The event would also be attended by the First Lady of the Republic of Ghana, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo, and Mr Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, Minister of Health, as well as some notable anti-cancer organizations and campaigners from around the world.

“I am and I will”, is the theme for this year’s celebration.  

It is being held jointly under the auspices of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), the largest cancer fighting organization globally, and Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) and the Kumasi City Cancer Project.

Mr Osei Assibey-Antwi, the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), briefing the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Kumasi, said Princess Dina, who is President of the UICC would be paying courtesy calls on President Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo, as well as the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

Kumasi was in 2017, selected to be the first African key learning city for the Cancer Control Project as a result of the city’s strategic geographical location and strong commitment of healthcare providers to improve cancer care and treatment.

The 4th of February each year is set aside as the World Cancer Day to create awareness on the ailment in all its forms and highlight available preventive measures in place.

Mr Osei Assibey said this year’s event has been designed to create more awareness about the disease in order to help the people to report early to health facilities for treatment.

According to recent studies, cancer has been costing the global economy an estimated US$1.6 trillion annually, a figure projected to increase substantially if effective remedies were not put in place to stem its spread.

Cancer is considered one of the world’s most pressing health concerns, killing in excess of eight million people every year, more than HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined.

Mr Osei Assibey said the city is elated to have on board the Jordanian Princess, as well as the First Lady since their presence would help to further deepen awareness on the disease, considering its great financial cost to the society.

As part of the programme, a free breast screening exercise would be organized by Breast Care International (BCI), a Kumasi-based health organization committed to fighting and creating awareness on breast cancer.