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‘Let’s not relent in fight against breast cancer’
Dr Elsie Cudjoe, representative from the World Health Organisation
Dr Elsie Cudjoe, Representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged market women at the Kaneshie Market Complex to increase their physical activity to reduce the risk of contracting diseases including breast cancer.
Speaking at the launch of the Spectator Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign on Thursday in Accra, she noted that obesity, harmful use of alcohol, smoking, among others were some of the risk factors of breast cancer and stressed the need for women to adopt healthy lifestyles and propagate the message about the disease.
Highlighting global statistics and the general incidence of the disease she maintained that there was still life after breast cancer.
Dr. Cudjoe, emphaised the organisation’s effort to control the disease citing the ‘WHO Global Breast Cancer Initiative’ which aimed at reducing breast cancer mortality by 2.5 per cent per year.
“Reducing global breast cancer mortality by 2.5 per cent per year would avert 25 per cent (2.5 million) of breast cancer deaths by 2030 and 40 per cent by 2040,” she said.
The strategies, she noted, included health promotion and early detection, timely diagnosis, comprehensive breast cancer management/treatment, adding that early diagnosis was very crucial for treatment, therefore, women should avail themselves of breast cancer treatment options offered by health practitioners.
She further admitted that breast cancer treatment was expensive but part of it had been covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) therefore, women should take advantage of the opportunity.
“It is my hope that every woman diagnosed with breast cancer would have access to specialised care without causing financial catastrophy in line with universal health coverage,” she said.
The campaign is themed: “Life Before and After Breast Cancer: A Future of Positivity and Hope” and comes with series of activities including a health talk at the Labone Senior High School in Accra.
Ms Dakoa Newman, the Member of Parliament of the Okaikoi South Constituency, also advised men to stop stigmatising women with breast cancer or other forms of illness.
She said health professionals had identified bad eating habits, exposure to radioactive gadgets as some triggers of the illness, therefore, women should desist from putting mobile phones under their brassieres.
She further observed that, some women who had been diagnosed with illness did not follow through with their treatment for fear their husbands would abandon them “when they for instance lose their breast from breast cancer,” and encouraged women not to despair when diagnosed.
Mr. Martin Adu Owusu, Managing Director of New Times Corporation, also said the complications of breast cancer were “quite daunting but we need to provide hope and support for victims and non-victims of breast cancer so they can live meaningful lives.”
He said the campaign was one of the corporation’s strategies to help reduce the incidence of breast cancer and its attendant stigmatization in the country and expressed optimism that the campaign would “make positive impact on present and future generations.”
“We need to be tenacious and relentless in our effort to fight this disease. This is not a difficult task, we can save many lives and bring solace and prosperity to many families if we continue with aggressive campaign in regular examination and screening,” he said.
Mr. Emmanuel Amposnsah, Editor of The Spectator, also highlighted statistics of the disease indicating thatthe campaign was to educate the public on the risks, symptoms, and treatment options for the illness.
“The Spectator, Your Weekend Companion, is leading this breast cancer campaign to create awareness on the dangers of the disease to women in particular who coincidentally align with the brand personality of the newspaper,” he said.
Ms. Vera Karikari Bediako, Deputy Director of Gender at the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, emphasised the ministry’s commitment to coordinate gender related issues and support campaigns aimed at sensitising women.
Mr. Kwame Agbeve, Deputy Managing Director Kaneshie Market Complex, urged women not to turn to prayer camps for treatment when diagnosed with breast cancer. “The first port of call is not the prayer camp, it is the hospital,” he noted.
Mr. Alfred Koomson, Marketing Manager of New Times Corporation said: “The nation cannot continue to lose women due to breast cancer hence the campaign against the disease which is preventable and curable.”
He thanked partners for the support and expressed hope that the support would continue in the years ahead.
Ms. Adelaide Setordzie, Hospital Administrator, Kaneshie Polyclinic, praised NTC for the initiative and asked women to undertake frequent breast care examination and remain mindful of the devastating effects of breast cancer.
By Ernest Nutsugah & Portia Hutton-Mills
Madam Sandra Seyram Kpedor, the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Anloga in the Volta Region, has emphasised the importance of parental involvement in children’s education, stating that education is free, but parents need to do more to support their children.
She said parents, teachers, and students must be involved in addressing the challenges facing the district’s education sector, particularly the poor Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results.
Madam Kpedor outlined some key roles parents should play to promote their children’s education, including providing a conducive learning environment, monitoring their children’s progress, and supporting teachers.
The DCE highlighted some challenges the district faced such as inadequate infrastructure and a shortage of teachers, which have also contributed to the poor BECE results and called on well-to-do parent to help solve the situation through and other supports.
To address the issues, she also announced that plans have been taken to utilise the district’s common fund to implement educational projects, such as constructing school blocks and teachers’ bungalows at Sodzi community, and 2-unit classroom blocks each at Akplorwutorkor and Tegbi-Afedome respectively, among others.
Madam Kpedor also noted that her office had earlier notified the Ministry of Education to deploy more teachers to the area to improve teaching and learning, and encouraged students to work hard and strive for excellence, and work beyond their limit to succeed.
“To my wonderful and beautiful girls, you have to know it clear that women and girls have equal opportunities to compete with men for greater achievements,” she indicated.
The DCE cited her own achievement as a testament to the fact that women can excel in leadership positions, alongside Vice President Nana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, and stressed that girls were no longer limited to domestic roles but can pursue their dreams and become leaders.
Additionally, she mentioned that a meeting was held earlier with assembly members, and other stakeholders to address the district’s educational challenges and improve academic performance.
She promised that the district’s education oversight committee and stakeholders would work together to address the challenges and improve the district’s BECE results and called for parental involvement and support to boost the district’s education sector for children to chase their dreams to become future leaders for the success of the district and the nation.
She urged parents not to leave everything to the government but rather help in the provision of some necessary materials such as textbooks, exercise books, pens, pencils, food, and guidance to children for the successes of young learners. –GNA
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The spokesperson for Dr. Bawumia, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has criticised the implementation of the NDC government’s No Fee Stress policy, arguing that the programme has failed to deliver on its core promise.
According to him on Starr fm, the policy, which was introduced to ensure stress free payment of fees for level 100 tertiary students, has rather turned into what he described as post stress support.
He explained that students are required to pay their fees first before applying for reimbursement, a situation he believes defeats the purpose of the policy.
He questioned claims by government officials that the policy has been successful and that citizens are happy.
In his view, such claims do not reflect the lived realities of many Ghanaians. He stressed that while some people may appear satisfied, many others continue to struggle.
Dennis Miracles Aboagye pointed to the situation of trained teachers and nurses who have been picketing for nearly six months, demanding employment.
He noted that government responses suggesting it cannot accommodate all of them contradict claims of economic stability.
He further argued that economic indicators such as a stable currency mean little to people who are unable to secure jobs or access promised support.
He observed that telling an unemployed teacher or a struggling student that the cedi has strengthened does not address their immediate challenges.
On the issue of tertiary education, he maintained that no level 100 student benefited from stress free fees in 2025, despite the policy being announced.
He added that in 2026, students have already reported to school without receiving the promised support.
He insisted that asking students to pay fees first and seek reimbursement later amounts to support after hardship, not stress free education.
According to him, this approach goes against what was promised during the policy announcement.
Dennis Miracles Aboagye questioned why a government that presents the economy as strong is unable to fulfil what he described as simple and clear promises.
He added that there is a fundamental problem with the way the economy is being managed and indicated that he is prepared to explain his position further.
By: Jacob Aggrey
