THE Wa West District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Seidu Tungbani, has outlined his vision for the development of the district.
According to him, his aim was to propel the district out of its present socio-economic predicament into a sound society.
“We will do this through capacity building among others so as to raise the standard and living conditions of the people,” he added.
Mr Tungbani, who was speaking to the Daily Graphic in Wa, enumerated a number of challenges facing the district that should be given adequate attention.
They include bad roads, high infant morbidity and maternal mortality, lack of school blocks and teachers.
He said in order to address those imbalances, the Wa West District Assembly would work hard to upgrade the clinic at Wechiau, the district capital, to the status of a hospital.
“In addition to this, we intend to link all communities with feeder roads so as to open up the district,” Mr Tungbani stated.
The DCE said the assembly would also sponsor a number of young nurses to become midwives since those currently in active service were ageing.
The only senior high school in the district, the Lassia Tuolu Senior High School, would be assisted with some infrastructure facilities including the provision of electricity, he added.
On food security, Mr Tungbani said the issue would be tackled through tractor service and the provision of chemicals at affordable prices so that they would serve as motivation to the youth.
“Through tractor and truck services, we would be able to generate some income locally to support our development efforts,” said the DCE.
Mr Tungbani called for cordial relationship from all stakeholders in the district to enable him to realise the development plans for the region.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
CANADIAN GOVT SPENDS GH¢3,485,000 IN UWR (PAGE 20)
THE Canadian Government has spent GH¢3,485,000 in financing various development projects in the Upper West Region since 2004.
The projects include construction of school blocks, teachers and nurses’ quarters, drilling of boreholes and CHPS compounds.
Code-named the District Wide Assistance Project (DWAP) and District Capacity Building Projects (DISCAP), the projects are being supervised by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) on behalf of the Canadian government.
This came to light when the Canadian High Commissioner in Accra Mr Darren Schemmer, paid a courtesy call on the Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid, at his office in Wa.
Mr Schemmer was in the region to congratulate the regional minister and the new municipal and district chief executives on their new appointments.
The High Commissioner also inspected some of the projects being undertaken by the Canadian government in the region.
Mr Schemmer visited some schools in the Wa West and Jirapa districts and the Nadowli Government Hospital in the Nadowli District.
Briefing the High Commissioner, Mr Khalid said the region was confronted with a number of development challenges such as high infant and maternal mortality rates, inadequate health facilities and school infrastructure.
He also mentioned lack of accessibility to treated water, low agricultural productivity and the extension of electricity to many parts of the region as some of the major problems facing the region.
Mr Khalid said that notwithstanding those problems, the region had vast arable land for agricultural purposes, sufficient labour force and very attractive tourist sites.
He, therefore, appealed to the High Commissioner to use his good offices to continue to offer the needed support for the accelerated development of the region.
“We have 76 per cent water coverage in the rural areas, but considering the rate of expansion, particularly in the Wa municipality in recent times, we would appreciate it if you continue to assist us to improve upon our water supply systems in the region”, the minister said.
For his part, Mr Schemmer stressed the need for the institution of measures to sustain the projects embarked upon.
He gave the assurance that the Canadian Government would continue to support the region.
The projects include construction of school blocks, teachers and nurses’ quarters, drilling of boreholes and CHPS compounds.
Code-named the District Wide Assistance Project (DWAP) and District Capacity Building Projects (DISCAP), the projects are being supervised by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) on behalf of the Canadian government.
This came to light when the Canadian High Commissioner in Accra Mr Darren Schemmer, paid a courtesy call on the Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid, at his office in Wa.
Mr Schemmer was in the region to congratulate the regional minister and the new municipal and district chief executives on their new appointments.
The High Commissioner also inspected some of the projects being undertaken by the Canadian government in the region.
Mr Schemmer visited some schools in the Wa West and Jirapa districts and the Nadowli Government Hospital in the Nadowli District.
