Deputy Chief of Staff in-charge of Administration, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, has called on Ghanaians to move beyond slogans and take concrete action in the fight against breast cancer.
Speaking at a Breast Cancer Awareness Month event held at the Jubilee House on Friday, October 31, she said breast cancer must be treated as both a national health priority and a social equity issue.
“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.
She urged stronger collaboration among government agencies, health professionals, and civil society to make screening and treatment accessible to all.
Nana Oye Bampoe Addo reaffirmed the government’s commitment under President John Dramani Mahama and Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang to build a healthier population through initiatives such as the Mahama Trust Fund for chronic disease treatment, including breast cancer.
She also highlighted the nationwide health screening programmes led by First Lady Lordina Mahama, in partnership with the Ghana AIDS Commission, as part of efforts to promote early detection and reduce preventable deaths.
The Deputy Chief of Staff praised survivors, advocates, and medical professionals who continue to lead public education and community outreach, stressing that empowering people with knowledge is the first step toward saving lives.
Prof. Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah, Deputy Minister of Health, highlighted the government’s ongoing commitment to strengthening early detection systems and improving cancer care services across the country.
She reiterated that public education, preventive screening, and destigmatisation remain critical pillars in building a healthier Ghana.
“Our goal is to make early detection routine, not rare,” Dr. Ayensu-Danquah said. “Under the esteemed leadership of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, we remain committed to equipping our health systems to fight breast cancer.”
Some survivors’ also shared testimonies, eching a unifying message: that early detection and timely care save lives. One survivor recounted how a routine check-up led to her survival, while another described finding purpose and strength after recovery, both calling on others to “check early and never lose hope.”
“I am alive today because I checked early,” one survivor shared. “No one should wait until it’s too late to know.”
“Let this not end as an October conversation,” another survivor urged. “Let us carry this message into every home, every school, and every workplace, because saving lives begins with speaking up, checking early, and treating right.”
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