Dr. Asare Offei, a hepatobiliary surgeon at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, has revealed that hepatitis B is the primary cause of liver cancer in Ghana.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show during Cancer Awareness Month, he explained that hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)—a form of liver cancer strongly linked to hepatitis B—accounts for roughly 80% of liver cancer cases nationwide.
He emphasized that hepatitis B is transmitted through blood, sexual contact, or from mother to child during childbirth. The virus can lead to chronic liver inflammation and, in some cases, directly trigger cancer without progressing through cirrhosis.
Ghana has one of the highest hepatitis B prevalence rates in sub-Saharan Africa, and many people may be unaware they carry the virus due to its lack of early symptoms. Dr. Offei urged regular screening, vaccination, and early treatment to reduce the country’s liver cancer burden
Author: Jasmine Adjei
Development journalist
