Every October, countries around the world observe “Pinktober” , a month in which the colour pink becomes shorthand for awareness, education and solidarity in the fight against breast cancer.
Ghana marks the month with intensified outreach, public events and advocacy, underscoring the importance of early detection and open conversation about women’s health.
The pink ribbon, now inseparable from Pinktober, has roots in activism rather than marketing. In 1991, Charlotte Haley hand-made peach ribbons to protest the low share of cancer research budgets devoted to prevention. When Haley declined to partner with corporate campaigns, Estée Lauder Companies and SELF magazine introduced a pink ribbon in 1992, distributing millions and propelling the symbol worldwide. Today, the generic pink ribbon is a public-domain awareness symbol, though certain stylised versions and slogans are trademarked, a nuance that has shaped legal and ethical debates about how the symbol is used commercially.
In Ghana, the JEAD Foundation, based in Accra, works specifically to reach rural women affected by breast cancer, focusing on education, screening outreach and support for those navigating care.
VE Legal proudly supports the work of the JEAD Foundation and stands with them during Pinktober and throughout the year.
The ribbon endures because it now signals something deeply human, shared visibility, continuity of care and the conviction that no woman should face breast cancer alone, in Ghana or anywhere else.
