UNFPA pledges more support to Ghana

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has pledged continuous support Ghana in the areas of maternal and child health, women's rights and commodities security as well as domestic violence.

Dr Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of UNFPA commended Ghana’s effort towards reducing of maternal mortality and making family planning services accessible and reviewing and implementing the Gender plan of Action.

"These are things that move our agenda forward and for which we will like to continue to support you," he said.

Dr Osotimehin made this known when Madam Juliana Azumah-Mensah, Minister of Women and Children's Affairs paid a courtesy call on him during 56th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) conference on Thursday in New York.

The fifty-fifth session of the CSW started on February 27 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York and is scheduled to end on March 9.

He urged Ghana to follow the example of Nigeria by putting in place a legislative instrument for at least five per cent of seats to be reserved for women in parliament.

Madam Azumah-Mensah commended UNFPA for its strategic plan which falls in line with Ghana's Shared Growth and Development Agenda and for the fund’s tremendous support to Ghana through finance and technical assistance.

She said Ghana is in the process of ensuring the quota system for women in parliament in line with the affirmative action.

She said more needs to be done in the areas of maternal mortality and particularly reproductive health for the youth which is the core of UNPA's Six Country Programme.

She appealed to all partners to support the ministry to implement its action plan which will be launched soon.