Briefing the High Commissioner, Mr Khalid said the region was confronted with a number of development challenges such as high infant and maternal mortality rates, inadequate health facilities and school infrastructure.
He also mentioned lack of accessibility to treated water, low agricultural productivity and the extension of electricity to many parts of the region as some of the major problems facing the region.
Mr Khalid said that notwithstanding those problems, the region had vast arable land for agricultural purposes, sufficient labour force and very attractive tourist sites.
He, therefore, appealed to the High Commissioner to use his good offices to continue to offer the needed support for the accelerated development of the region.
“We have 76 per cent water coverage in the rural areas, but considering the rate of expansion, particularly in the Wa municipality in recent times, we would appreciate it if you continue to assist us to improve upon our water supply systems in the region”, the minister said.
For his part, Mr Schemmer stressed the need for the institution of measures to sustain the projects embarked upon.
He gave the assurance that the Canadian Government would continue to support the region.
ZOOMLION TRAINS 92 SANITATION GUARDS (PAGE 20)
ZOOMLION Ghana Limited, a waste management company, has trained 92 sanitation guards for four districts in the Upper West Region. The districts are Wa East, Wa West, Sissala East and Wa Municipality.
The guards, who have been provided with bicycles and uniforms, are to assist the environmental health officers in the districts in hygiene education, supervision and monitoring of sanitation services.
Addressing the closing ceremony of the training programme, the Regional, Operations Supervisor of Zoomlion, Mr Emmanuel Volsiri, said the objective of the programme was to improve sanitation in communities.
"We hope to bring about change in hygienic attitudes among the population", he added.
He stated that attitude was very critical in ensuring environmental sanitation, adding "If we do not change our attitude by adhering to sanitation bye-laws, the environment would always be messed up anytime cleaning is done".
Mr Volsiri called for the support and co-operation from the general public to make the work of the guards useful in the various communities.
For his part, a director at the regional co-ordinating council, Mr T. Zoure, described the training as timely, and commended Zoomlion for its commitment to ensure clean environment in the country.
He stressed the need for behavioural change among Ghanaians in order to make the environment clean.
Mr Zoure advised the sanitation guards to be professional in their work and be good ambassadors.
The course prefect, Mr Wallace Yahaya, complained about delay in payment of their allowances, and appealed to the government to facilitate the early release of their allowances.
The guards, who have been provided with bicycles and uniforms, are to assist the environmental health officers in the districts in hygiene education, supervision and monitoring of sanitation services.
Addressing the closing ceremony of the training programme, the Regional, Operations Supervisor of Zoomlion, Mr Emmanuel Volsiri, said the objective of the programme was to improve sanitation in communities.
"We hope to bring about change in hygienic attitudes among the population", he added.
He stated that attitude was very critical in ensuring environmental sanitation, adding "If we do not change our attitude by adhering to sanitation bye-laws, the environment would always be messed up anytime cleaning is done".
Mr Volsiri called for the support and co-operation from the general public to make the work of the guards useful in the various communities.
For his part, a director at the regional co-ordinating council, Mr T. Zoure, described the training as timely, and commended Zoomlion for its commitment to ensure clean environment in the country.
He stressed the need for behavioural change among Ghanaians in order to make the environment clean.
Mr Zoure advised the sanitation guards to be professional in their work and be good ambassadors.
The course prefect, Mr Wallace Yahaya, complained about delay in payment of their allowances, and appealed to the government to facilitate the early release of their allowances.
NORTHERN RURAL GROWTH PROGRAMME LAUNCHED IN WA (PAGE 20)
THE Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid, has described the implementation of the Northern Regional Growth Programme (NRGP) as a laudable programme.
According to him, the introduction of the programme had come at a time when the government was critically exploring all avenues to create opportunities and reduce poverty in both the rural and urban areas.
“Our government is determined to make good farmers in agriculture and several initiatives have been unveiled in that direction. It is therefore, very important that we support it and ensure that all targets and strategies adopted are implemented to the letter”, he added.
The regional minister was speaking at the regional launch of the NRGP in Wa.
