By Samira Larbie
Accra, Sept. 25, GNA – The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding access to quality, equitable and voluntary family planning services, while removing barriers that prevent individuals and couples from making informed decisions about their reproductive health.
Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Minister of Health, said the Government would continue to strengthen systems for the forecasting, procurement, distribution, and monitoring of contraceptive commodities to ensure that people could access their preferred methods when needed.
He said this in a speech read on his behalf at the national launch of the 2026 National Family Planning Week and World Contraception Day in Accra organized by the GHS and partners.
The 2026 observance is being held on the theme: “A Choice for All: Agency, Intention, Access,” with the motto: “It is Your Life, It is Your Future.”
The Minister said family planning was an essential investment in health and human rights, adding that it contributed to healthier families, improved opportunities for women and girls, stronger households, and more productive communities.
He said Ghana had made progress in family planning, citing data from the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, which showed that modern contraceptive use among married women aged 15 to 49 had increased from 23.2 per cent in 2014 to 27.8 per cent in 2022.
Unmet need for family planning had also declined from 59.9 per cent to 23.4 per cent over the period, he noted.
“While we welcome the progress, we recognise that the current level of 23.4 per cent unmet need remains significant,” Mr Akandoh said.
He said the situation required renewed action to ensure that individuals had accurate information, quality counselling, and access to appropriate services without discrimination or coercion.
The Minister emphasised the need to pay particular attention to adolescents and young people, persons in underserved communities and others who might face barriers to accessing family planning information and services.
He said quality counselling must be accurate, balanced, and respectful, while decisions on family planning must remain voluntary and free from coercion.
Dr Caroline Amissah Reindorf, Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), said the Service was expanding access to a broad range of contraceptive methods through public health facilities and community-based services.
She said health worker training, improved counselling, community engagement, and stronger referral linkages were being used to improve service delivery.
The GHS was also strengthening commodity forecasting, procurement, distribution, and stock monitoring to improve the availability of contraceptive commodities at service delivery points, she said.
Dr Reindorf said particular attention was being given to adolescents and young people, postpartum women, persons with disabilities and underserved communities.
She said the Service remained committed to voluntary and informed choice, respectful counselling, confidentiality, and client-centered care.
Dr Kennedy Brightson, Director of the Family Health Division of the GHS, said the commemoration provided an opportunity to highlight the work being undertaken across the country to support individuals and couples with family planning information, counselling, and services.
He said the theme was particularly relevant because behind every family planning statistic was an individual making decisions about relationships, education, work, family and the timing and spacing of children.
Dr Brightson said the Division would continue to strengthen health worker capacity, expand method choice, improve postpartum family planning, support adolescent and youth services, promote community engagement and address barriers faced by underserved populations.
He urged stakeholders to use the Family Planning Week activities to take the conversation beyond the launch venue and into communities.
The week-long activities will include health promotion, media engagements, community outreach, and service delivery activities aimed at bringing family planning information and services closer to the people.
Dr Brightson commended the Ministry of Health, development partners, professional associations, civil society organisations, the private sector, traditional and community leaders, the media, and GHS staff for their continued collaboration.
He also recognised the contribution of Regional and District Health Directorates and frontline health workers to the delivery of family planning services across the country.
The national observance brings together policymakers, health professionals, development partners, traditional and community leaders, civil society organisations, the private sector, academia, and the media to strengthen collaboration towards improved family planning services in Ghana.
The event also saw some individuals and institutions including TV3’s Health Reporter, Sarah Apenkroh honoured for their contributions in advancing family planning health in the country.
GNA
Edited by Linda Asante Agyei
Reporter: Samira Larbie