One of the greatest challenges confronting Ghana is how to manage a high level of population growth. President Kufuor disclosed this when he launched "Life Choices" campaign in Accra yesterday. He said the current practice where families are not planned undermines the efforts to provide adequate health, housing, and employment for citizens.
He underscored the need for married couples to plan their families, adding that the motto of our families should be "quality not quantity." To this end, he said, the education of women holds the key to development. He pleaded with the youth to take the campaign serious for the plight of street children had become a worrying phenomenon in the country. "Let's give our children the opportunity to make choices."
The USAID Director in Ghana Dr. Frank Young submitted that the support for voluntary family planning and productive health programmes are essential components of US development assistance around the world.
He said Ghana's achievements over the years in the areas of population and reproductive health have received international recognition.
Dr. Young however, regretted that family planning still remains low in the country, with only 13% of married women using modern methods of contraception. The 'Life Choices' campaign will therefore be geared towards encouraging couples to use modern contraceptive techniques at both public and private sector delivery points.
He said the 'Life Choices' campaign would address the need for Ghanaian women and their families to manage their fertility and determine the timing and number of children they raise.
The messages are designed to dispel rumours about family planning and addressing misconception and misinformation about its side effects.
The Executive Director of the National Population Council Dr. Richard B. Turkson said the battle against increasing population will not yield results unless fertility management is linked to poverty alleviation.
The Life Choices campaign is a private/public sector partnership between the Ghana Social Marketing Foundation, (GSMF), John Hopkins University Centre for Communication Programs, Ministry of Health, the National Population Council and other non governmental organisations. The USAID has provided the financial assistance to the tune of $2.2m for the project to take off.
