Mrs Enyonam Abiti making a presentation

 Women have been cautioned to stop using of breast enhancing creams which is said to contain estrogen, predis­posing them to the breast cancer disease.

Using such creams over time in­creases estrogen levels in patrons of such products thereby exposing them to the disease.

Estrogen is a type of sex hor­mone responsible for development and regulation of female repro­ductive system and secondary sex chart.

Mrs Enyonam Abiti, a medical of­ficer at Madina Pentecost Hospital, said this at a day’s seminar and breast cancer awareness creation day at Sunyani in the Bono Region.

The programme, organised by the Bono Regional office of CO­COBOD, forms part of activities to mark this year’s World Breast Cancer Day celebrations held every year in October.

Some staff of COCOBOD and women in cocoa farming used the opportunity to have their breast screened.

Mrs Abiti during a presentation revealed that one in every eight women was diagnosed of breast cancer while 1 from 1,000 men contract the disease.

She noted that early detection and regular screening was the sur­est way to salvage the situation.

She mentioned that habits such as excessive smoking and alco­hol intake predisposes women to breast cancer.

Moreover, she added that peo­ple advanced in age, past history, past ovarian cancer case as well as young girls that menstruate early, among others stands the risk of contracting the disease.

The Bono Regional Administrator of COCOBOD, Michael Paddy Kwesi Asumanu, stated that the decision to organise the breast screening was to ensure that women in cocoa farming were healthy at all times to go about their farming activities in order to increase productivity.

“We don’t want a situation where our women in cocoa farming are infected with breast cancer disease to jeopardise the cocoa sector,” he said.

According him, the Regional Office of COCOBOD in partnership with the Bono Regional Teaching hospital would organised screening for about 4,000 women on Octo­ber 31, 2024 at Goaso in the Ahafo Region.

The move, he said, was part of their corporate social responsibil­ity towards women as the world mark breast cancer awareness creation this month.

Some of the women who spoke to The Spectator commended CO­COBOD for the gesture and called on other institutions of state to emulate the example.

The organisers later held a float on the principal streets of Sunyani to create awareness on the breast cancer disease.

 From Daniel Dzirasah, Sunyani

Togbega Gabusu V11 (middle) flanked by some elders

 Togbega Gabusu VII, Paramount Chief of Gbi Traditional Area, has reminded the Electoral Commis­sion (EC) to make sure the upcoming December 7 elections are conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner and ensure the will of Ghanaians are respected.

“We don’t want any attempt to disrupt our democratic process through violence situation.”

He, therefore cautioned the youth not to allow politicians to use them to foment trouble that would jeopardise the peace the country was enjoying.

Togbega Gabusu VII was speaking as the guest speaker during the 2nd Kpedze Awatukpe Festival of the chiefs and people of Kpedze in the Ho West District.

The event which was under the theme “Traditional festival, tool for unity and development, the role of citi­zens water project” was essentially cel­ebrated to raise funds and to express gratitude to their ancestors for their blessings and unity.

This year’s festival was character­ised by cultural display of drumming and singing of traditional songs.

Togbega Gabusu VII stated that with­out peace, development would not be assured if they do not prioritise peace­ful co-existence.

He has, therefore called on the cit­izens of Kpedze to continue to support their chief to bring development to the area.

The District Chief Executive of Ho West, Mr Ernest Appau, enumerated the development projects completed by the Assembly in the areas of health, education and human development.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, called on the people for their dedica­tion and support for him.

Togbega Atsridom V, Paramount Chief of Kpedze Traditional Area, in his welcome address expressed grat­itude to his people for their support and pledged to continue to serve their interest always.

He urged the government to address the development challenges in their communities.

Among them were the upgrading of their polyclinic into a hospital and a skill training centre to solve youth unemployment in the area.

 From Kafui Gati, Kpedze