Mr Khalid reiterated that much was expected of the programme to improve upon the north and south, which at present was creating inequalities.
He observed that the poverty situation was the causative element to the instability and tension being experienced in northern Ghana.
“We should, therefore, do all we can to ensure that the programme becomes fruitful and make it beneficial and sustainable to our people”, Mr Khalid said.
He gave the assurance that the government would offer the necessary support in the implementation of the programme.
For his part, the National Co-ordinator of the NRGP, Mr Roy Ayariga, said the overall goal of the project was to contribute to an equitable and sustainable poverty reduction and food security among rural folks.
“It is expected that 4,500 hectares of land would be irrigated under the project while farmers would be assisted to acquire group transport and storage facilities”, he added.
The Regional Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Mr Emmanuel Eledi, was happy that the programme would be beneficial to the region.
According to him, the introduction of the programme had come at a time when the government was critically exploring all avenues to create opportunities and reduce poverty in both the rural and urban areas.
“Our government is determined to make good farmers in agriculture and several initiatives have been unveiled in that direction. It is therefore, very important that we support it and ensure that all targets and strategies adopted are implemented to the letter”, he added.
The regional minister was speaking at the regional launch of the NRGP in Wa.
Mr Khalid reiterated that much was expected of the programme to improve upon the north and south, which at present was creating inequalities.
He observed that the poverty situation was the causative element to the instability and tension being experienced in northern Ghana.
“We should, therefore, do all we can to ensure that the programme becomes fruitful and make it beneficial and sustainable to our people”, Mr Khalid said.
He gave the assurance that the government would offer the necessary support in the implementation of the programme.
For his part, the National Co-ordinator of the NRGP, Mr Roy Ayariga, said the overall goal of the project was to contribute to an equitable and sustainable poverty reduction and food security among rural folks.
“It is expected that 4,500 hectares of land would be irrigated under the project while farmers would be assisted to acquire group transport and storage facilities”, he added.
The Regional Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Mr Emmanuel Eledi, was happy that the programme would be beneficial to the region.
RAAP MAKES IMPACT IN UPPER WEST REGION (PAGE 20)
THE Upper West Region is one of the poorest regions of the country. It faces many development challenges.
The challenges are so varied that the government alone cannot provide the needed resources to address the issue that confront the poor and marginalised rural people.
It is for this reason that the launch of Rural Aid Action Programme (RAAP), a non-governmental organisation, has been observed by the people in the region as a great blessing for them.
Over the years, RAAP has been engaged in the development of the Upper West Region. Its engagement with rural communities in improving their livelihoods, education, health, access to institutional finances and rural enterprise development as well as gender advocacy, has contributed tremendously to the development of households, families and communities, particularly in its operational areas.
RAAP is one of the notable local development organisations in the region that has over the years been complementing government’s efforts in rural development. It has recruited some enthusiastic and energetic young volunteers who have a desire to bring about change.
The desire to rekindle communal spirit and determination to improve the lives of marginalised and vulnerable groups in rural communities are its sole motivation. Since its inception, RAAP has been based at Hain, a small town in the Jirapa District in the region. One of the most incredible things about the formation of RAAP is that it grew in a small town, Hain, a difficult place for an NGO to be located.
However, despite the many obstacles, RAAP successfully grew to become an effective and efficient organisation. The initial intention of RAAP’s founder was to form a formidable student group to advocate the rights of poor and marginalised people.
After operating for sometime, the NGO realised that focusing its work simply on student issues would not make sufficient impact. It recognised that members of the local community found themselves helpless. Everyone sat around expecting handouts from the government. This meant that if government failed to act, little or no development changes would be registered within the rural communities.
Having identified this vacuum, RAAP saw it as a challenge to galvanise the support of the community to take matters into their own hands. Thus, the NGO was transformed from a proactive student group to a powerful organisation devoted to community development.
