A grim reality is confronting Ghana’s healthcare system as new data confirms cancer now claims the lives of more than 17,600 Ghanaians each year, prompting a powerful legislative demand for immediate and widespread reform. In a compelling address to Parliament, Hon. Ewurabena Aubynn, Member of Parliament for Ablekuma North, declared the current centralized model of cancer care broken and called for a rapid decentralization of life-saving services to every region of the country.
The alarming statistics, sourced from the World Health Organization’s Global Cancer Observatory, reveal a devastating 65% mortality rate, with 17,654 deaths recorded out of 27,123 new diagnoses annually. It was acknowledged that the most common cancers—breast, liver, cervical, prostate, and colorectal—are overwhelmingly diagnosed at advanced stages, drastically reducing chances of survival due to critical gaps in early screening and accessible care.
“We must confront this not merely as a health statistic, but as a national emergency that is eroding our workforce, our families, and our economic vitality,” Hon Aubynn urged her colleagues. She painted a stark picture of the human toll, describing constituents in her Ablekuma North constituency who face a heartbreaking journey of scarce screening centres, prohibitively expensive drugs, and arduous travel to distant treatment facilities—a burden that disproportionately sentences the poor to death.
The MP’s call to action gained immediate cross-party support, with Hon. Zuwera Mohammed Ibrahim of Salaga South echoing the critical need for expanded screening and personalized care strategies. While the existing National Health Insurance Scheme provides some relief, it falls critically short for comprehensive cancer treatment. She did acknowledge the recent launch of the ‘MahamaCares’ Medical Trust Fund as a positive step toward financial support but insisted that only a fundamental restructuring of the cancer care infrastructure can address the systemic failure.
The parliamentary debate highlights a growing consensus that Ghana’s fight against cancer is being lost in the distances between patients and treatment, in the cost of medication, and in the silence of late diagnosis. With health professionals consistently warning that late presentation remains the greatest barrier to survival, the pressure is now mounting for a tangible, nationwide response to bring the fight against cancer closer to home for all Ghanaians.
Source: News Ghana
