ACCRA: The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has urged the government of Ghana to significantly increase its domestic financing and political commitment to enhance family planning services and products availability in the country. According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Wilfred Ochan, the UNFPA Country Representative to Ghana, emphasized the importance of family planning services and products, including contraceptives, in empowering young people to make informed decisions that contribute to sustainable development. He expressed concerns over the reliance on donor funding for these critical health services and the lack of specific budgetary allocations for family planning procurement in Ghana. Dr. Ochan highlighted the strides Ghana has made in family planning but pointed out the considerable challenges that remain, particularly in terms of domestic financing and commitment from relevant stakeholders. "While these strides are great and commendable, the journey is not without its hurdles," Dr. Ochan stated d uring a speech read on his behalf at the World Contraception Day (Family Planning Week) celebrations in Nalerigu. The event, which gathered stakeholders from various regions including Upper East, Upper West, North East, and Northern, was organized by the UNFPA in collaboration with the Total Family Health Organisation, Marie Stopes International Ghana, and Youth Harvest Foundation Ghana, among other non-governmental organizations. Dr. Ochan also called attention to the fundamental human rights aspect of access to family planning services and stressed the need for government-led initiatives to ensure the country achieves zero unmet needs in family planning. He pointed out that many private insurance schemes in Ghana do not include family planning in their benefits packages, and private sector efforts are often not fully captured in family data. Further discussions at the event addressed systemic gaps in the family planning services delivery, emphasizing the need for consistent availability of a comprehensiv e range of family planning methods, particularly for sexually active young persons, rural women, and urban career women. Mr. Mammah Tenii, Programme Specialist and Head of the UNFPA's Decentralised Office in Tamale, explained the choice of the North East Region for the celebration, noting the region's poor family planning indicators. He encouraged stakeholders to network and share success stories to enhance their performance and meet the family planning needs of the community. Calls for broader community involvement were also echoed by Ms. Alimatu Seidu, Family Planning Coordinator at the North East Regional Directorate of the Ghana Health Service, who advocated for the integration of sexual and reproductive health education, particularly family planning, into school curricula. Mr. Peter Awudu, Health Promotion Officer and Senior Health Educator at the College of Nursing and Midwifery in Nalerigu, highlighted the importance of involving men in family planning activities to prevent domestic conflicts among c ouples.