17,944 cancer-related deaths recorded in 2022 – Dr Wiafe Addis call for stronger cancer care in Ghana

Ghana recorded 27,385 new cancer cases and 17,944 cancer-related deaths in 2022, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Breast Care International (BCI) and Peace and Love Hospitals, Dr Beatrice Wiafe Addai, has disclosed .

She said the figures highlight the growing burden of cancer in Ghana and the urgent need to expand access to comprehensive cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment services .

Alarming national statistics

According to the Global Cancer Observatory, breast, liver, cervical, and prostate cancers were the top four cancer cases recorded in 2022 . Prostate cancer accounted for 2,395 cases resulting in 1,233 deaths—a mortality rate of 52 percent—while liver cancer recorded 2,656 cases and 2,390 deaths, translating to a staggering 90 percent mortality rate .

Breast cancer remains the most common malignancy among women and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the country . A recent time-to-event meta-analysis found that the estimated five-year survival rate for breast cancer in Ghana is just 46.5 percent, with most patients presenting with stage III disease at diagnosis .

Dr Wiafe Addai disclosed the figures at a fundraising dinner held in Maryland, United States, in support of the proposed Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Excellence (CCCoE) .

She added that cancer patients spend an estimated US$10 million annually seeking treatment abroad, underscoring the need for advanced cancer care facilities in the country .

Dr Wiafe Addai said the proposed centre, located on a 52-acre land at Kwaso near Kumasi in the Ashanti Region, was inspired by years of witnessing cancer patients struggle with late diagnosis, limited access to treatment and the financial pressures associated with the disease .

“Too many patients travel long distances for treatment, while some families are forced to sell their assets to meet medical bills,” she said .

Gaps in cancer care

Dr Wiafe Addai noted that Ghana currently has no comprehensive cancer centre, while more than 400 million people across West Africa lack access to oncology services .

The situation is further compounded by late diagnosis. About 80 percent of women in Ghana are diagnosed at advanced stages of cancer, limiting survival chances and increasing treatment costs . A nationwide study on cervical cancer screening found that fewer than one in twenty women in the high-risk age group of 30–49 years have been screened, far below the World Health Organization’s target of 70 percent coverage .

Infrastructure and treatment challenges

Cancer delivery in Ghana remains mired in superstition and mounting financial challenges, with some patients presenting with end-stage conditions after consulting quack health practitioners .

Advanced diagnostics and treatment, including PET-CT and radiotherapy, are concentrated in a few urban centres, limiting access for patients in other parts of the country. With only four radiotherapy machines currently in operation nationwide, further investment will be needed to improve equitable access to care .

Health insurance coverage for cancer care remains limited, resulting in significant out-of-pocket expenses for patients . Between 2023 and 2025, the National Health Insurance Authority processed claims totaling GH¢5.74 million for the treatment of 5,649 NHIS members with cervical cancer .

A vision for transformation

The proposed Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Excellence is expected to bring screening, diagnosis, treatment, research, training and compassionate care under one roof . It will adopt a multidisciplinary approach, bringing together specialists including surgeons, oncologists, radiologists and nurses, while supporting cancer research and the training of health professionals .

The vision has received the blessing of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, with organisers describing the project as a legacy initiative aimed at transforming cancer care in Ghana and the wider African region .

Dr Wiafe Addai appealed to Ghanaians and Africans in the diaspora, foundations, corporations and philanthropists to support the project, saying the ultimate goal was not simply to construct another hospital, but to create an institution that could change the experience of cancer patients and their families .