The Ashanti Regional Health Directorate has joined the global community to commemorate World Cancer Day 2026, using the occasion to draw urgent attention to the rising number of cancer cases in the region and the growing need for prevention and early detection.
The day was observed under the theme, “Closing the Cancer Care Gap: Community Action for Prevention and Early Detection in Ghana!”, which highlights persistent disparities in cancer awareness, access to preventive services and timely diagnosis, particularly in developing regions.
Speaking on the significance of the day, the Ashanti Regional Health Director, Dr. Fred Adomako Boateng, stressed that the 2026 celebration is focused on mobilising collective action to address these gaps.
“The goal of this year’s World Cancer Day is to raise nationwide awareness on cancer prevention and early detection while mobilising communities, the media and key stakeholders to help close the cancer care gap in the region,” he said.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) African Region, cancer is rapidly becoming one of the leading causes of premature death on the continent.
Each year, more than one million new cancer cases are diagnosed in Africa, with nearly one million people losing their lives to the disease. Behind these alarming figures are families and communities whose lives are disrupted, often due to late detection and unequal access to quality care.
In the Ashanti Region, the situation is becoming increasingly worrying. Dr. Adomako Boateng revealed that in 2024 alone, the region recorded 18,104 cancer cases, representing a 33.6 per cent increase over the previous year.
He noted a particularly sharp rise in breast and cervical cancers, with breast cancer cases increasing by about 92 per cent and cervical cancer by 75 per cent. Prostate cancer, he added, continues to be the most diagnosed cancer in the region.
“These numbers tell a painful story,” Dr. Boateng stated. “The rising trend underscores the urgent need for sustained public education, lifestyle changes, regular screening and early detection to reduce preventable deaths.”
The Ashanti Regional Health Directorate is therefore calling on individuals, communities, civil society organisations and the media to actively support cancer awareness campaigns and promote early screening services.
Health authorities believe that with strong community involvement and equitable access to care, many cancer-related deaths can be prevented, turning awareness into action and saving lives across the region.
By; Nana Yaw Owusu (0240792639).
