A Professor of Surgery at the University of Ghana Medical School, Joe Nat Clegg-Lamptey, has called for a more holistic approach to integrating breast cancer care and treatment into Ghana’s healthcare system to improve early detection, treatment, and prevention for better outcomes.
He made the call during the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences’ inaugural lecture held in his honour on March 12, 2026, at the Academy’s premises, under the theme, “The Breast: Blessing or Curse? Mitigating the Scourge of Breast Cancer in Ghana.”
Speaking as the keynote speaker, Professor Lamptey noted that the establishment of a National Centre of Excellence for Breast Cancer was long overdue, given the increasing number of cases recorded in health facilities across the country over time.
“Given my extensive practice as a Professor of Surgery at the University of Ghana Medical School and as a Consultant Surgeon at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, the volume of cases referred to these high-end facilities from across the country calls for increased state intervention and investment to establish a fully equipped and functional National Breast Cancer Centre of Excellence to ensure effective treatment and care,” he said.
Professor Lamptey added that the breast, as a key part of the human body, plays important roles in bonding between mother and child, nutrition, and social identity. However, he noted that breast cancer has become a major health challenge for a significant proportion of women in the country.
“The breast, as part of the human system, plays a vital role in procreation and bonding between mother and child, as well as shaping social identities. However, breast cancer accounts for a significant proportion of cancers among women in Ghana, and its incidence is expected to increase due to ageing populations, lifestyle changes associated with westernisation, and reproductive factors such as delayed childbirth,” he explained.
The chairperson for the occasion, Emerita Professor Isabella Akyinbah Quakyi, stated that evidence from extensive research over the years highlights the importance of the breast as a key part of human anatomy.
“Evidence shows that the breast is an invaluable part of the human system, particularly in women, playing crucial roles in procreation, nutrition, bonding, and societal identity as societies evolve over time,” she noted.
The well-attended event brought together medical professionals, senior fellows and members of the Academy, selected senior high school students in Accra, journalists, nursing students, staff of the University of Ghana Medical School, and members of the general public.
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Story by Sika Togoh | univers.ug.edu.gh
Edited by Gabriel Tecco Mensah
