Kumasi: Dr Beatrice Wiafe-Addai, President of Breast Care International (BCI), has called for financial support to expedite the completion of the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Excellence.
According to Ghana News Agency, the centre, located in Kwaso within the Ejisu Municipality of the Ashanti region, is set to be the first and only cancer treatment facility in the nation. Dr Wiafe-Addai made this plea during the 2026 World Cancer Day Celebration organized by BCI in Kumasi, under the global theme ‘United By Unique.’ The event was attended by various dignitaries, including Okofrobuo Dr Nana Yaw Agyei II, paramount chief of the Mim traditional council, the Pro-Vice Chancellor of Kumasi Technical University, students from four Senior High Schools, and breast cancer survivors.
The celebration focused on educating attendees about different cancer types, including breast, prostate, and thyroid cancer, and highlighted the importance of counseling for cancer patients. Dr Wiafe-Addai noted that the cancer centre project is being executed in phases, with the initial phase requiring approximately USD 10 million for completion. The centre, spanning 52 acres, is currently at its foundational stage following a sod-cutting ceremony in October of the previous year.
Dr Wiafe-Addai underscored the necessity of establishing a comprehensive cancer treatment centre in Ghana to manage all cancer cases locally. She highlighted the financial and emotional toll on patients who must travel abroad for treatment. Citing research by Globocan, she reported that over 27,000 new cancer cases are diagnosed annually in Ghana, resulting in approximately 18,000 deaths.
The absence of a dedicated cancer treatment centre in a country with a population of about 35 million was a point of concern for Dr Wiafe-Addai, who also remarked on the inadequate number of radiotherapy units available. She stressed that the country should ideally have 35 radiotherapy units, one for each million of the population, and called for immediate governmental intervention to address the pressing cancer healthcare challenges facing the nation.