Include Population policy in development programmes - Whyte

Sekondi, Dec. 17, GNA - Mr. Benjamin A. Whyte, Western Regional Population Officer, has said that though the 1969 Ghana Population Policy was well written and valid, its implementation had not been integrated into the country's development planning.

He has therefore urged district assemblies in the region, to include all population variables in their development programmes and assist them to achieve human centred development to ensure the success of the government's Poverty Reduction Strategy.

Mr. Whyte who said these at a day's sensitisation seminar for media practitioners in the Western Region, however, noted that the integration had been constrained by the limited number of persons with demographic and planning backgrounds.

He said the population size; the developing planning processes affected all structure, spatial distribution and quality with respect to education, health and employment.

Mr. Emmanuel P. Assan, Regional Youth Coordinator said poverty remained the main challenge to development adding, "the persistence of economic, social and gender inequality, hamper efforts to improve the quality of life especially women and children," he said.

"As the poorest segment of the population are women, eliminating social discrimination against them is a prerequisite for reducing poverty, promoting economic growth and achieve sound policies."

Mr. Assan suggested to the Shama Ahanta East Metropolitan Assembly, to pass byelaws, to make it an offence for school children to desert the classroom to engage in fishing and trading along the beaches. Mr. Assan called on all Ghanaians not to value money to the detriment of their children's education and appealed to parents and stakeholders to make education attractive. 17 Dec. 03