The Programmes Manager of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) of the Ghana Health Ser­vice (GHS), Dr Mary Efua Commeh, has advised young girls to avoid sex at an early age.

This, she explained, will give the cervix the opportunity to mature be­fore they become sexually active.

“You need to delay what we call the first sexual intercourse as much as possible to give the cervix the oppor­tunity to mature before the person becomes sexually active,” she said.

Dr Commeh stated this in an in­terview with The Spectator in Accra on Tuesday as a part of the Cervical Cancer awareness month.

According to her, cervical cancer was the second leading female cancer in Ghana with a total of about 3,072 cases annually, and out of that, 1,815 deaths are recorded, representing more than 50 per cent.

She indicated that “If young girls are going to be sexually active, then you need to talk to your parents about being vaccinated.”

She explained that vaccinating young girls against human papillomavi­rus (HPV) has been found to be a very effective way of preventing cervical cancer.

“There are countries that started HPV vaccination years ago and they are not seeing any cervical cancers now because they would have elim­inated most of the high-risk HPVs in their women. So if the high-risk HPV is not there, then obviously the results on cervical cancers are going to go down,” she added.

Dr Commmey said the HPV vaccina­tion is recommended for young girls aged nine to 14 years, adding that it had been found to be highly effective, not just for cervical cancers but for other HPV-related cancers, such as anal cancers, cancers of the vagina, genital warts, amongst others.

She further elaborated that the idea is to put up a barrier before the HPV comes in and that once a young female encounters it, she is already protected.

She also mentioned that for cervical cancers, the main cause is called HPV infection, saying generally, all sexually active women acquire HPV at some point in their lives.

However, the Programmes Manager of NCDs at the GHS mentioned that the body has a way of clearing the HPV, explaining that it is a natural mechanism that goes on, unfortunate­ly, there are a few women whose HPV persists.

Moreover, she noted that the num­bers for Cervical Cancer tend to be much higher because at times, clients would wait, and try all sorts of med­ications before they finally report to the health facility saying “we actually lose some women before they get to the hospitals with over 75 per cent of the cases coming in its third and fourth stages.”

Dr Commey, therefore, called for public awareness while ensuring the availability of information for preven­tion and control.

 By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu

 The Sun Hung Low over the ancient town of Ouidah, casting a golden shade over the baobab tree, I walked the short distance sep­arating two landmarks that symbolise the soul of Benin.

On one side stood the imposing Ba­silica of the Immaculate Conception, a testament to colonial-era Christi­anity. On the other, the modest yet spiritually charged Python Temple, the cradle of Voodoo reverence.

This striking juxtaposition embod­ies a story of coexistence, resilience, and cultural syncretism.

Ouidah, a small coastal town in south­ern Benin, is a place where two spiritual worlds inter­twine.

The Catholic Church, intro­duced during Portuguese expeditions in the 16th cen­tury and later reinforced by French colonial rule, brought Christian­ity to the region.

The basilica’s grandeur speaks to this legacy, its stained-glass windows and towering steeples reflecting the influence of European architects.

Just a few steps away, the Python Temple offers a contrasting narra­tive—one deeply rooted in Benin’s indigenous spirituality.

In Benin, pythons are sacred. They represent fertility, wisdom, and protection.

What makes Ouidah remarkable is not just the proximity of these two spiritual centres but the harmony they share.

Over centuries, the people of Ouidah have blended Catholicism with Voodoo, creating a unique reli­gious syncretism. It’s not uncommon for individuals to attend mass at the Basilica and later seek blessings at the Python Temple.

This duality extends to practices as well. Catholic veneration of saints often parallels Voodoo worship of spirits or deities.

During a visit, a local priest ex­plained that many of his congregants also participate in Voodoo ceremo­nies, viewing both faiths as comple­mentary rather than conflicting.

Both the basilica and the temple serve as cultural cornerstones, draw­ing locals and international visitors alike. The annual voodoo festival, held every January, showcases this harmony in vibrant ceremonies that begin with traditional rituals at the Python Temple and culminate in communal gatherings that include Christian blessings.

This festival underscores the resil­ience of Ouidah’s cultural identity. Here, spirituality is not about division but integration, a celebration of both the old and the new. The basilica and the temple, though rooted in differ­ent traditions, stand as guardians of this heritage.

As I framed my shots, the move­ment of tourists crisscrossing captured the essence of Ouidah’s dual identity. The basilica’s lofty arches contrasted beautifully with the earthy simplicity of the Python Temple. Each photo told a story of continuity and change, of a town’s ability to adapt while holding stead­fast to its roots.

Benoit, a Voodoo priest, shared stories of how the spirits of the forest, many of which are now gone, once guided their ancestors.

He said, the common values of both traditions, respect for life, na­ture, and the divine is a simple one.

The temple houses live snakes, cared for by Voodoo priests who perform rituals invoking Dangbé, the python deity.

According to my great-grand fa­ther, the serpents once protected the people of Ouidah during an invasion in the olden days, cementing their place in local folklore.

“The religion story is one of resil­ience and reconciliation, where the Catholic Church and the Python Tem­ple are not just physical landmarks, but are living symbols of how two worlds can coexist without erasing each other,” he said.

Benoit lamented the encroachment of urbanisation but found solace in the enduring belief systems that anchor their community.

Grand Frere, a member of the Catholic Church said, the two faiths, that is the Python Temple and the Catholic Church, standing side by side, reminded him of the power of harmony in a world often divided.

 From: Geoffrey Buta, OUIDAH, BENIN