A coalition of 55 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Ghana is calling on the government to urgently release crucial Family Planning (FP) commodities that have been stuck at the Tema Port for over seven months. These supplies, valued at $1.6 million, were donated by the West Africa Health Organization (WAHO) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) but have not been distributed due to unpaid duties and escalating demurrage charges.
The coalition warns that this prolonged delay is causing a severe shortage of contraceptives across the country, posing a serious risk of increased unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and maternal deaths. According to their estimates, clearing the supplies could prevent 62,728 unsafe abortions, avert 2,514 child deaths, and save 255 maternal lives.
They also highlighted the economic benefits of resolving the issue, stating that the government could save over GHC 200 million in healthcare costs by making these essential FP commodities available.
Despite Ghana’s recent launch of the Family Planning Costed Implementation Plan (GFPCIP), which aims to improve reproductive health services by 2030, this shortage threatens the country’s progress. The CSOs are urging the government to expedite the clearance of the supplies and take steps to prevent such delays from happening again in the future.
Read the release below:
For Immediate Release
Urgent Call to Clear Family Planning Commodities Stuck at Tema Port for more than Seven Months
Accra, Ghana—23rd October 2024: A coalition of 55 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) working in reproductive health in Ghana, is urgently calling on the government to clear essential Family Planning (FP) commodities, and other medical products, stuck at the Tema Port for over seven (7) months. This action is critical to prevent a shortage of these commodities which could significantly increase the rate of unintended pregnancies, leading to unsafe abortions and maternal mortality.
The FP commodities valued at $1,610,563 donated to Ghana by the West Africa Health Organization (WAHO) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), among other medical products, have not been cleared from the port since February 2024. According to the Coalition, the delay in clearance, caused by unpaid duties and subsequent demurrage fees, has led to critical shortages of key contraceptive supplies at the central and regional medical stores and health facilities across the country.
The stockout of these essential supplies has a significant impact on national efforts to improve the health outcomes of Ghanaians, increasing the risk of unintended pregnancies and undermining efforts to improve maternal, newborn, and child health outcomes in Ghana. The Coalition, using MSI’s impact calculator, states that these FP commodities, when used by women, are estimated to avert 2,514 child deaths, 255 maternal deaths, 62,728 unsafe abortions, and 199,182 unintended pregnancies and save the government of Ghana more than two hundred million Ghana cedis in direct healthcare costs.
Ghana recently launched the Ghana Family Planning Costed Implementation Plan (GFPCIP), reaffirming the government’s commitment to ensuring that by 2030, all persons of reproductive age have equitable and timely access to quality FP information, commodities, and services in line with global FP2030 goals. However, delays in clearing essential FP commodities, leading to stockouts, cast doubt on this pledge, the African Union Agenda 2063, and the larger Sustainable Development Goals. The government’s inconsistent management of donated supplies not only undermines Ghana’s commitment to these national and global goals, but also risks damaging its international reputation and future partnerships.
Call to Action
- The Coalition is asking the government to immediately clear the FP commodities by paying the duties and accrued demurrage.
- The Coalition is urging the government to take decisive and proactive measures to prevent any future occurrence of similar delays and potential loss of donated commodities.
- The Coalition demands that a quality control assessment of the commodities be conducted once they are cleared from the port. This assessment is crucial to ensure that the use of these commodities is not detrimental to users’ health.
In conclusion, the Coalition is asking the government to prioritize the improvement of health outcomes for Ghanaians, particularly in the area of reproductive health. The Coalition is committed to working with the government and other stakeholders to ensure that the country meets its FP commitments.
For media inquiries, please contact:
- Esi Asare Prah, Advocacy Manager, MSI Ghana on 0541230140 /esi.prah@mariestopes.org.gh
- Doris Ampong, Communications Manager, ARHR on 0242259638/ d.ampong@arhr.org.gh
- Patricia Ampomah, FP2030 Youth Focal Point on 057 272 3921
-ENDORSED BY-
| Alliance for Reproductive Health Rights (ARHR)Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG)MSI Reproductive Choices GhanaAfrican Institute for Population and DevelopmentSavana SignaturesMuslim Family Counselling Services (MFCS)Rights and Responsibilities Initiative (RRIG)Hope for Future Generations (HFFG)NORSAACDKT InternationalGhana CSOs Platform on the SDGsTotal Family Health OrganisationDynamic Works FoundationSend GhanaHope for Future GenerationsIntegrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC)Young and Lonely FoundationCentre for Community Studies, Action and DevelopmentCurious Minds, GhanaGhana NCD Alliance (GhNCDA)Vision for Alternative Development (VALD)World Vision, GhanaRoots Link AfricaClikGold Association, GhanaNetwork For Health And Relief FoundationReal Opportunity NetworkMission of Grace MinistriesYouth Advocacy on Rights and Opportunities | Bimobas Literacy and Farmers Co-operatives AssociationIntegrated Rural Development CentreGhana Developing Communities AssociationDivine Group InternationalMindFreedom GhanaYouth Harvest Foundation, GhanaConcern Health EducationAdolescents Youth and Health InternationalMental Health Hub GhanaThe Young Women’s Christian Association of Ghana (YWCA)Fortitude Child Support FoundationReprocan GhanaHuman Rights Reporters GhanaHealthKeepers NetworkCommunity Focus Foundation GhanaPure Trust Social Investment FoundationBasic Needs- GhanaYouth in Action in DevelopmentYouth without Borders GhanaWindow of Hope Resource Link FoundationCentre for the Development of PeopleEnvironmental Protection Agency of GhanaYoung Women Christian AssociationTeensNet GhanaAct for ChangeThe Young Men’s Christian Association of Ghana (YMCA) |
SOURCE: http://adomonline
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