As an NGO and a non-profit organisation, RAAP’s mandate is to combat poverty in low income, food deficit rural communities through the implementation of sustainable community development projects aimed at assisting the poorest of the poor to increase their food and income security while improving their health and educational status.
RAAP concentrates its activities on specific communities and targets marginalised groups, including self-help women groups and their families, providing them with technical and financial support to improve their livelihoods. RAAP’s goal is to work in partnership with development agencies, civil society groups, government and communities to improve and sustain the livelihoods of the resourced poor by increasing their capacities and skills to influence policies and practices that affect them.
RAAP has established three other field offices at Gwollu, Wechiau and Jirapa. Based on resource mobilisation, RAAP intends to expand its activities to the rural areas in the future.
Currently, RAAP which is being supported by SNV, a Netherlands-based development organisation is implementing a five-year strategic plan, that is, from 2008 to 2012.
Under the plan, it is implementing development projects in the region, ranging from three to five years. The projects include an animal traction project benefiting 91 rural people comprising 64 men and 27 women in Jirapa and Lambussie-Karni districts where the beneficiaries are supported with a bullock/donkey, plough and a chart with training on the usage and maintenance. This initiative has contributed in increasing productivity as well as reduction of women’s workload.
Another intervention by RAAP, rural women livestock production project is currently benefiting 370 rural women organised into 37 groups in the Jirapa and Lambussie districts, is breaking the gender perception that women do not rear animals. The intervention increasing the beneficiary women’s income through livestock rearing.
Another project introduced by the NGO — Community forestry and natural resource management project, under which three nurseries have been established, is benefiting 2,242 rural people. It provided them with access to credit and enterprise development skills.
Another initiative of RAAP, village savings and loans project, set up in 80 communities (40 in Sissala West, 25 in Jirapa and 15 in Lawra), has helped 372 groups, 25 per cent of who are women.
Market analysis and development is another intervention by the NGO, which focuses on village tree enterprise in the Gbele reserve in the Sissala West District.
Adolescent reproductive health project introduced by the organisation has so far trained 240 peer educators, 12 drama and puppetry performances, video shows and discussions on HIV/AIDS, trained 140 community health volunteers and 40 barbers.
Gender advocacy, also an initiative of RAAP, has trained 352 gender teams in 88 rural communities, facilitated the establishment and training of magazias, advocacy on gender issues at the community level regarding access and control of the productive resources.
RAAP undertakes the projects in partnership with international development organisations. Prominent among those partners are Tree Aid UK, Oxfam GB, Plan Ghana, Care International, SNV-Netherlands Development Organisation and Technoserve/USAID.
The Executive Director of RAAP, Mr Evans Sinkari, in an interview with this wrtiter, thanked partner organisations which had been supporting the organisation in carrying out its work of assisting and living with poor people.
The challenges are so varied that the government alone cannot provide the needed resources to address the issue that confront the poor and marginalised rural people.
It is for this reason that the launch of Rural Aid Action Programme (RAAP), a non-governmental organisation, has been observed by the people in the region as a great blessing for them.
Over the years, RAAP has been engaged in the development of the Upper West Region. Its engagement with rural communities in improving their livelihoods, education, health, access to institutional finances and rural enterprise development as well as gender advocacy, has contributed tremendously to the development of households, families and communities, particularly in its operational areas.
RAAP is one of the notable local development organisations in the region that has over the years been complementing government’s efforts in rural development. It has recruited some enthusiastic and energetic young volunteers who have a desire to bring about change.
The desire to rekindle communal spirit and determination to improve the lives of marginalised and vulnerable groups in rural communities are its sole motivation. Since its inception, RAAP has been based at Hain, a small town in the Jirapa District in the region. One of the most incredible things about the formation of RAAP is that it grew in a small town, Hain, a difficult place for an NGO to be located.
However, despite the many obstacles, RAAP successfully grew to become an effective and efficient organisation. The initial intention of RAAP’s founder was to form a formidable student group to advocate the rights of poor and marginalised people.
