Presidency Marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Calls for Action Beyond Awareness

The Office of the President on Friday, October 31, 2025, held a commemorative event at the Jubilee House to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, under the theme: “Catch it Early, Treat it Right, and Survive it.”

The event brought together policymakers, health professionals, presidential staff, cancer advocates, and survivors to reaffirm Ghana’s commitment to early detection, equitable access to treatment, and continuous public education on breast cancer.

Delivering the keynote address, Hon. Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, Deputy Chief of Staff (Administration), underscored the need for Ghana to move from “awareness to action.” She described breast cancer as both a national health priority and a social equity issue, urging collaboration between government, health institutions, and civil society to ensure that screening and treatment services are accessible to all.

“We must resist the temptation of making this theme another slogan because we are losing many friends, loved ones, and colleagues to breast cancer,” she said.

Hon. Nana Oye reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building a healthier population under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama and Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, citing initiatives such as the Mahama Trust Fund for chronic disease treatment, which includes support for breast cancer care.

She also acknowledged Her Excellency Lordina Mahama’s nationwide health screening campaigns, organised in partnership with the Ghana AIDS Commission, as a testament to Ghana’s dedication to Sustainable Development Goal 3—reducing premature mortality from non-communicable diseases by 2030.

She commended the countless Ghanaian women and men who continue to champion awareness and advocacy at the community level, emphasizing that empowering people with knowledge is the first step toward saving lives.

In her opening remarks, Prof. Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah, Deputy Minister of Health, highlighted the Ministry’s ongoing work to strengthen early detection systems and expand cancer care services across the country.

“Our goal is to make early detection routine, not rare,” she said. “Under the leadership of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, we remain committed to equipping our systems to fight against breast cancer.”

The event also featured digital demonstrations by medical experts Dr. John Yaw Antwi and Dr. Cynthia Amissah, who taught participants proper breast self-examination techniques, discussed preventive strategies and treatment options, and encouraged open dialogue to dispel fear and myths around breast cancer.

A highlight of the ceremony was a series of inspiring testimonies from survivors, moderated by Lily Mohammed, a senior broadcaster at EIB Network. Survivors shared their journeys of resilience and hope, stressing that early detection saves lives.

“I am alive today because I checked early,” one survivor shared. “No one should wait until it’s too late to know.”

The commemoration concluded with a unified message: that breast cancer awareness should extend beyond the month of October and evolve into a sustained national movement for prevention, compassion, and healing.

Both Hon. Nana Oye Bampoe Addo and Dr. Ayensu-Danquah reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening cancer treatment infrastructure, promoting preventive healthcare, and ensuring that early detection remains a national priority.

“Let this not end as an October conversation,” one survivor urged. “Let us carry this message into every home, school, and workplace, because saving lives begins with speaking up, checking early, and treating right.”

Through this initiative, the Presidency reaffirmed its dedication to promoting health awareness, empowering individuals, and fostering a culture of preventive healthcare across Ghana.