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Breast cancer is not just a medical condition, but it is a public health crisis, a social burden, and a call to action, the Ashanti Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Fred Adomako-Boateng, has said.
He said low and middle-income countries, including those in Sub-Saharan Africa, faced disproportionately high mortality rates due to late-stage diagnosis, coupled with limited healthcare infrastructure
“If current trends persist, breast cancer cases worldwide may reach 3.19 million, with 1.04 million deaths by 2040”, he stressed.
Dr Adomako-Boateng said this while addressing the media at the 2025 Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region
Globally, breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women. In 2022, 2.3 million new cases were reported worldwide, with 666,103 deaths. Projections indicate that by 2035, these numbers could double.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, he mentioned that breast cancer has the highest prevalence among all cancers, with 133,520 cases reported in 2022, leading to 68,036 deaths, representing a mortality rate of 50.96 per cent
The Ashanti Regional Director of Health Services indicated that Ghana experiences a significant burden of breast cancer, accounting for 31.4 per cent of all female cancers, saying “the country reports approximately 4,500 new cases annually, with a 50 per cent fatality rate”
He disclosed that in 2022, the Ashanti Region reported 5,024 new cases with 2,369 deaths, contributing to 47.15% of female cancer-related deaths and added that alarmingly, over 80 per cent of cases in Ghana were diagnosed at advanced stages (three and four), contrary to the WHO Global Breast Cancer Initiative’s early detection target.
In the Ashanti Region, and across other parts of the country, he stated that too many women were diagnosed late when treatment options were limited and survival was uncertain.
“The reality is that breast cancer can be treated, and lives can be saved, if detected early.
Early diagnosis, regular screening, and timely treatment are our strongest weapons in this fight,” he pointed out.
Dr Adomako-Boateng used the occasion to commend Jhpiego and the Pfizer Foundation, the sponsors supporting the region to implement the Beat Breast Cancer Project, as their partnership was not just financial but it is an investment in the lives of Ghanaian women and their families.
“Through your support, we are building the capacity of health workers, raising awareness in communities, and bringing breast health services closer to those who need them most.
We are truly grateful for this collaboration,” he added.
While reaffirming GHS’s commitment to supporting awareness campaigns, strengthening health systems, and expanding access to screening and treatment services across the region, he called for collaborative work among stakeholders to ensure that no woman was left behind in the fight against breast cancer.
