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No woman should die of breast cancer —Dr Wiafe Addae
“No woman should die from breast cancer because she is poor,” was the resounding message that echoed through the streets of Kumasi last weekend, as thousands of Ghanaians joined Breast Care International (BCI) and its partners in what became the country’s largest breast cancer awareness walk to date.
From the Post Office at Adum to the revered grounds of Manhyia Palace, the city was painted pink and white, the colours for the breast cancer awareness — as participants marched under the theme: ‘A Cure Worth Fighting For.’
At the heart of the campaign was Dr Mrs. Beatrice Wiafe-Addai, Founder and President of BCI, whose voice carried a message both sobering and empowering. She stated that, “Breast cancer can be conquered. But we must fight together. We must bring our arsenals — education, compassion, science, and solidarity — to save lives, especially those young women who die needlessly and prematurely.”
She stressed that breast cancer was curable if detected early and treated promptly, urging women to visit hospitals for check-ups and avoid relying on traditional herbs and self-treatment.
For over 23 years, BCI has been a beacon of advocacy, education, and care — not just in Ghana, but across Africa and globally. This year’s walk marked a significant rebranding of the organisation, which signaled a renewed commitment to women’s health and a louder voice against the myths and stigma that still surround breast cancer.
Dr Wiafe-Addai was particularly vocal about the dangers of misinformation — including the persistent belief that breast cancer was caused by witchcraft. She urged women to seek medical care rather than rely on traditional herbs or self-treatment.
Again, she called on men to stand by their wives during diagnosis and treatment and not abandon them. “This is when love must speak loudest; we must support each other. No woman should feel alone in this fight,” she noted.
According to her, the statistics are stark as over 2,300 women in Ghana die from breast cancer every year, a figure that surpasses the country’s COVID-19 deaths over a two-year period, but “early detection and prompt treatment save lives,” she emphasised.
As the walk ended at Manhyia Palace, the crowd stood united — survivors, families, health workers, students, and leaders — all carrying the same hope: that poverty, silence, and stigma will no longer be death sentences.
Dr Wiafe-Addai pointed out that BCI’s renewed identity, saying that, “is not just a change in logo or name. It’s a rallying cry.”
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
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Medical Doctor and dietician, Dr Bernice Korkor Asare, has urged women to take greater responsibility for their lifestyle choices, particularly their eating habits and levels of physical activity, to help reduce their risk of developing breast cancer.
According to her, although, some breast cancer risk factors, such as family history and certain reproductive factors, may not be within an individual’s control, lifestyle choices offer an opportunity for people to take preventive action.
She made this known during a talk on the topic: “Role of diet in breast cancer prevention” organised by Times Ladies Association of the New Times Corporation, publishers of The Ghanaian Times and The Spectator, in Accra on Thursday.
The event themed “Breast Cancer Awareness- Promoting Early Detection, Healthy Eating and Prevention.” 
She noted that having a risk factor did not automatically mean a person would develop breast cancer, but could increase the likelihood of developing the disease compared with someone without that particular risk factor.
“Having close relatives who have had breast cancer, particularly a mother, sister or daughter, may increase the risk, although not everyone with a family history will develop the disease,” Dr Asare opined. Read More.
By Adizatu K. Munkaila
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A group of compassionate friends from Innovation Gospel Impact last Friday visited the management, teachers and learners of the Street Academy in Accra.
The visit was to interact to get a deeper insight into the operations of the Academy that houses hundreds of street and underprivileged children and find ways to support them.
The team was led by Rev. Dr Isaac Apenteng Yeboah, a former Director for West African Mailbox Club and Director for Prisons Support Foundation, and Rev. Dale Sutherland from Washington DC.
The call, according to the visitors was occasioned by reports about the struggles of the Academy despite the occasional support it enjoys from individuals and some corporate entities.
Briefing them, the Founder and Executive Director of the Academy, Dr Ataa Lartey, thanked them for the concern showed, indicating that “this is a major boost for both teachers and learners; knowing that their plight is known by people outside their premises.”
According Dr Lartey, the Academy had planned to undertake a number of project to enhance teaching and learning and also procure facilities for the children with keen interest in sports but had to shelve those plans for lack of finance.
He told the team that their biggest concerns were the monthly utility bills that takes a toll on their finances.
“We have a piece of land we planned to turn into an astro turf pitch to train the younger ones whose interests lies in making a career out of football, however, we have been unable to commence because there is no money now,” he said.
Dr Lartey expressed gratitude to the teachers who have dedicated their lives to training these children, rather than going for well-paying jobs and hoped that with time, their conditions of engagement would improve.
Moved by the plight of the Academy, the group donated a cash amount of Gh₵3,000 to settle its water bills.
They described as unfortunate the conditions of learners and teachers of the Academy and pledged to continuously support their operations to realize the dream to build a better future for the unfortunate children.
The group offered to support the school with its monthly utility bills, feeding and staff allowance and urged the Academy staff to remain in constant touch with them.
The Street Academy is located at the Accra Art Center and offers brilliant but needy the chance to pursue their educational dreams by enrolling them in public schools with others offered training in sports and cultural activities.
By Spectator Reporter
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