort to build national capacity across member states, the ECOWAS Commission, through its Directorate for Humanitarian and Social Affairs (DHSA), and in collaboration with relevant stakeholders and the WPS Regional Steering Group—with technical and financial backing from the ECOWAS Peace, Security and Governance Project (EPSG), co-funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and implemented by GIZ—organized a three-day in-country capacity-building workshop in Ghana.
Held from June 10 to 12, 2025, the workshop was spearheaded by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection in collaboration with the European Union, the German Embassy, and the ECOWAS Commission.
It aimed to enhance the technical capacity of national stakeholders and focal persons to systematically document, monitor, and report on WPS interventions, particularly in relation to Ghana’s National Action Plan on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (GHANAP II).
The training also focused on improving data accuracy, promoting inter-agency collaboration, and ensuring Ghana’s reporting processes align with the ECOWAS Simplified CRF.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Momo Lartey, the Director of the Department of Gender, Madam Faustina Acheampong, described the workshop as “timely and appropriate,” noting its significance in strengthening Ghana’s WPS reporting architecture.
She further stressed the importance of accurate data and coordinated efforts to meet the country’s regional reporting obligations.
She also underscored the critical role of women in peacebuilding, emphasizing the need to amplify women’s voices and ensure their full participation in peace processes to achieve lasting, inclusive peace in Ghana.
Representing the ECOWAS Commission’s Directorate of Humanitarian and Social Affairs, Mr. Olatunde Olayemi reaffirmed ECOWAS’s commitment to Ghana’s WPS agenda. He highlighted the disproportionate impact of insecurity on women and girls and praised Ghana’s ongoing efforts to advance inclusive peacebuilding as a cornerstone for sustainable development.
Daniel Messina, from the European Union Delegation to Ghana, acknowledged the role of the ECOWAS Peace and Security Architecture and Operations (EPSAO) Programme—funded by the EU and German Government—in promoting peace, security, and gender equity across the region.
Additionally, Pauline Okkens, Political Advisor at the German Embassy, reiterated her government’s continued support for the development and implementation of continental and regional frameworks on Women, Peace and Security.
