Editorial
Thanks for making our breast cancer campaign a huge success!
There is no doubt that breast cancer is one of the most topical medical adversaries the world is facing today. Perhaps this is why in Ghana, the whole of October is recognised as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Obviously, the purpose is to increase the early detection of the disease by encouraging women as well as men to be aware of the status of their breasts and report any changes to their doctor or health facility.
Understanding the different testing options means that more people will gain access to screening and fewer people will die from the disease.
Cancer awareness can also lead to people making healthier lifestyle choices.
Certainly, awareness seems to have risen, and each year more and more attention is being given to the issue of breast cancer.
Research has proven that the disease is endemic in women and rarely in men. It is as a result of this that The Spectator, Your Weekend Companion, embarked on the month-long breast cancer campaign to create more awareness of its traumatic and potentially devastating effect on women, particularly.
The Spectator Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign, under the theme “Life Before and After Breast Cancer: A Future of Positivity and Hope”, educated the public on early signs and symptoms of breast cancer; on preventive measures, diagnostic and treatment centres; on the measures put in place for early detection; about the various options available for cure; and to assist in the management of patients with breast cancer, among others.
There were four events for the breast cancer crusade, and these included the unveiling of the campaign at the Kaneshie Market Complex, which houses about 10,000 traders; free breast screening at the market; talk on breast cancer at Labone Senior High School, which attracted many other students from Accra; while stories and pictures of the events were carried in all the editions of The Spectator throughout the month of October.
To ensure extensive publication of the campaign, articles on breast cancer written by health experts and other authors with knowledge of the disease were featured in the weekly newspaper also.
Your uniquely feminist health-conscious brand, The Spectator, and its socially responsible organisation, the New Times Corporation, publishers of our newspaper as well as Ghanaian Times, would, therefore, like to take this opportunity to commend partners in the campaign — World Health Organisation (lead partners), Unichem Ghana Group, Kaneshie Market Complex, Kaneshie Medical Centre, Kaneshie Polyclinic, Ladybits Health and Wellness Clinic, and Chizzy Pizza — for their immense support, which went a long way to make the crusade a big success.
At the end of it all, about 125 traders who were suspected to have the disease after the screening were referred to Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital; many students in Accra who trooped to the Labone Senior High School to listen to the talk on breast cancer expressed their readiness to educate others on the disease; and the extensive coverage of the campaign had created a huge public awareness.
Consequently, The Spectator wishes to thank the public in general for their moral support to enable the campaign to end successfully.
Editorial
Fix railway crossing point on Circle-Kaneshie road
Dear Editor,
After the construction of the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange (Accra Dubai), Ghanaian were full of belief that it could solve at least a few of the problems drivers and commuters faced.
But currently, any regular user of the area would confirm that things have rather skyrocketed.
Sanitation is a big issue as the area. Traffic congestion has become something else while street lights and traffic lights in the area are nonfunctional.
Making matters worse is the regular traffic on the stretch of the Circle-Kaneshie caused by the bad nature of the railway crossing.
It is so bad that motorist are forced to slow down to cross from whichever direction they are coming from.
During the rainy season, it becomes worse as vehicles break down in the large pool of water that gathers at the place.
I wish to appeal to the Roads and Highways ministry or whichever agency is responsible for road maintenance to fix that part of the road.
As a result, public transport operators are forced to divert routes to avoid that area and in the process, causing commotion between drivers and passengers.
I feel that problem must be fixed before the rains set in. Thank you for the space.
Awuah Martin,
Kasoa, C/R
Editorial
Make celebration of Heritage Month compulsory
Heritage or Ghana Month is an annual event held in March to commemorate Ghana’s Independence and rich cultural heritage.
The event, which is celebrated across the country is gradually gaining momentum as schools and organisations have been patronising the event with various activities and programmes displaying Ghana’s rich culture.
Recently, in a vibrant display of Ghana’s culture students of Antoa Senior High School in the Ashanti Region joined forces with the Centre for National Culture (CNC) to launch the 2025 Ghana Month celebration.
According to our reporter, the event was a mixture of traditional cloth demonstrations, dance lessons, poetry recitals, and proverbs competitions as students and staff donned colourful traditional attires, showcasing their rich cultural heritage with infectious enthusiasm.
Some organisation like media houses were also not left out in the celebration of Ghana Month with Newscasters dressed in their traditional attires showcasing their culture while reading the news.
Such celebrations should be encouraged as one of the excited students of Antoa SHS exclaimed, “I never knew how rich our Ghanaian culture was until today. I’m proud to be Ghanaian.” This is a testimony of how the celebration will remind students of their roots and instill in them national values.
Ghana has so many cultures which are hidden and its time to make these cultures to project our rich Ghanaian culture to the outside world.
The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) should collaborate with the Ghana Education Service (GES) and Ghana Dance Ensemble to make the Ghana Month more visible in schools by organising activities to educate students on Ghanaian cultural values and norms, to promote national pride and identity.
The Spectator encourages the organisers to extend the celebration to more schools. This can be done through debates, essay writing competitions, among others to share Ghana’s rich heritage. It will help to revive the cultural spirit among the youth to become ambassadors of Ghana’ culture.
GTA must also take advantage of Ghana Month and team up with the hospitality industry such as restaurants, hoteliers, Chop Bar operators, among others to organise a traditional cuisine festival like cooking and eating competitions among organisations and associations to boost tourism in Ghana. Such competitions will give people insight into the preparations of Ghanaian local foods and drinks, and promote healthy living in families. The fashion industry should also come on board to help take Ghana Month a notch higher.
In the words of the Acting Regional Director of the CNC in the Ashanti Region, Mr Peter Kofi Marfo “Let us Wear Ghana, Eat Ghana, See Ghana, Speak Ghana, Hear and Dance Ghana, together, we’ll keep our cultural flame burning bright.”
The Spectator is hopeful that by making the celebration of Ghana Month compulsory. Ghanaians will remain committed to promoting their rich culture and heritage, for future generations.
