The Focus on Sickle-Cell Foundation (FosCel) has announced plans to hold a National Sickle Cell Fun Fair on Friday, February 14, aimed at raising awareness, dispelling misconceptions and providing critical health services for people living with sickle cell disease.
The announcement was made at a national press conference at the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Press Centre on Monday, January 19, under the theme Integrating Sickle Cell Education into Ghana’s JHS and SHS Curriculum.
Speaking to journalists, the Secretary of FosCel, Dr Yaw Asamoah, said the Fun Fair is designed to bring together people living with sickle cell disease—whom the foundation refers to as “warriors”—their families, and members of the public interested in learning more about the condition.
“The main purpose is to demystify the myths about sickle cell,” Dr Asamoah stated. “There are many misconceptions about the disease that are simply not true. We want people to understand the condition better, and to teach families with affected members new ways of managing or handling sickle cell.”
The event, scheduled to take place at GUD Park near the Accra Mall, will feature free or subsidised genotype screening in partnership with leading laboratories, offering participants practical tools for prevention and management.
“If you know your genotype, then you know how to prevent it. This is the cornerstone of what we want to achieve at the Fun Fair,” he added.
Dr Asamoah said activities planned for the day include educational sessions, storytelling by sickle cell warriors, a blood donation drive to support patients, and recreational activities such as bouncy castles for children living with the condition.
Musical performances by popular Ghanaian artistes, including some living with sickle cell disease, are also expected.
Highlighting the challenges faced by people with the condition, Dr Asamoah noted that some students are compelled to extend a four-year degree programme to six years due to frequent illness.
“We want to share these stories so the public can appreciate the realities of living with sickle cell,” he said.
He acknowledged that funding constraints had delayed the event from December 2025 to February 2026, noting that FosCel’s activities are largely supported by personal contributions from volunteers.
Dr Asamoah expressed hope that corporate organisations and state institutions would support the initiative, either financially or in kind.
“This is a national call for support to help us secure a future without sickle cell in Ghana,” he emphasised.
He described the Fun Fair as a “one-stop shop” for education, screening, blood donation and support, and said it complements FosCel’s broader advocacy for the integration of sickle cell education into Ghana’s junior and senior high school curricula.
“The media is always invited, and we hope this event will educate, inspire and empower the public to take action on sickle cell,” he said.
“We want to ensure that children growing up in Ghana know about sickle cell, how it is inherited, and how they can make informed health decisions for themselves and their families.”
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