After operating for sometime, the NGO realised that focusing its work simply on student issues would not make sufficient impact. It recognised that members of the local community found themselves helpless. Everyone sat around expecting handouts from the government. This meant that if government failed to act, little or no development changes would be registered within the rural communities.
Having identified this vacuum, RAAP saw it as a challenge to galvanise the support of the community to take matters into their own hands. Thus, the NGO was transformed from a proactive student group to a powerful organisation devoted to community development.
As an NGO and a non-profit organisation, RAAP’s mandate is to combat poverty in low income, food deficit rural communities through the implementation of sustainable community development projects aimed at assisting the poorest of the poor to increase their food and income security while improving their health and educational status.
RAAP concentrates its activities on specific communities and targets marginalised groups, including self-help women groups and their families, providing them with technical and financial support to improve their livelihoods. RAAP’s goal is to work in partnership with development agencies, civil society groups, government and communities to improve and sustain the livelihoods of the resourced poor by increasing their capacities and skills to influence policies and practices that affect them.
RAAP has established three other field offices at Gwollu, Wechiau and Jirapa. Based on resource mobilisation, RAAP intends to expand its activities to the rural areas in the future.
Currently, RAAP which is being supported by SNV, a Netherlands-based development organisation is implementing a five-year strategic plan, that is, from 2008 to 2012.
Under the plan, it is implementing development projects in the region, ranging from three to five years. The projects include an animal traction project benefiting 91 rural people comprising 64 men and 27 women in Jirapa and Lambussie-Karni districts where the beneficiaries are supported with a bullock/donkey, plough and a chart with training on the usage and maintenance. This initiative has contributed in increasing productivity as well as reduction of women’s workload.
Another intervention by RAAP, rural women livestock production project is currently benefiting 370 rural women organised into 37 groups in the Jirapa and Lambussie districts, is breaking the gender perception that women do not rear animals. The intervention increasing the beneficiary women’s income through livestock rearing.
Another project introduced by the NGO — Community forestry and natural resource management project, under which three nurseries have been established, is benefiting 2,242 rural people. It provided them with access to credit and enterprise development skills.
Another initiative of RAAP, village savings and loans project, set up in 80 communities (40 in Sissala West, 25 in Jirapa and 15 in Lawra), has helped 372 groups, 25 per cent of who are women.
Market analysis and development is another intervention by the NGO, which focuses on village tree enterprise in the Gbele reserve in the Sissala West District.
Adolescent reproductive health project introduced by the organisation has so far trained 240 peer educators, 12 drama and puppetry performances, video shows and discussions on HIV/AIDS, trained 140 community health volunteers and 40 barbers.
Gender advocacy, also an initiative of RAAP, has trained 352 gender teams in 88 rural communities, facilitated the establishment and training of magazias, advocacy on gender issues at the community level regarding access and control of the productive resources.
RAAP undertakes the projects in partnership with international development organisations. Prominent among those partners are Tree Aid UK, Oxfam GB, Plan Ghana, Care International, SNV-Netherlands Development Organisation and Technoserve/USAID.
The Executive Director of RAAP, Mr Evans Sinkari, in an interview with this wrtiter, thanked partner organisations which had been supporting the organisation in carrying out its work of assisting and living with poor people.
Monday, June 15, 2009
DCES MUST NOT BE DIRECTLY ELECTED...They are the direct reps of President (PAGE 13)
A FORMER assembly member for Lambussie in the Upper West Region, Mr D.M. Deribaa, has expressed the view that Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) should not be directly elected.
In his view, Ghana is a sovereign and unitary republic, and that the chief executive is the direct representative of the elected President in the district and accountable to the people.
According to him, the unitary status of Ghana is historic and that is buttressed by Article 4 of the 1992 Constitution, and is of the strong belief that the framers of the Constitution had the unitary status of Ghanaians in mind before providing that MMDCEs should be accountable to the President who is directly elected by the good people of Ghana.
