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Treat breast cancer care cases as fundamental right, not privilege –First Lady
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The First Lady, Mrs Lordina Mahama, has called for an equitable breast cancer care system that guarantees every Ghanaian woman access to screening, diagnosis and treatment, irrespective of her wealth, social status or geographical location.
She said breast cancer care should be treated as a fundamental right and not a privilege, stressing that no woman should be left behind because she could not afford healthcare or lived in a remote community.
Mrs Mahama said this in a speech read on her behalf at the Breast Society of Ghana’s annual general and scientific meeting held in Accra last Thursday.
The two-day event was held on the theme: ‘Bridging the breast cancer care gap for everyone, every step and everywhere,’ brought together health professionals, policymakers, researchers, survivors, advocates and other stakeholders to deliberate on improving breast cancer outcomes in Ghana.
Mrs Mahama said the harsh reality was that many women were diagnosed with breast cancer when the disease had already advanced, making treatment more difficult and outcomes less favourable.
She said the financial implications could force women to make difficult choices between meeting basic family needs and paying for treatment.
According to her, the situation must change, noting that the government’s free primary healthcare initiative, which includes breast cancer screening, offered an opportunity to remove some of the financial barriers preventing women from accessing early detection services.
She also commended the Ghana Medical Trust Fund for its efforts to ease the financial burden faced by families following a cancer diagnosis.
Mrs Mahama said the theme of the meeting required stakeholders to interpret “everyone, every step and everywhere” as a commitment to accompanying women throughout the entire breast cancer journey, from prevention and awareness through screening, diagnosis and treatment.
She stressed that a woman living in a remote village deserved the same access to quality screening and care as a woman living in an urban centre.
She urged health workers to strengthen their knowledge, engage communities with compassion and ensure that no eligible woman was missed.
Mrs Mahama further called on policymakers and partners, including the National Health Insurance Authority and the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, to monitor accessibility, measure outcomes and remove bureaucratic, logistical and financial barriers to care.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has pledged to strengthen its contribution to the national breast cancer response by addressing the social and economic barriers that prevent women from accessing and remaining in care.
The sector minister, Dr Agnes Naa Momo-Lartey, said breast cancer was as much an economic issue as it was a health crisis.
She said women undergoing treatment often had to cope with repeated transportation costs, loss of daily wages and the responsibility of caring for their families while their incomes declined.
The Ministry, she explained, was therefore integrating social protection interventions into the cancer response and also partnering the Ministry of Health to integrate breast health services into the Free Primary Healthcare initiative to facilitate timely screening at no cost to patients.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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The Gospel Way Theological Bible Institute on Saturday ordained 18 ministers with a charge to uphold the teachings of Jesus Christ and serve humanity with humility and integrity.
The occasion was attended by the clergy, church leaders, family members, friends and congregants.
Mrs Dorothy Nimako, a staff of the New Times Corporation (NTC) was among the new pastors ordained.
Delivering the sermon, Apostle Dr Emmanuel Essandor, founder and leader of the Institute urged Christians to stop criticising pastors and rather support, encourage and pray for them as they carry out their spiritual responsibilities.
He said spreading unverified allegations about pastors was unfortunate, saying such actions create division in the church and weaken the faith of believers.
“Pastors are like every other human being; they are not perfect and can make mistakes, but criticism should not be used to destroy their reputation or undermine their ministry,” he explained.
He urged Christians to learn to correct issues with love and humility, stressing that pastors needed prayers and encouragement to effectively lead their congregations.
Bishop Essandor also urged the newly ordained ministers to become responsible shepherds who would inspire growth, promote peace and contribute to the moral development of the society.
Gospel Way Theological Bible Institute is a non- governmental organisation that trains individuals into Pastoral ministry.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
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The Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) has called for strict measures to curb the growing indiscipline, violence and sexual assault in some Senior High Schools (SHSs).
The church warned that the recurring trend threatens the quality of education and the development of responsible young people.
The call was made in a communiqué issued at the end of its 26th General Assembly, held virtually from July 31 to August 11, 2026, and in person from August 12 to 16 at the Ramseyer Training Centre, Abetifi-Kwahu.
The Assembly was held under the theme, “celebrating our heritage: Building on the foundation already laid,” based on 1 Corinthians 3:11.
The theme, the communiqué said, was intended to remind Presbyterians of God’s faithfulness throughout the Church’s 198-year history while encouraging members to remain committed to its mission.
According to the church, reports of attacks on teachers, violence and sexual assault among students were worrying signs of a broader culture of indiscipline in the country which required urgent attention from all stakeholders.
It therefore urged the government to expedite action on the revised partnership agreement between the State and mission institutions to strengthen collaboration in the delivery of quality education.
The Assembly said the realities of the present time made collaboration between the State and faith-based institutions essential to achieving sustainable educational outcomes.
It stressed that mission institutions should not be relegated to the background, noting that both the State and the church had important roles to play in providing holistic quality education.
The church further called for a national conversation on disciplinary measures in schools to ensure that young people were properly trained to become responsible adults.
According to the PCG, the rising incidents of violence and attacks on teachers in some SHSs reflected “a deeper systemic failure” and were an offshoot of the general indiscipline among the Ghanaian populace.
The PCG also welcomed the ban on extravagant SHS graduation celebrations and urged parents, schools and society to support the promotion of modesty and humility among young people.
As the PCG prepares towards its bicentenary in 2028, the Church said it would continue to draw strength from its heritage and build on the foundation laid by Christ and its forebears.
It reaffirmed Christ as the “unshakable, eternal foundation” of the Church and pledged to preserve its legacy while continuing to proclaim the Gospel.
The Assembly also reaffirmed the PCG’s commitment to working with the government, traditional authorities and other stakeholders to ensure that Ghana remained a peaceful, just and prosperous nation for present and future generations.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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