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Re-orient service delivery to offer hope to patients

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Mr Amoo-Bediako

Mr Amoo-Bediako

Health managers, professionals, institutions must re-orient in delivering services and offer hope to clients and patients, a director at theTakoradi Port, Mr Peter Amoo-Be­diako, has advocated.

He argued that the health sector must be positioned to work on the stigmatisation and misconceptions especially around breast cancer soas to bring smiles on the faces of patients who call for succor at hospitals.

“You need to remain focused and empathise, your jobs is to give hope, if you can’t do it, leave,” Mr Amoo-Be­diako stressed as he told his ordeals and trauma, and experiences at health centres with his wife, who died 12 years ago, with breast cancer.

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He gave the admonition at a durbar organised by GPHA Takoradi Hospital on Wednesday, to advocate the col­lective action to fight breast cancer in Ghana, as part of the global efforts.

As he spoke, Mr Amoo-Bediako broke down momentarily, and in teary demeanour, he continued “If we must die, we must die in dignity. Give hope to anyone no matter the status, colour, tribe, race or religion.”

He recalled that in 2011, whiles on vacation in UK, he received a call from his wife about complaints of pains at the back.

Quickly, he said, he flew down and that, initial investigations showed that his wife was in pains, which had spread to the spine, hence the need for biopsy.

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Mr Amoo-Bediako said, results from the KomfoAnokye Teaching Hospital and Korle Bu Teaching Hospital proved that the woman had breast cancer which had spread to the spinal chord.

“I said to myself, but, for how long. I went bankrupt, indeed, Iwas in pain. Doctors concluded there’s nothing they could do because of the spread. How do I tell the young ones what was happening?”

He, therefore, reiterated the calls for early detection, saying“we can’t wait, it will be too late.”

Mr Amoo-Bediako said “We need to work together and it’s very important. We pray for long life. We thank GPHA Hospital for the awareness creation and for people to tell their stories. I pray that never shall this disease come to us in GPHA. The pictures we’ve seen here are not abstracts, they are real.”

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He told GPHA staff that he had given directives for every staff to go for medical checkup every year.

A survivor of breast cancer, Mad­am Ekuwa Tawiah from Sekondi, also spoke about her experiences 18 years ago when she was diagnosed of having a lump in the breast and underwent an operation at the Korle Bu Hospital, to save her life.

“Don’t be afraid in such situations and hide in your room. I’m 78 years and still proud. It’s not a death sentence. If you hide in your room, you may die. Let’s work together,” she added.

The Administra­tor, GPHA Hospital, Dr Helen Tettey, was happy this year’s celebration had been very successful, adding “We’ve seen a sig­nificant improve­ment this year, over the 500 recorded in 2022.”

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“The attitude is changing and getting better and our expectation is that it will not be onlyin October, but, be­come a lifestyle, so that, at least every month, we have people screened. The treatments, the modules are getting better. Let’s use what we have to save lives.”

 From Clement Adzei Boye, Takoradi

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Justin Kodua Frimpong files nomination to seek re-election as NPP General Secretary

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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.

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“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.

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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

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UGMC disputes Michael Blackson’s claims over late mother’s treatment

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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.

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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.

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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

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