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Rise in breast cancer cases alarming – Public Health Specialist
A public health specialist has expressed grave concern about the rising rate of breast cancer cases in the country.
Ms Abigail Ababio says Ghana records approximately 5,000 new breast cancer cases every year.
Out of this, between 2,000 and 2,695 of the affected persons die with the vast majority of the cases unfortunately, diagnosed at advanced stages (Stages 2 or 3).
Speaking at a breast cancer screening for the people of Besease in the Ejisu Municipality, Ms Ababio pointed out that, key risk factors associated with breast cancer include alcohol consumption, smoking, poor diet, obesity, physical inactivity, early onset of menstruation, late menopause, and late-age childbirth.
The free screening exercise was organised by MagMina Foundation as part of activities marking the World Breast Cancer awareness month, which is celebrated every year, to create awareness of the disease.
Observed globally, Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October aims to promote early detection, encourage routine screenings such as mammograms, and support ongoing research and treatment efforts.
Established in 2022, the MagMina Foundation is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) dedicated to supporting underserved schools and healthcare facilities in marginalised communities across Ghana.
This year’s global theme, “Every story is unique, every journey matters,” highlights that each breast cancer experience is distinct, emphasizing that, behind every diagnosis is an individual, a family, and a deeply personal journey.
Participants were advised to remain vigilant for symptoms such as lumps, alterations in breast size or shape, skin discoloration, nipple discharge, and other anomalies.
Dispelling common myths, Ms Ababio emphasized that breast cancer was not caused by spiritual forces, warning the public against seeking cures at prayer camps rather than medical facilities.
The public health specialist further warned that fear, social stigma, misinformation, and delayed medical intervention significantly worsen prognosis and treatment outcomes.
Nana Yaa Aninwaa Boddom, the Kontire Obaapanin of Ejisu-Besease, who spearheaded the screening initiative, called on local communities, traditional authorities, development partners, and the media to unite in raising awareness and promoting early intervention.
A cross-section of the participants expressed profound gratitude to the foundation and expressed hope that such vital healthcare initiatives would become a regular feature in their community.
The MagMina Foundation was founded by Ms Rosemary Mbroba Gaisie and Ms Angelina Asantewaa Yeboah to honour their mothers, Mrs Margaret Yeboah and Mrs Wilhelmina Ansah Abrokwah. -GNA
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The 30th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Media Awards has celebrated three decades of recognising excellence and contributions to journalism and national development, while highlighting the media’s role in Ghana’s democracy.
Marking the milestone, Philip Osei Bonsu of the Multimedia Group emerged as the GJA/P.A.V. Ansah Journalist of the Year.
The Ghanaian Times’ Benedicta Gyimah Foley won the Best Feature Reporting, Print category, alongside other journalists recognised across various media platforms.
Other winners included Nathaniel Attoh, Best in Sports Reporting; and Godwin Asediba of Media General, Best in TV Documentary; Doreen Ampofo of GBC, Best in Radio Documentary; and freelance journalist Nii Adjei Mensahfio, Best in Online Documentary.
Daniel Kwabena Mantey was adjudged Best in TV Feature, while Clinton Yeboah of Luv FM won Best in Radio Feature, with Gilbert Azeem Tiroog of GNA taking Best in Online Features.
For news reporting, Mohammed Fugu of the Daily Graphic won Best in Print News Reporting, Nabil Ahmed Rufai, a freelance journalist, Best in TV News Reporting; Ridwan Karim Dini-Osman of EIB Network, Best in Radio News Reporting; and Timothy Ngnenbe of the Daily Graphic, Best in Online News.
The ceremony, held in Accra last Saturday on the theme, “Celebrating Excellence, Advancing Media Freedom and Combating Hate Speech in the Digital Age”, was attended by President John Dramani Mahama as the special guest of honour.
Also in attendance were the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Christian Tetteh Yohuno, among others.
In his address, President Mahama announced a GH₵10 million allocation in the 2027 national budget as seed capital for the reactivated Media Development Fund to support journalists’ welfare, professional development, investigative reporting and safety training, with additional corporate contributions expected.
Mr Mahama, also urged media practitioners to uphold professionalism and accuracy by avoiding sensationalism, unsubstantiated allegations and the deliberate pursuit of scandals, while promptly correcting inaccurate reports and apologising when necessary to maintain public trust and professional standards.
On journalists’ safety, he assured that the government would continue to act against attacks on them.
By Stephanie Birikorang
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Today, I focus on the theme of Ghanaian/African migrants in Finland and economic empowerment, a move away from the topic of personalities or groups and their accomplishments within the Ghanaian community in Finland that I have been writing on.
In recent times, African migrant associations and Finnish institutions are organising meetings or forums and help people seeking employment to meet employers or build professional networks to achieve economic empowerment.
Such forums are usually open to their members and anyone of African descent.to get into the Finnish job market.
Competences
Researchers and experts say entrepreneurship or self-employment has great potential to offer a route for migrants, including highly-educated ones, to participate in and contribute to the local economy.
Competences, including knowledge and knowhow, opportunities, and social capital such as family support, language, etc., are necessary to boost the entrepreneurship endeavour.
Competence in the official Finnish or Swedish languages is undoubtedly a key quality to improve employment prospects, especially for migrants since the overall unemployment among migrants could be higher than in the mainstream Finnish population.
There could also be particular privileges which may be the provision of the right information for potential entrepreneurs or job seekers.
Barriers and stress factors
Although language has a huge potential to contribute positively to entrepreneurship possibilities, studies have shown that some of the major stress factors are language problems, finances or economic capital among African migrants.
Other barriers or challenges may be how to grow the business venture or its sustainability.
Thus, migrant communities can generally be highly vulnerable to language barrier, lack of information, the nature of the work of migrants in professions where working from home is not possible.
Migrant associations, social networks, and information
By their activities, migrant associations are doing much to educate and create awareness as well as enhance economic empowerment through migrants’ entrepreneurship or self-employment and enhance opportunities.
Such associations and institutions become networks that create an important social capital as well as outlets for sharing and gaining information or knowledge. Also, it will all be for societal good if such activities are able to help reduce stress and anxiety in the migrants’ entrepreneurship endeavours.
As I keep pointing out, Finland is committed to the integration of migrants into the Finnish society. A number of research studies from surveys and other in-depth enquiries have shown a trend of increasing efforts to integrate African and other migrants into the Finnish society.
Public agencies, migrant associations and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Finland have been publishing information to help educate people, which is also good for their wellbeing.
Generally, migrant associations formally create awareness among their members and other migrants usually in collaboration with some Finnish institutions, and are thus an important tool for several migrants to be positively active and to get their interests and claims heard.
As I wrote previously, the role of migrant associations acting as bridge-builders for the integration and inclusion of migrants through participation in the decision making process and by acting as a representative voice is highly appreciated in Finland. Thank you!
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