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Merck Foundation expands cancer care capacity in Africa
MERCK Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, has intensified efforts to build cancer care capacity across the continent.
The initiative is being carried out through the Foundation’s Cancer Access Programme, which seeks to address Africa’s shortage of trained oncologists and improve early diagnosis and treatment outcomes.
This is being done in partnership with Africa’s First Ladies and Ministries of Health to mark World Cancer Day 2026.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Executive Officer of Merck Foundation, Senator Dr Rasha Kelej (Ret), said the Foundation’s World Cancer Day activities reflect its long-term commitment to transforming cancer care in Africa.
She noted that late diagnosis and the lack of trained specialists remain two of the most critical gaps in cancer care on the continent.
To bridge this gap, she said the foundation, in collaboration with African First Ladies, has provided 258 oncology scholarships to healthcare professionals from 34 African and Asian countries, significantly increasing the number of trained oncologists and multidisciplinary cancer care teams.
“In several of these countries, there was not even a single oncologist,” Dr Kelej said, adding that the foundation is proud to be training the first oncologists and cancer care teams in countries such as The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Burundi, Liberia, Guinea Conakry, the Central African Republic, Chad and Niger.
Overall, she stated that the foundation has awarded more than 2,500 scholarships to healthcare providers from 52 countries in 44 critical and underserved medical specialties, with cancer care remaining a key focus.
Under the Cancer Access Programme, Dr Kelej said the foundation is establishing multidisciplinary oncology care teams through one-year clinical training in several sub-specialties, including medical oncology, surgical oncology, paediatric oncology, gynaecological oncology, breast oncology, haemato-oncology, radiation oncology, pathology oncology, palliative care, oncology nursing and related fields.
In addition, she said Merck Foundation is offering one- and two-year postgraduate diploma and master’s degree programmes in cancer and clinical oncology, medical oncology and pain management, in partnership with leading universities in the United Kingdom, including the University of South Wales, University of Buckingham, Queen Mary University of London and Cardiff University.
The beneficiary countries include Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and several others across Africa and Asia.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO) data (2022), Africa records about 1.1 million new cancer cases and nearly 700,000 cancer-related deaths annually. Mortality rates remain high due to late diagnosis, limited access to care and weak health systems.
Dr Kelej stressed that nearly two-thirds of cancer cases can be successfully treated when detected early, while up to one-third can be prevented by reducing key risk factors.
As part of its awareness efforts, Merck Foundation has launched a children’s storybook and animation film titled “Ray of Hope”, developed in partnership with African First Ladies to promote early detection and cancer awareness, particularly childhood cancer.
She reiterated the foundation’s commitment to strengthening cancer care systems and leading Africa towards a healthier future.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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The Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly (KOKMA) has demolished a dilapidated building at Osu that has remained in a deteriorated state for nearly 70 years.
The demolition of the structure followed several engagements between the Assembly, the police and the occupants of the property to ensure the exercise was carried out safely.
The action comes days after a similar building collapsed at Avenor, killing one person and leaving others injured, raising concerns about the safety of ageing structures across the capital.
The demolition, which took place on Monday, June 8, 2026, was carried out peacefully without any confrontation from residents or occupants of the area.
Speaking to the media, the Municipal Chief Executive for the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly, Alfred Allotey-Gaisie, said the assembly had repeatedly warned occupants of the building to vacate the premises due to the danger it posed.
He explained that the assembly had earlier forced the occupants to move out to enable officials to carry out the demolition safely.
He noted that there was a slight delay in the exercise because power had to be disconnected by the Electricity Company of Ghana, while telecommunications operators were also engaged to protect fibre cables in the area.
Mr. Allotey-Gaisie said no casualties had been recorded, adding that nearby buildings were also evacuated as a precautionary measure.
He stated that the structure was believed to be more than 70 years old and had deteriorated over time, making it unsafe for continued occupation.
He further explained that the assembly’s building permit and inspection systems were intended to ensure proper supervision of construction projects and prevent such situations in the future.
According to him, any new development on the site would be expected to meet current building standards.
Meanwhile, one of the owners of the demolished property, Walter Hammond, explained that the family had already planned to pull down the building because of its age and poor condition before the assembly intervened.
He said although the family did not directly invite the assembly to undertake the demolition, officials had earlier marked the building and recommended its removal.
He described the assembly’s intervention as a step in the right direction and disclosed that all family members supported the exercise.
Mr. Hammond advised owners of weak and ageing structures to demolish them before assemblies are compelled to intervene, warning that delays could lead to legal disputes and other complications.
He added that following the demolition, the family intended to either lease or sell the property to interested investors.
Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly Engineer, Davor Wonder, mentioned that the assembly had identified about three weak structures within the municipality for possible demolition.
He explained that buildings are not demolished solely based on their appearance, stressing that structural integrity assessments must first be conducted to determine whether a structure is unsafe.
Mr. Wonder said the assembly follows due process before carrying out demolitions to avoid disputes and ensure decisions are based on professional assessments.
On preparations for the rainy season, he revealed that the assembly had intensified the desilting of drains across parts of the municipality to improve the flow of stormwater and reduce flooding.
A resident in the area revealed that he was pleased with the demolition because the building posed a serious threat to lives and property.
The resident noted that the structure was located at a busy junction used by motorists and pedestrians, adding that its poor condition was obvious and that its demolition would help prevent a possible tragedy.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Personnel from the Industrial Area Fire Station successfully responded to two separate fire incidents in Accra over the weekend, preventing further damage and ensuring no loss of life.
The first incident occurred at the North Gate of Accra Academy in Bubiashie, where a Lexus RX350 caught fire late on Saturday night.
Firefighters quickly brought the blaze under control and extinguished it.
While the vehicle’s engine compartment, roof, and dashboard were completely destroyed, the back seat and tyres were salvaged. No injuries were reported, and investigations into the cause are ongoing.
In a separate incident at Dansoman Last Stop on Sunday, firefighters responded to a fire involving a tailoring shop housed in a metal container.
Although the fire had gone out before their arrival, three sewing machines, fabrics, tables, and chairs were destroyed. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The Ghana National Fire Service has urged the public to regularly inspect electrical installations and observe fire safety precautions to prevent similar incidents.
