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Vaccinate boys, girls against cervical cancer
Dr Partey-Newman
Dr Victoria Partey-Newman, a Resident Public Health Physician, West African College of Surgeons (WACS), has advocated the vaccination of both boys and girls in the fight against cervical cancer.
In her view, it was the most effective way to prevent the disease from spreading.
Consequently, she expressed the view that it should be engrafted in the educational policy of the country for the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to be administered in schools to boys and girls from the age of nine.
According to her, vaccinating both boys and girls could facilitate the eradication of the HPV and also protect boys from infection, reduce transmission, increase herd immunity and effectively reduce HPV associated diseases.
She explained that although men do not suffer from the cancer, they can still contract the HPV after having sex with an infected woman and transmit it.
Dr Partey-Newman said this in an interview with The Spectator on Tuesday in Accra as Ghana joined the world to commemorate the Cervical Cancer awareness month observed in January every year.
The theme for 2024 edition is ‘learn, prevent, screen.’
The month is set aside each year by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to raise awareness of the disease and vaccination against HPV, which is the main cause of cervical cancer.
According to WHO, this year’s Cervical Cancer Awareness Month aims to highlight the importance of increasing access to HPV vaccines, regular screening, and state-of-the-art treatment for cervical cancer in its early stages.
It said, its shared objective was to dramatically reduce the occurrence of cervical cancer by 2030 and to eliminate the disease as a public health problem by 2120.
Dr Partey-Newman, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Ladybits Health and Wellness Center said “due to our culture about sex, most young girls have not yet been vaccinated right from age nine in schools.”
She urged women to be proactive with their health by visiting the hospital when they experience vaginal bleeding after sex, bleeding after menopause, bleeding between periods, pain during sex, watery vaginal discharges with odour which sometimes contains blood.
She urged women to go for their regular screening each year and avoid smoking, having multiple sexual partners, eat a well-balanced diet and exercise regularly.
Dr Party-Newman mentioned that cervical cancer was primarily caused by persistent infection with high-risk strains of human papillomavirus (HPV).
Currently, she said estimates show that every year 2,797 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, out of which 1,699 die from the disease.
She said the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) ranked cervical cancer as the second most frequent cancer among women in Ghana and the second most frequent cancer among women be
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
The Ghana Tourism Development Company Limited (GTD) in collaboration with the Department of Organisation and Human Resource Management, University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) has marked the 2026 World Safety Day Celebration in Accra.
The event held on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at the Cedi Conference Centre, Legon was under the theme “Good Psychosocial Working Environment: A Pathway to Thriving Workers and Strong Organizations.”
The day is observed globally to promote safe and healthy working conditions and to raise awareness about both physical and psychological risks at the workplace.
The event formed part of efforts by stakeholders to deepen national conversations on workplace safety, particularly the growing concern about psychosocial well being.
In his keynote address, the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Abdul Rashid Hassan Pelpuo stressed that workers must not be treated as machines but as human beings with dignity, rights and families.
He explained that unsafe work environments marked by fear, harassment, intimidation and excessive pressure reduce productivity and weaken organisations.
He noted that although physical hazards such as faulty equipment and unsafe buildings remain a concern, psychological risks including excessive workload, bullying, job insecurity and toxic communication are equally dangerous and must be addressed.
According to him, psychological hazards are real, measurable and preventable, and should be treated with the same urgency as physical risks.
He maintained that safe and healthy working conditions are not a luxury but a fundamental right that supports productivity and social justice.
Dr Pelpuo further stated that the government remains committed to strengthening occupational safety and health systems, adding that worker wellbeing is a core responsibility of leadership and not a public relations issue.
He urged employers to create environments where dignity is protected, and workers are empowered to speak without fear.
The Dean of University of Ghana Business School, Prof Ernest Y Tweneboah Koduah noted that the school is committed to shaping a better world of work that is equitable, productive and sustainable.
He announced that the school has secured accreditation from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission to introduce a programme in organisational health and safety.
He explained that gaps in workplace safety in Ghana are linked to weak enforcement, underreporting and limited professional training.
He added that the new programme will equip graduates with the skills to prioritise employee wellbeing as a key organisational responsibility.
Prof Tweneboah Koduah urged organisations to assess psychosocial risks, invest in human resource capacity and create environments where workers can openly discuss mental health concerns.
He emphasised that collaboration between academia and industry is essential to addressing workplace safety challenges.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, the Registrar of the University of Ghana, Emelia Naa Kwantsua Agyei Mensah described the event as historic, noting that it is the first time the university is marking the global observance.
She explained that the focus on psychosocial wellbeing reflects current realities in the world of work.
She stated that employee health, including mental and emotional wellbeing, directly affects productivity, morale and institutional performance.
Mrs Agyei Mensah added that the university is committed to creating a safe and supportive environment for staff and students, beyond minimum legal requirements.
She called on leaders to reflect on the kind of workplaces they create and to prioritise the wellbeing of employees.
CEO of the GTDC, Prof Kobby on his part noted that its participation aligns with its commitment under the Riyadh Declaration, which calls on member states to improve infrastructure and public safety, as well as enhance services, transport, connectivity and accessibility.
He indicated that the company intends to use the platform to highlight Ghana’s readiness to implement the declaration, with a strong focus on worker safety and wellbeing as a foundation for sustainable tourism development.
The event brought together policymakers, academics, industry players and students to discuss strategies for improving workplace safety and promoting healthier work environments across the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Minister for Energy, John Abdulai Jinapor, has praised engineers and technical teams working to restore electricity after a fire at the Akosombo Substation disrupted power supply.
He said this after visiting the facility on Monday night to assess ongoing repair works following the incident, which affected the control room and caused the loss of more than 1,000 megawatts of power to the national grid.
During the visit, he interacted with engineers and technicians who have been working continuously under difficult conditions to restore operations.
He said he was impressed by their dedication, courage, and professionalism despite the challenges.
The minister commended the teams for their resilience and sacrifice, noting that their efforts reflect a strong sense of duty and commitment to national service.
He assured them of the government’s full support as they continue with the restoration work.
He also assured the public that authorities are doing everything possible to restore stable electricity supply as soon as possible.
By: Jacob Aggrey
