Opening the event that took place at UGMC on September 2, 2025, Dr. Mary Monney-Bortey, Head of the Urology Department at UGMC, reminded participants that prostate cancer was the leading cancer among Ghanaian men and remained one of the most pressing health challenges for men globally. She stressed that silence and late presentation by patients often led to devastating outcomes for most of the cases urologists are seeing at the Centre. She therefore urged men above 40 years to get screened at least once a year since  early detection of the Disease offered  the best chance for survival for patients with prostate cancer.

The CEO of UGMC, Dr. Abdul-Samed Tanko, stated that prostate cancer had become too common in Ghana to be ignored and encouraged Ghanaian men to adopt a proactive health-seeking behavior. “Proactive checks save lives, and the earlier we act, the better the outcomes we get,” he said. Dr. Tanko hinted of the creation of a prostrate cancer registry soon at UGMC in partnership with the Ghana Health Service as a demonstration of  the commitment of the Centre  to support the fight against  prostate cancer.

An overview of the Disease in Ghana was also delivered by Prof. Matthew Kyei, Head of the Department of Surgery at University of Ghana Medical School and Vice President of GAUS.  Prof Kyei explained that globally, one in eight men will face prostate cancer in their lifetime, with cases commonly diagnosed from age 65 onward. In Ghana, however, many patients present late, with over half of diagnoses  occurring at advanced stages, he stated.

He also revealed that while early-stage prostate cancer had a five-year survival rate of up to 98%, the prognosis for late detection is often very poor. 

Prof Kyei also educated the public of the availability of effective screening tools such as Digital Rectal Examination (DRE), prostate biopsies, and imaging scans in Ghana. He also reassured Ghanaian men of the availability of  effective treatments like external beam radiotherapy for prostate cancer  but also acknowledged that affordability, accessibility and awareness remained  major challenges.

The keynote address was delivered on behalf of the Director General of GHS by the Deputy Director General of GHS,  Dr. Caroline Reindorf Amissah and it called for prostate cancer checks to be integrated into Ghana’s primary healthcare system.

The Director General of  GHS in his remarks read on his behalf by Dr Reindorf -Amissah, encouraged stakeholders to use every available platform, including churches and community gatherings, to normalize conversations about men’s health in Ghana.

She further emphasized the need for clear referral pathways, more trained urologists, and consistent medical supplies. “Every encounter with a man should be seen as an opportunity to encourage screening,” she urged.

Mr. Kwame Frimpong, representing Johnson & Johnson, sponsors of the event, expressed his company’s pride in supporting such a significant health campaign and reaffirmed their commitment to improving healthcare delivery in Ghana.

The programme  included a dynamic Q&A session where participants raised concerns about the challenges of early detection, stigma, causes of the disease, fear, and the limited knowledge about the Disease by Ghanaians. These concerns were ably addressed by a panel of experts consisting of Prof Matthew Kyei, Dr. Isaac Obeng (Consultant urologist), Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and  Brigadier General Paul Yegbe, Consultant Urologist at  37 Military Hospital.

In his closing remarks, Dr. Tanko  stressed that health screening must become a culture among men because most cancers like  prostate cancer could often  be beaten when caught early.