Ghana: Breast Cancer Claims Nearly 2,000 Lives Yearly - Gender Minister

What the report says

Ghana’s Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has raised concern about the country’s breast cancer burden, citing about 5,000 new cases each year and nearly 2,000 deaths. Her comments were reported by the Ghanaian Times in an AllAfrica-distributed article dated 28 October 2026.

She made the remarks at a breast cancer campaign in Krowor, Accra, organised by the Lordina Foundation in partnership with the Ghana AIDS Commission. The event brought together health workers, traditional leaders, community figures, survivors and local residents under the theme “Let Us Move Beyond Awareness to Action.”

Dr Lartey said the figures show the need to move beyond awareness drives toward early detection, timely treatment and stronger support for people affected by the disease. She also said breast cancer can disrupt work, family income and caregiving responsibilities, especially for women in vulnerable situations, including those in the informal sector.

She urged families, employers, faith leaders and community groups to help reduce stigma, share accurate information and encourage screening. She also praised survivors who shared their experiences and thanked the organisers for bringing stakeholders together. In general, public health experts often stress that earlier diagnosis improves outcomes, but that broader point is background context rather than a claim specific to this article.