“The 1992 Constitution provides for the type of local government administration which shall as far as practicable, be decentralised with the district assemblies as the highest political authorities in their district,” Mr Deribaa told the Daily Graphic.
He stated that there was a dichotomy of power between the elected assembly members and the Members of Parliament in the district on one hand, and the President’s representative in the district on the other.
Mr Deribaa stated that the deliberative and legislative powers of the assembly were in the hands of assembly members while the chief executive was responsible for administration and execution of government policies and programmes.
“It is, therefore, politically inexpedient and superfluous to directly elect the chief executive some of whom may be opposed to the political ideology of the President.
That trend, he said, could lead to confusion and chaos in respect of resource allocation and general administration in the country,” he added.
Mr Deribaa argued that Ghana was still young in her democratic governance and “there is no gainsaying the fact that, party politics has often been the bone of our district assembly elections”.
He recommended that in future, the appointment of the MMDCEs should be streamlined by an amendment to Article 241 (3) and Act 462, and the removal of the two-thirds majority approval needed to confirm the chief executives.
“The President should have the prerogative under the Constitution to nominate a candidate using as basis, experience, competence and educational background as this will remove hatred, bickering, rancour and vilification that characterise the nomination and confirmation of chief executives,” he added.
In his view, Ghana is a sovereign and unitary republic, and that the chief executive is the direct representative of the elected President in the district and accountable to the people.
According to him, the unitary status of Ghana is historic and that is buttressed by Article 4 of the 1992 Constitution, and is of the strong belief that the framers of the Constitution had the unitary status of Ghanaians in mind before providing that MMDCEs should be accountable to the President who is directly elected by the good people of Ghana.
“The 1992 Constitution provides for the type of local government administration which shall as far as practicable, be decentralised with the district assemblies as the highest political authorities in their district,” Mr Deribaa told the Daily Graphic.
He stated that there was a dichotomy of power between the elected assembly members and the Members of Parliament in the district on one hand, and the President’s representative in the district on the other.
Mr Deribaa stated that the deliberative and legislative powers of the assembly were in the hands of assembly members while the chief executive was responsible for administration and execution of government policies and programmes.
“It is, therefore, politically inexpedient and superfluous to directly elect the chief executive some of whom may be opposed to the political ideology of the President.
That trend, he said, could lead to confusion and chaos in respect of resource allocation and general administration in the country,” he added.
Mr Deribaa argued that Ghana was still young in her democratic governance and “there is no gainsaying the fact that, party politics has often been the bone of our district assembly elections”.
He recommended that in future, the appointment of the MMDCEs should be streamlined by an amendment to Article 241 (3) and Act 462, and the removal of the two-thirds majority approval needed to confirm the chief executives.
“The President should have the prerogative under the Constitution to nominate a candidate using as basis, experience, competence and educational background as this will remove hatred, bickering, rancour and vilification that characterise the nomination and confirmation of chief executives,” he added.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
INTENSIFY GHANA'S FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAMME (PAGE 11)
Abibata Fuseini (not real name) is a 30-year-old farmer who lives in a remote village in the Upper West Region of Ghana.
Having married after eloping at 15 years, she became a mother. Thinking that a maximum of three children would be okay for her, Abibata was soon to realise that it was going to be difficult for her to stand by her decision.
Now at 30 years, she has 11 children with the majority of them malnourished. What has happened to the family planning programmes initiated some years ago?
The Ghana National Family Planning Programme (GNFPP) was established in 1970 to serve as the vehicle for the promotion and provision of family planning education and services in the country.
Although family planning was largely seen and used as an instrument by the government to achieve national development objectives, the health benefit rationale for family planning was not totally ignored. Some of the health benefits for children, among which are the low risks of premature birth, low birth weight and prenatal, infant or early childhood death, were significantly reduced.
As a result, the benefits include lower risks of death and complications of pregnancy and labour such as anaemia, pregnancy-induced hypertension, haemorrhage and infections.
