Cancer kills almost 18,000 Ghanaians 

Ghana lost 17,944 persons to cancer in 2022, recording an estimated 27, 385 new cancer cases in that year, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has said. 

Professor Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, the Acting Director-General of the GHS, said considering the alarming statistics, his outfit had intensified its campaign on certain leading male cancers, including prostate and liver cancer. 

The Acting DG gave the statistics at a press briefing on Tuesday to commemorate the 2025 World Cancer Day celebration. 

According to Prof Akoriyea, liver cancer alone recorded a 90 per cent mortality rate in 2022, with 2,390 deaths out of 2,656 cases. 

 Similarly, prostate cancer recorded a worrying 52 per cent mortality rate, resulting in 1,233 deaths out of 2,395 cases. 

He said with over 70 per cent of cancer deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries such as Ghana, where access to essential services were limited, there was an urgent need for prevention, early detection programmes and life-saving interventions. 

“Prevention is the most cost-effective means of ensuring that cancers are controlled. We want to make a special appeal to the media as well as partners to support us to sensitize the public on healthy diet, physical activity, and vaccination for hepatitis A&B, which have proven to be effective means of preventing cancers,” he added. 

Prof Akoriyea called for adequate social support system for persons diagnosed with cancer, adding that the disease knew no boundaries as it affected individuals, families, and communities regardless of age, gender, or geography. 

He assured that his administration would ensure the establishment of a national cancer registry as part of efforts to improve cancer surveillance and care delivery in the country. 

Ms Hannah Tetteh, a Nurse with Sunshine Healthcare and a Cancer Survivor, sharing her journey, battling cancer, urged cancer patients not to give up no matter their condition. 

She said it was difficult for one to accept his or her status after diagnosis and discouraged self-medication in all forms.  

Ms Tetteh urged families to support members battling with cancer and added that people going through these conditions needed care and love. 

She appealed to the government to put in place a mechanism to reduce the cost burden of cancer treatment.  

World Cancer Day, celebrated annually on February 4, seeks to promote awareness of cancer as a public health issue and to strengthen actions towards improving access to quality care, screening, early detection, treatment, and palliative care. 

The theme for 2025 World Cancer Day, ” United by Unique” highlights the need to embrace the unique roles required to fight cancer. 

Ghana Health Service as part of commemorating the day, organised free health screening on Hepatitis B, breast cancer and blood pressure check for staff and journalists. 

Source: GNA