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‘Let’s not relent in fight against breast cancer’
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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
General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Kodua Frimpong, has filed his nomination to contest the position of General Secretary again as the party begins its rebuilding efforts ahead of the 2028 general elections.
He was accompanied by party stalwarts and supporters who were in high spirits, expressing confidence that he is the right person to hold the position.
Speaking after filing his nomination, Mr Kodua Frimpong assured the rank and file of the party that he would not disappoint them.
“I can assure you that the faith the rank and file of the party have had in me, I will never disappoint them,” he said.
He also pledged to run a clean campaign devoid of personal attacks.
“I can assure you that our internal campaign will be devoid of personal attacks,” he told his fellow contestants and the rank and file of the party as he seeks to retain his position.
His tenure has seen the party through the 2024 general elections, where the NPP lost power to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) after eight years in government.
The party is currently in a rebuilding phase, with internal elections scheduled to elect new national executives to lead its reorganization towards the 2028 polls.
The General Secretary position is considered one of the most influential in the party’s administrative structure, responsible for the day-to-day running of the party secretariat and implementation of party decisions.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) has disputed claims made on social media by comedian Michael Blackson concerning the treatment given to his late mother, saying a review found that the allegations did not accurately reflect what happened during her stay at the hospital.
In a statement issued in Accra on August 5, 2026, the management of UGMC expressed condolences to Mr. Blackson and his family over the death of his 83-year-old mother, who died at the facility on July 16, 2026.
The hospital said it had taken the concerns raised by Mr. Blackson seriously and conducted a thorough review in line with its clinical and administrative procedures.
According to the statement, the facts presented by Mr. Blackson on social media contained “numerous inaccuracies” and did not accurately reflect the medical care provided to his mother.
UGMC explained that she was referred to the facility from another hospital and received treatment there from May 27 to July 16, 2026, a period of about eight weeks.
The hospital stated that it would not release details of her diagnosis, treatment, medical records or other aspects of her care because it had a duty to protect patient confidentiality, even after death.
It said the decision was intended to respect the dignity of the deceased and the privacy of her family.
UGMC further stated that all clinical decisions at the facility are made by qualified healthcare professionals based on medical judgment, established standards of care and the best interests of the patient.
The statement added that such decisions are made in consultation with authorised family representatives where necessary and that billing and financial procedures are governed by institutional policies and are separate from clinical decision-making.
The hospital noted that it values feedback from patients and their families and considers both positive and negative comments important for improving the quality of care.
Mr. Blackson had earlier used social media to criticise the care his mother received at UGMC, prompting the hospital’s response.
By: Jacob Aggrey