The Ghana Demographic Health Survey (GDHS, 2003) estimated that 34 per cent of married women had an unmet need for family planning; 22 per cent for those who wish to space births and 12 per cent for those who have decided not to have any more children.
There is a wide rural-urban disparity in unmet need for family planning; 38 per cent of the demand for family planning, “Implying that the needs of more than one in two Ghanaian women are currently not being met” (GDHS, 2003)
The results of the GDHS (2003) indicate that overall, 16 per cent of pregnancies are mistimed.
In the words of the Upper West Regional Population Officer, Mr Mark Abugnaba, “Many unintended pregnancies probably end up as unsafe abortions, which also result in between 20 and 30 per cent of all maternal deaths in the country”.
Furthermore, infant and child mortality rates have worsened while the maternal mortality ratio has not significantly improved. Recent estimates in Ghana indicate that if current birth intervals of between 18 and 24 months are increased to 36 months, the infant mortality rates would drop by 27 per cent and 23 per cent, respectively. This means that the lives of 21,700 children under five years of age would be saved every year.
Similarly, fulfilling unmet need would avert 4,419 maternal deaths between 2000 and 2015 by reducing the number of unintended pregnancies and recourse to unsafe abortion.
“Apart from preventing unwanted or mistimed pregnancies, contraceptives contribute to improve health for women by reducing the risk of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) including HIV and AIDS and certain cancers of the reproductive tract,” Mr Abugnaba said.
It is in the light of the numerous benefits that the country stands to gain that family planning must be repositioned. Repositioning family planning in the country will help increase public awareness and acceptance of and political commitment to it as an essential component of national health and socio-economic development and poverty reduction goals.
This must be done in collaboration with the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs).
The MMDAs have critical roles to play in promoting and financing family planning activities and programmes.
They, therefore, require assistance to strengthen their technical and management capacities to integrate population issues in general and family planning in particular, into their development planning activities and to mobilise local resources including social support for planning.
In achieving this, selected staff in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions must be trained to do so. This, the writer believes would go a long way to avert situations like the one Abibatu Fuseini finds herself in.
Having married after eloping at 15 years, she became a mother. Thinking that a maximum of three children would be okay for her, Abibata was soon to realise that it was going to be difficult for her to stand by her decision.
Now at 30 years, she has 11 children with the majority of them malnourished. What has happened to the family planning programmes initiated some years ago?
The Ghana National Family Planning Programme (GNFPP) was established in 1970 to serve as the vehicle for the promotion and provision of family planning education and services in the country.
Although family planning was largely seen and used as an instrument by the government to achieve national development objectives, the health benefit rationale for family planning was not totally ignored. Some of the health benefits for children, among which are the low risks of premature birth, low birth weight and prenatal, infant or early childhood death, were significantly reduced.
As a result, the benefits include lower risks of death and complications of pregnancy and labour such as anaemia, pregnancy-induced hypertension, haemorrhage and infections.
The Ghana Demographic Health Survey (GDHS, 2003) estimated that 34 per cent of married women had an unmet need for family planning; 22 per cent for those who wish to space births and 12 per cent for those who have decided not to have any more children.
There is a wide rural-urban disparity in unmet need for family planning; 38 per cent of the demand for family planning, “Implying that the needs of more than one in two Ghanaian women are currently not being met” (GDHS, 2003)
The results of the GDHS (2003) indicate that overall, 16 per cent of pregnancies are mistimed.
In the words of the Upper West Regional Population Officer, Mr Mark Abugnaba, “Many unintended pregnancies probably end up as unsafe abortions, which also result in between 20 and 30 per cent of all maternal deaths in the country”.
Furthermore, infant and child mortality rates have worsened while the maternal mortality ratio has not significantly improved. Recent estimates in Ghana indicate that if current birth intervals of between 18 and 24 months are increased to 36 months, the infant mortality rates would drop by 27 per cent and 23 per cent, respectively. This means that the lives of 21,700 children under five years of age would be saved every year.
