Thousands of Ghanaians, along with participants from Morocco, the Netherlands, the United States, Yemen, and France, are expected to participate in today’s 5-kilometre walk against breast cancer in the Ashanti regional capital, Kumasi.

The event, branded “The Royal Walk,” begins at the Adum Post Office in Kumasi’s bustling business district and will end at the Manhyia Durbar Grounds, where speakers will highlight the need for policymakers, civil society groups, churches, and charities to take breast cancer more seriously due to its impact on Ghana’s socio-economic development.

Organised by Breast Care International (BCI), the annual walk was first held in 2011 and has since been staged in regional capitals such as Cape Coast, Takoradi, Sunyani, and Tamale. Kumasi has hosted the walk on multiple occasions, including 2011, 2012, 2016, and again this year.

The 2025 edition is themed “A Cure Worth Fighting For,” underscoring the importance of year-round awareness campaigns to curb the devastating effects of breast cancer.

Participants will carry placards with messages stressing that early detection and timely treatment remain the most effective ways to save lives.

President and Founder of BCI and CEO of Peace and Love Hospital, Dr. Beatrice Wiafe Addai, cautioned that detection without immediate action undermines ongoing nationwide awareness campaigns.

“Early detection of the condition without prompt action would render nugatory the consistent nationwide awareness creation program to halt the mind-numbing surge of the disease among women, regardless of age, class, education, religion, or race,” she said.

She commended sponsors and media partners for their continuous support, which has kept the annual walk a permanent fixture on Ghana’s health calendar.

“We remain indebted to our sponsors and media partners who are working with us to brand Ghana as a destination for health tourism, particularly breast cancer treatment, an attribute that would make us more competitive at the global stage as a gateway to premium healthcare delivery in West Africa and beyond,” Dr. Wiafe Addai added.