Erica Korkor, Author at Niyi Ojuolape

Prioritising Reproductive Health as an Answer to Rights and Choices

The pandemic has caused lots of disruptions in all spheres, especially the health system. This has exposed serious gaps and challenges in the provision of sexual and reproductive health services for women and girls. The situation has worsened gender inequality, gender-based violence, and harmful practices including child marriage, which calls for urgent attention.

In commemoration of World Population Day 2021 in Ghana, I joined the National Population Council in a celebration under the theme, “Prioritising Reproductive Health as an Answer to Rights and Choices”.

“Ghana’s census is everybody’s business”- Niyi Ojuolape

“A perfect census will benefit the country. It provides relevant data about the people and helps government respond to the needs of the people.”

Parents must pay enough attention to the needs of their children

Working to eliminate Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and other harmful practices has gained more prominence lately, given the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated incidents of SGBV, coupled with the difficulties associated with reporting cases.

Children often fall victims of such acts perpetrated mostly by men, leaving devastating effects on their physical and emotional wellbeing, usually for the rest of their lives, particularly when no quality care is provided.

The Cost of Avoidable High-Risk Pregnancy

Last two years (November 2019), in Nairobi the world came together to celebrate and remind itself of commitments they made in Cairo 25 years ago during the ICPD. Countries including Ghana made renewed commitments at the conference to ensure that the three zeros are achieved.

This year’s theme for the national Demographic Summit was, “The cost of avoidable pregnancies”. This theme is relevant to the three transformative results namely; zero avoidable maternal deaths, zero unmet need for family planning, and zero gender-based violence and harmful practices towards the realisation of the SDGs by 2030.

Investing in population to promote development

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.

Promoting gender equality through gender-responsive programming

Women’s empowerment is a critical aspect of achieving gender equality and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls and providing equal opportunities accelerates development in various areas.

Realising the vital role of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) in Ghana, I paid a courtesy call to the Minister, Hon. Sarah Adwoa Sarfo to strengthen the partnership between MoGCSP and UNFPA in Ghana.

Discussions with the Minister on promoting gender equality in Ghana

During the visit, I reiterated our continuous support for MoGCSP to enhance its coordinating role by updating policies, frameworks, and developing effective gender-responsive programming at all levels to improve accountability for gender equality.

Achieving the three zeros; zero unmet need for family planning, zero preventable maternal death, and zero gender-based violence and harmful practices, means working with government, civil society organisations and private partners.