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‘Seek psychosocial counselling after breast cancer treatment’

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Mrs Bernice Ofosuhene Peasah

Mrs Bernice Ofosuhene Peasah

Mrs Bernice Ofosuhene Peasah, Lincensed Counselling Psychologist at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Counselling Centre, Kumasi, in the Ashanti Region has advised women diagnosed with breast cancer and breast cancer survivors to seek psychosocial counselling after treatment.

Psychosocial counselling is a service provided by a skilled professional counsellor to an individual, family, or group for the purpose of improving their well-being, alleviating distress, and enhancing coping skills.

According to her, “even though counselling is voluntary, it enables patients and survivors of breast cancer to face the future and rebrand themselves but empowers survivors to develop and cope with everyday life as cancer patients”.

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Mrs. Peasah who gave this advice in an interview with The Spectator stated that counselling session was a major session most patients took for granted yet it was beneficial to them.

“Both newly diagnosed patients and survivors need counselling. Specifically for new patients, pre-counselling is necessary before disclosure of positive results. And post counselling follows which involves managing the effect such as shock, fear and emotional distress” she explained.

Mrs Bernice Peasah, a Volunteer Counsellor of Breast Care International and Peace and Love Hospitals further explained that breast cancer survivors benefitted from continuous psychosocial counselling because they were likely to have been through and survived intense emotional and psychosocial disorientation.

She disclosed that some patients combined other substances and practices with their medication and such noncompliance delayed their recovery process.

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“Some people also pay attention to what society says coupled with unfounded beliefs thrown out there through social media regarding breast cancer which add to their frustrations and these affect clients’ response to counselling” MrsPeasah added.

She said that fear and insecurity about death and  the inability to be a total woman again after surgery and other superstitious beliefs, however, limited the positive effects of counselling.

“Counselling is highly recommended for survivors, and through counselling survivors are able to programme their mindsets regarding their condition to live more fulfilling lives full of hope and thankfulness” she emphasised.

She appealed to women to take advantage of the free health screening in this October for early detection of the disease.

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By Linda Abrefi Wadie

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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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