Bantama Market Women Lauded for Embracing KMA and Rotary Club’s Cancer Screening Campaign

The Bantama Market in Kumasi became a hub of health awareness and community spirit when the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Kumasi Premier International, organized a free breast and prostate cancer screening exercise for traders. The initiative formed part of efforts to mark Pink Month, dedicated globally to breast cancer awareness and early detection.

The exercise, which attracted scores of market women and men, was aimed at raising awareness of breast and prostate cancers, promoting early detection, and encouraging healthy living among traders who often have little time to visit hospitals due to their demanding work schedules.

Speaking during the event, Mr. Jones Kani, Senior Budget Analyst at the KMA, who represented the Metropolitan Coordinating Director, praised the traders at Bantama Market for showing a strong commitment to their health by actively participating in the screening. He said the high turnout was a clear indication that market women were now more aware of the importance of early detection and preventive healthcare.

Mr. Kani explained that the exercise aligns with the KMA’s strategic health agenda to ensure that residents of Kumasi, especially those in the informal sector, have access to essential health services. He noted that breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of death among women in Ghana, largely due to late diagnosis, and called for a collective effort to change the narrative through education and regular screening.

He further stated that the Assembly would continue to partner with credible organizations such as Rotary International to roll out more community-based health initiatives. According to him, the Assembly believes that a healthy population is the foundation for sustainable economic growth, and therefore it will not relent in its efforts to promote good health practices across the metropolis.

The Secretary of the Rotary Club of Kumasi Premier International, Madam Basola Sefiat, reaffirmed the Club’s commitment to improving community health through service and awareness creation. She explained that Rotary’s global mission includes disease prevention and treatment, and the Bantama Market screening was one of many community interventions aimed at saving lives.

Madam Sefiat encouraged market women to make regular health checks a habit, stressing that early detection remains the surest way to defeat breast cancer. She also commended the Bantama traders for responding positively to the call to participate in the exercise, describing their enthusiasm as inspiring and commendable.

Health professionals on-site took participants through physical examinations, breast self-examination tutorials, and educational talks on maintaining healthy lifestyles. Men were also screened for prostate-related conditions. Participants who required further assessment were referred to appropriate health facilities for advanced medical care.

Several market women expressed deep appreciation to the KMA and Rotary Club for bringing the health initiative to their doorstep. They said the exercise had not only given them an opportunity to check their health status but also increased their understanding of breast and prostate cancer prevention.

A trader, Madam Abena Serwaa, shared her joy after the exercise, saying that such programs were rare yet life-saving. She urged the organizers to make the screening a regular feature at Bantama Market and extend it to other markets across Kumasi to help reach more women.

The collaborative effort between the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly and the Rotary Club of Kumasi Premier International underscored the importance of public-private partnerships in advancing health promotion in Ghana. The successful turnout and enthusiastic participation of the Bantama market women were widely praised as a demonstration of growing community awareness and commitment to preventive healthcare.

The event concluded with a renewed pledge from both the KMA and Rotary Club to continue working together to empower communities through health education, early detection, and access to basic healthcare services. As the Pink Month celebration continues, the message remains clear — early detection saves lives, and every effort counts in the fight against cancer.