I congratulate warmly the organisers of the 2014 Breast Cancer Awareness Walk, being held in Sunyani this year on the theme �WALK FOR THE CURE�, this year�s event being the fourth in the series. Dr. (Mrs.)
Beatrice Wiafe Addai, President of Breast Care International (BCI), and the other organisers are to be profusely commended for their humanitarian commitment and concern.
I had planned to be with you today in Sunyani, but a sudden, urgent, unavoidable meeting requires me to be in Accra today. I explained this yesterday evening to Dr. Wiafe Addai who graciously accepted my
explanation, even though she was very sad at my absence. I have asked Hon. Ignatius Baffour Awuah, former Brong Ahafo Regional Minister and currently MP for Sunyani West, to stand in my stead to read this statement for me.
I applaud the enormous work BCI has done over the years in creating awareness, and the numerous sensitisation exercises it has embarked on, especially in deprived communities, to ensure that the incidence
of breast cancer is reduced to the barest minimum amongst Ghanaian women, a glowing testament to BCI�s mandate which is �to bring hope, health, and empowerment to communities in Ghana.�
October is recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the Commonwealth and it marks another year in our common fight against this deadly disease. Sadly, we all know someone--a mother, a sister, a friend, a neighbour--who has faced breast cancer. I know that I do. In fact, the circle grows larger every day with friends, families and loved ones who are stricken by breast cancer.
Even though we do not yet know how to prevent or cure breast cancer, we do know how to fight it. The good news is that years of hard work, raising awareness and education are paying off. But this is not the time to rest or to walk away from our efforts to raise awareness of breast cancer. We must continue this cause until early detection and regular mammograms are a part of every woman's life.
With that, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to encourage everyone in Ghana to do his or her utmost to help address breast cancer through your organisations and institutions at national, regional and local levels across the country. You have my support.
I wish all of you participating in this historic walk a successful event and hope that you all leave Sunyani full of new ideas and inspiration with which to fight this deadly disease.
Thank you.
Yours in the service of Ghana,
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
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