The Executive Director of the Cancer Care Africa Foundation (CanCAF), Naomi Naa Oyoe Ohene Nti, has sounded the alarm over a growing public health crisis in Africa, revealing that the continent records over one million new cancer cases each year a situation she says requires immediate action.
Speaking at the official launch of CanCAF at the West Africa Genetic Medicine Centre in Accra on March 31, 2026, Ohene Nti, recipient of the 2025 Ghanaian Nurse Aster Global Nursing Award, highlighted the foundation’s mission to ensure equitable access to quality cancer care across Ghana and Africa. “Our vision is clear: no African, no Ghanaian should be denied quality cancer care because of where they live,” she said, stressing that location should not determine survival outcomes.
Ohene Nti outlined that CanCAF plans to address the challenge through targeted capacity building, awareness campaigns, advocacy, policy engagement, and strategic partnerships, with a focus on prevention, early detection, treatment, and survivorship.
Describing Africa’s cancer burden as severe, she noted that the continent experiences more than one million new cancer cases and over 700,000 deaths annually, while accessing less than 3% of global oncology resources, despite carrying about 7% of the world’s cancer cases.
Focusing on Ghana, Ohene Nti disclosed that the country registers over 24,000 new cancer cases each year, with more than 15,000 deaths, underscoring the urgent need for coordinated national interventions.
At the launch, CanCAF also unveiled its flagship initiative the Cancer Genetic Counselling Certificate Programme for oncology nurses which aims to strengthen specialized capacity in risk assessment, patient education, and personalized care delivery.
“The context we face demands urgent action,” Ohene Nti emphasized, calling on government agencies, stakeholders, and development partners to join efforts to improve cancer care across the continent.
The establishment of CanCAF marks a significant step toward closing gaps in cancer care, bolstering Africa’s healthcare systems, and improving survival outcomes for patients across the region.
