Ghana recorded about 2,500 deaths from cervical cancer in 2024 out of an estimated 3,000 reported cases, according to the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah.
Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, Dr. Ayensu-Danquah described the situation as alarming, attributing the high mortality rate to late diagnosis and delayed access to treatment.
“The mortality rate for cervical cancer was high. We had about 3,000 cases in 2024, but approximately 2,500 of them died. This is because by the time we diagnose the condition, it is often too late to intervene,” she said.
The Deputy Minister expressed optimism that the government’s free Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme for children aged 9 to 14 years would help reduce future cases of the disease.
She also highlighted that the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service (GHS), is intensifying public education and nationwide screening to promote early detection and prevention.
Health experts have long cautioned that cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women in Ghana, despite being largely preventable through vaccination and regular screening.
The rollout of the free HPV vaccine marks a major step in protecting young girls from the virus responsible for most cervical cancer cases, as authorities intensify efforts to curb the growing toll of the disease.