In 2024, Ghana reported approximately 3,000 cases of cervical cancer, resulting in about 2,500 deaths, as stated by the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah. During her address to Parliament on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, Dr. Ayensu-Danquah described the situation as alarming and attributed the high mortality rate to late diagnoses and delays in accessing treatment.
“The mortality rate for cervical cancer is high. We had about 3,000 cases in 2024, but approximately 2,500 of those individuals have died. This is because, by the time we diagnose their condition, it is often too late for effective intervention,” she explained. She expressed hope that the government’s new initiative to provide free Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations for children aged 9 to 14 will contribute to a reduction in future cases of the disease.
Dr. Ayensu-Danquah noted that the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service, is intensifying public education and screening efforts to promote early detection and prevention of cervical cancer.
Health experts have long warned that cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women in Ghana, despite being largely preventable through vaccination and regular screening.
The government’s rollout of the free HPV vaccine marks a significant step in protecting young girls from the virus that causes most cervical cancer cases, as health authorities continue efforts to curb the rising toll of the disease.
Source: Nii Ayikwei Okine
