Over 2,300 Women Lost Annually to Breast Cancer – Dr. Wiafe Addai Calls for Urgent Action at BCI Walk 2025
The President of Breast Care International (BCI), Dr. Beatrice Wiafe Addai, has made a passionate appeal for intensified global and national efforts to combat breast cancer, as she revealed that over 2,300 Ghanaian women die each year from the disease — a statistic she described as “deeply alarming and unacceptable.”
Speaking during the 13th annual BCI Walk for the Cure held on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, Dr. Wiafe Addai emphasized that the fight against breast cancer can only be won through collective commitment, awareness, and early detection.
Themed “A Cure Worth Fighting For,” the event brought together thousands of participants from Ghana and across the world — including delegations from Morocco, the United States, the Netherlands, Yemen, and France — who joined in solidarity to advocate for breast cancer awareness and prevention. The colorful procession through the streets of Kumasi featured school children, market women, security personnel, civil society organizations, clergy, and traditional leaders, all united in a single mission: to end the scourge of breast cancer.
Dr. Wiafe Addai, who has been at the forefront of breast cancer advocacy for over two decades, noted that while awareness creation has increased significantly over the years, many women still hesitate to seek medical attention early due to cultural misconceptions, stigma, and fear. “We have made great progress in awareness, but changing attitudes remains a challenge,” she said. “Our women must not waste precious time at prayer camps when medical help is available. Faith is important, but we must combine it with action — early detection and treatment save lives.”
The renowned surgeon and CEO of the Peace and Love Hospitals warned that late diagnosis continues to be the main cause of breast cancer deaths in Ghana. Many patients, she explained, only report to hospitals when the disease has reached advanced stages, often spreading to vital organs such as the liver, lungs, brain, and bones, which makes treatment more complicated.
“Many still believe that if there is no pain, there is no problem,” she lamented. “But by the time pain appears, the disease may have spread. Breast cancer does not wait — early screening is our best defense.”
Dr. Wiafe Addai also debunked widespread myths associating breast cancer with witchcraft or spiritual causes, stressing that education remains the most powerful tool in breaking these harmful beliefs. “Breast cancer is a medical condition, not a spiritual curse,” she declared. “We must empower our women and young people with the right information. Seeing our students and young women here today gives me hope that the next generation will be better informed.”
Highlighting the importance of male involvement, Dr. Wiafe Addai appealed to men to play an active role in supporting the fight against breast cancer. “Every man has a woman in his life — a mother, wife, sister, or daughter. Let’s not see breast cancer as a women’s issue. It affects families, communities, and our nation. Together, we can reduce the toll of this disease.”
In a major announcement, Dr. Wiafe Addai provided an update on the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Excellence, which is currently under development at Kwaso, near Ejisu, in the Ashanti Region. Once completed, the facility will be Ghana’s first dedicated cancer center and the most advanced in West Africa, designed to provide holistic care for breast, cervical, prostate, and colorectal cancers. “This project belongs to all of us,” she said. “Let’s take ownership and support it before seeking help from external donors. It will save countless lives and reduce the burden of cancer across the subregion.”
Dr. Wiafe Addai expressed profound gratitude to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Manhyia Palace, the Ghana Education Service, the Otumfuo Foundation, security agencies, and all volunteers who contributed to the success of the 2025 walk. “Together, we can eliminate the fear and stigma surrounding breast cancer,” she affirmed. “Every woman must be her own advocate. Let’s act early, get screened, and encourage others to do the same. Early detection saves lives.”
The BCI Walk for the Cure, established in 2011, has become one of the largest health awareness events in Africa, uniting thousands annually in the mission to educate, screen, and empower communities in the fight against breast cancer.
As the 2025 edition concluded in a sea of pink and hope, one message resonated through the streets of Kumasi — “A cure worth fighting for” — and a promise that the battle against breast cancer will continue until no woman dies needlessly from the disease.
By Francis Appiah
