Access and use of data plays a key role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and also advances the achievements of UNFPA’s mandates.

I was honoured by the visit of Hon. Dr. Abdul Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, Chair of the Ghana Parliamentary Caucus on Population and Development (GPCPD) and Hon. Elvis Donkor, Member of the GPCPD.

One of the major issues discussed was the 2021 Population and Housing Census and the importance of the caucus on population and development in the entire process. Parliamentarians can help in publicizing the upcoming population census to create more awareness.

On further collaborations, UNFPA could provide technical support and build the advocacy and knowledge skills of parliamentarians. This is effective in enhancing social protection and inclusion and improving well being by focusing parliamentarians to advocate for rights-based policies on their roles in parliament.

I used the opportunity to also mention the newly established Orange Support Centre , that provides support to survivors/victims of sexual and gender-based violence. This was made possible in partnership with the Domestic Violence Secretariat of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.