Beyond Pink: MTN Ghana’s Y’ello Ladies Network Brings Breast Cancer Awareness And Screening To More Than 500 Women

 

More than 500 women gathered at the Accra Metropolitan Assembly Forecourt for breast cancer education, survivor stories and screening organised by MTN Ghana’s Y’ello Ladies Network. For many participants, Pink October became more than an awareness campaign; it was a chance to ask questions, confront fears and take a potentially life-saving step towards early detection.

Held as part of the global Pink October campaign, the outreach brought women from diverse backgrounds together under the theme “Early Action, Better Outcomes.” The programme combined expert guidance, survivor testimonies, a practical breast self-examination demonstration and screening by health professionals.

The initiative aimed to make breast health information and screening more accessible while encouraging women to recognise unusual changes and seek timely medical care.

Speaking at the event, Antoinette Kwofie, Chairlady of the MTN Y’ello Ladies Network, said the outreach reflected the network’s commitment to empowering women within MTN and in the communities it serves.

The MTN Y’ello Ladies Network was established in 2025 to connect, empower and amplify women across our organisation, while extending that impact into the communities we serve. Our ambition has never been inward-looking. Awareness matters, but awareness without action is not enough. Pink must have a purpose: it must move a woman to get screened, give someone the courage to seek care without delay, and remind every woman facing breast cancer that she is not alone,” she said.

Antoinette noted that the network’s commitment to women’s wellbeing extends beyond a single awareness month. In October 2025, we supported patients at the Korle Bu Breast Cancer Unit and plan to extend similar support to another institution in the coming weeks. She also acknowledged the courage of survivors, people undergoing treatment and the families supporting them.

Dr. Beatrice Wiafe Addai, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Breast Care International, translated that call to action into practical guidance through an educational session on breast cancer awareness and early detection.

She helped participants understand breast health, recognise unusual changes and appreciate the importance of seeking timely medical attention. She also demonstrated breast self-examination and breast self-awareness, giving participants knowledge they could use in their daily lives.

Breast cancer survivors brought a deeply personal dimension to the programme. By sharing their journeys, they showed how early detection, access to treatment and support can shape a person’s experience of cancer. Their stories also reminded participants that a diagnosis affects not only an individual, but families and communities and that seeking medical attention early can make a meaningful difference.

MTN employees reinforced the message through a relatable sketch about breast cancer awareness, early detection and treatment. The performance challenged misconceptions that can prevent people from seeking care.

The outreach paired awareness with access to care by offering screenings conducted by health professionals from Ridge Medical Centre, Peace and Love Hospital, Life Health Care, and Health Neutron. The screenings gave participants an immediate opportunity to understand their breast health and receive professional guidance.

Women from associations, educational institutions, faith-based groups, the MTN Yello Ladies Network and Bright Scholarship alumni community attended the program. They were encouraged to share what they had learnt with their mothers, sisters, daughters, friends, colleagues and neighbours, carrying the message into homes and communities.

For the Y’ello Ladies Network, the campaign went beyond wearing pink or marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It was about empowering women to translate awareness into action, replace fear with knowledge, and ensure that those affected by breast cancer feel seen, supported and understood. The initiative reinforced the importance of collective responsibility, accessible health information and early action in protecting women’s health and building healthier, more supportive communities.

Bringing together healthcare professionals, breast cancer survivors and women from diverse backgrounds, the initiative encouraged open conversations, early screening and support without stigma. Participants were urged to speak up, encourage timely care, support others with compassion, replace fear with knowledge and turn awareness into action. The message was clear: early action saves lives, knowledge empowers, and no woman should face breast cancer alone.