KUMASI: Breast Care International (BCI) has launched the construction of a $100 million Comprehensive Cancer Center of Excellence (CCCOE) on a 52-acre site at Kwaso in the Ejisu Municipality of the Ashanti Region, marking a significant advancement in healthcare infrastructure in Ghana. The center, named after Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, will focus on the research, examination, and treatment of various cancers, establishing it as the first facility of its kind in the nation. According to Ghana News Agency, the facility is set to address the critical gap in cancer treatment within the country. Ghana recorded approximately 27,385 new cancer cases and around 17,944 deaths in 2022, as per data from the Global Cancer Observatory. The observatory identified breast, liver, cervical, and prostate cancers as the most prevalent in the country. Dr. Beatrice Wiafe Addai, founder of BCI, highlighted the challenges faced by Ghanaians, noting that those diagnosed with cancer often had to seek expensive treatments abroad due to th e lack of specialized facilities at home. The initiative for the center was inspired by a cancer research analysis presented in 2022, titled "The Lancet Oncology on Sub-Saharan Africa." The establishment of the CCCOE aims to make cancer treatment more accessible within Ghana. Prof. Wil Ngwa, Director of the Global Health Catalyst, mentioned an innovative cancer treatment technology developed for use in Africa, with Ghana slated to be the first recipient. This aligns with international efforts to combat cancer, including a $200 million contribution from the President of the USA to Africa's cancer fight, as part of the broader Cancer Moonshot Initiative led by the White House. Prof. Ngwa emphasized the need for global mobilization against cancer, comparing the urgency to the response against COVID-19. He advocated for community support in both funding and raising awareness about cancer in Ghana. At the ceremony, Prof. Oheneba Boachie-Adjei Woahene II, representing the Asantehene, announced that the Otumfuo Os ei Tutu II Charity Foundation would contribute $100,000 to the project over five years. The CCCOE is expected not only to enhance healthcare but also to stimulate economic development in the region, signaling a major stride in Ghana's healthcare capabilities and international collaboration in combating cancer.