Kumasi: Dr. Godfred Bonnah Nkansah, a Population Policy Analyst at the Development Advocacy Initiative Africa, has emphasized the necessity for Ghana to deliberately invest in family planning and reproductive health education. He expressed concern over Ghana's population growth management, pointing out a significant gap when compared to countries with similar socio-economic and political frameworks.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Nkansah, who also serves as a Political Demographer, made these remarks during a Regional Consultation Workshop on Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) for stakeholders in Kumasi. The workshop was organized by the Parliamentary Network Africa (PNAfrica) and Marie Stopes International (MSI). Dr. Nkansah highlighted that Ghana is not fully utilizing the potential benefits of its population, an issue that requires immediate attention.
He pointed to the national teenage pregnancy rate of 15.2 percent, describing it as alarmingly high for a nation aiming to progress from a lower-middle-income to an upper-middle-income status. Dr. Nkansah stressed that a high teenage pregnancy rate impedes this transition, as it results in a significant portion of the human resource focusing on childcare rather than education and capacity building.
Dr. Nkansah advocated for greater focus on family planning to enable families to manage their size and contribute to a mature population age structure that supports production. He noted that Ghana's current population structure is more consumption-oriented, which hinders national development. He urged for urgent action to reduce teenage pregnancy rates, especially in populous regions like Ashanti, which ranks second in the country with a teenage pregnancy rate of 24 percent.
Furthermore, Dr. Nkansah addressed the issue of child marriage, noting that 19 percent of girls in Ghana are married before the age of 18. He called for effective national laws to tackle these issues, which obstruct social and economic growth.
Mr. Gilbert Borketey Boyefio, Programmes Manager at PNAfrica, expressed hope that the stakeholder engagements would lead to policy changes, legislative reviews, and legal framework reforms. He appealed to the legislature to prioritize these matters to manage population growth and expedite development.
The stakeholder meeting gathered traditional leaders, religious leaders, government officials, media, and civil society organizations to discuss SRHS and chart a path forward for Ghana.