Similarly, fulfilling unmet need would avert 4,419 maternal deaths between 2000 and 2015 by reducing the number of unintended pregnancies and recourse to unsafe abortion.
“Apart from preventing unwanted or mistimed pregnancies, contraceptives contribute to improve health for women by reducing the risk of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) including HIV and AIDS and certain cancers of the reproductive tract,” Mr Abugnaba said.
It is in the light of the numerous benefits that the country stands to gain that family planning must be repositioned. Repositioning family planning in the country will help increase public awareness and acceptance of and political commitment to it as an essential component of national health and socio-economic development and poverty reduction goals.
This must be done in collaboration with the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs).
The MMDAs have critical roles to play in promoting and financing family planning activities and programmes.
They, therefore, require assistance to strengthen their technical and management capacities to integrate population issues in general and family planning in particular, into their development planning activities and to mobilise local resources including social support for planning.
In achieving this, selected staff in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions must be trained to do so. This, the writer believes would go a long way to avert situations like the one Abibatu Fuseini finds herself in.
NGO SPONSORS 25 YOUTH TO ACQUIRE SKILLS (PAGE 23)
TWENTY-FIVE apprentices sponsored by Youth Alive, a non-governmental organisation, have passed out at a ceremony held in Wa in the Upper West Region.
The apprentices, who undertook training in dressmaking, hairdressing, weaving, carpentry, among others, were presented with working tools worth GH¢13,789.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Programme Manager of Youth Alive, Mr Conrad Balig, announced that 270 children were being supported in the Wa municipality.
“Of this number, 83 are undergoing various vocational skills training while 187 have been enrolled in basic, junior and senior high schools”, he added.
Mr Balig said through the intervention of Youth Alive, 74 youth working on the streets had been reintegrated into their families and communities, adding that currently seven of such people were in the universities with two each in teacher training colleges and the Wa Polytechnic .
He was happy that the graduates committed and dedicated themselves to the training, and urged them to put the skills acquired into practice.
“We have confidence in these graduates and its our belief that they will not betray our trust. In other words, they will not sell the tools and equipment and eventually migrate to southern Ghana in search of non-existing jobs”, he stated.
Mr Balig appealed to the district assemblies in the region to continue to support the NGO so that more children could benefit from the activities of the centre.
In a keynote address, the Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid, urged parents to send their children to school and support them to acquire both formal and vocational education.
He observed that the lack of parental guidance and support to children had led to many brilliant children abandoning their education and migrating to the southern part of the country.
Mr Khalid urged the children to report parents who treated them inhumanely to the department for the necessary action.
He also advised the graduates to be good ambassadors of Youth Alive in their various endeavours.
The apprentices, who undertook training in dressmaking, hairdressing, weaving, carpentry, among others, were presented with working tools worth GH¢13,789.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Programme Manager of Youth Alive, Mr Conrad Balig, announced that 270 children were being supported in the Wa municipality.
“Of this number, 83 are undergoing various vocational skills training while 187 have been enrolled in basic, junior and senior high schools”, he added.
Mr Balig said through the intervention of Youth Alive, 74 youth working on the streets had been reintegrated into their families and communities, adding that currently seven of such people were in the universities with two each in teacher training colleges and the Wa Polytechnic .
He was happy that the graduates committed and dedicated themselves to the training, and urged them to put the skills acquired into practice.
“We have confidence in these graduates and its our belief that they will not betray our trust. In other words, they will not sell the tools and equipment and eventually migrate to southern Ghana in search of non-existing jobs”, he stated.
Mr Balig appealed to the district assemblies in the region to continue to support the NGO so that more children could benefit from the activities of the centre.
In a keynote address, the Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid, urged parents to send their children to school and support them to acquire both formal and vocational education.
He observed that the lack of parental guidance and support to children had led to many brilliant children abandoning their education and migrating to the southern part of the country.
Mr Khalid urged the children to report parents who treated them inhumanely to the department for the necessary action.
He also advised the graduates to be good ambassadors of Youth Alive in their various endeavours.
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