- Ghana records over 27,000 new cancer cases annually, with breast cancer claiming six lives every day.
- Health experts are calling for urgent reforms, early screening, and public education to combat late-stage diagnoses.
- The Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) has launched a national awareness campaign, urging government support and warning against unproven herbal treatments.
The numbers are staggering. Every day, six Ghanaians die from breast cancer. Each year, nearly 27,400 new cancer cases are recorded nationwide. And yet, most patients arrive at hospitals when it’s already too late.
This week, the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) launched its Cancer Awareness Month campaign with a sobering message: Ghana is in the middle of a cancer emergency, and the country’s response must go beyond slogans and pink ribbons.
The campaign, themed “Screen today, live tomorrow,” aims to push early detection into the national spotlight. But behind the banners and health walks lies a deeper call — for policy change, funding, and a cultural shift in how Ghanaians approach cancer.
Experts say breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women, while prostate cancer is a growing threat to men. Globally, the World Health Organisation warns that cancer cases will double in the next decade, with low- and middle-income countries bearing the brunt.
In Ghana, the cost of treatment is a barrier many cannot cross. Prostate cancer care alone can exceed GH¢40,000 — a figure that puts survival out of reach for the average citizen. GAEC officials are urging the government to include cancer treatment in the Mahama Cares programme, arguing that financial support is no longer optional.
The commission also issued a strong warning against herbal practitioners who claim to cure cancer. Officials say these false promises are not only misleading but deadly, as they delay proper medical intervention.
Most of the cases seen at GAEC’s hospital arrive in stage four — when treatment options are limited and survival rates plummet. That’s why this year’s campaign is focused on proactive screening, community education, and breaking the silence around cancer.
October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, followed by Prostate Cancer Month in November. But for many health advocates, the fight must continue year-round — in clinics, classrooms, and policy chambers.
Ghana’s cancer battle isn’t just about awareness. It’s about access, urgency, and truth.
