Koforidua, Ghana – March, 2025

The discourse on Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) took center stage at a regional consultation workshop held in Koforidua. Organized by Parliamentary Network Africa (PNAfrica), in partnership with Marie Stopes Internationl life choices, the event convened a diverse group of stakeholders—including media professionals, youth representatives, municipal authorities, political party members, and civil society organizations, to deliberate on policy challenges and opportunities in Ghana’s SRHR landscape.

A Call to Action

Opening the workshop, Mr. Gilbert Boyefio, Programs Manager of PNAfrica, underscored the significance of the gathering, noting that the consultation was aimed at demystifying reproductive health, breaking cultural taboos around sexuality, and strengthening policy advocacy. He highlighted PNAfrica’s evolution from a parliamentary newspaper into a governance-focused organization, committed to increasing transparency and citizen engagement.

Ms. Henrietta Kaakyire Ataah., Youth Project Officer at Marie Stopes International (MSI), emphasized Ghana’s pressing SRHR challenges, including high teenage pregnancy rates, sexually transmitted infections, and restrictive abortion laws. She reiterated MSI’s philosophy: “Children by choice, not by chance”—a guiding principle that stresses the importance of informed reproductive choices.

Mapping Ghana’s SRHR Policy Landscape

Dr. Bonnah provided a comprehensive overview of Ghana’s SRHR policies, citing concerning statistics. He noted that Ghana’s population growth rate of 2.1% exceeds economic development, straining national resources. He identified key policy challenges, including inconsistencies in the legal framework—where the Criminal Offences Act (1960) sets the age of sexual consent at 16, while the Children’s Act (1998) mandates 18 as the legal marriage age. Another focal point of the discussion was the restrictive nature of Ghana’s abortion laws under PNDC Law 102, which allows termination only in cases of rape, incest, fatal fetal abnormalities, or where the pregnancy endangers the mother’s life. Calls were made to amend this law to ensure broader access to safe abortion services.

Stakeholder Perspectives: Challenges and Recommendations

The workshop featured focused group discussions with key stakeholder groups, each outlining their perspectives on advancing SRHR policy advocacy:

Media Professionals:

• Establish dedicated programming slots for SRHR education.
• Strengthen journalists’ knowledge of SRHR through training and research.
• Form a media coalition to advocate for reproductive health rights.
• Enhance community engagement through radio outreach and town hall discussions.

Youth Representatives:

• Advocate for the inclusion of age-appropriate Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) in schools.
• Integrate gender-based violence laws into educational curricula.
• Ensure SRHR policies address youth-specific concerns through grassroots engagement.

Municipal and District Authorities:

• Allocate 1% of Internally Generated Funds (IGF) toward SRHR programs.
• Strengthen partnerships with faith-based and community organizations.
• Develop joint funding proposals to support reproductive health initiatives.
• Incorporate SRHR into district development plans.

Political Party Representatives:

• Advocate for expanded abortion access and include abortion services under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
• Introduce subsidies for menstrual hygiene products.
• Modernize traditional puberty rites to incorporate SRHR education.
• Harmonize legal ages of consent and marriage.

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs):

• Combat stigma by promoting open discussions on SRHR in communities.
• Provide adolescent counseling services and parental guidance programs.
• Establish dedicated platforms for youth engagement in reproductive health discussions.
• Integrate SRHR into broader development frameworks, addressing poverty and gender inequality.

Regional Minister Calls for Multi-Sector Collaboration

The Eastern Regional Minister, Hon. Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, represented by Mr. Joseph Adjei, delivered a keynote address emphasizing the urgency of addressing SRHR issues in Ghana. She stressed the need for a collective approach, free of stigma and discrimination, to ensure effective policy implementation.

She commended PNAfrica and MSI for spearheading the initiative and called for broader stakeholder involvement, particularly in rural communities where access to reproductive healthcare remains limited.

Looking Ahead: Strengthening Policy Advocacy

The consultation concluded with a strong consensus that SRHR advocacy must move beyond discussions into tangible action. Stakeholders reiterated the importance of continued engagement with policymakers, enhanced media involvement, and the integration of SRHR into national and local development agendas. By empowering champions for reproductive health policy influencing, Ghana can take significant steps toward a future where every individual, regardless of gender or socioeconomic status, can exercise their reproductive rights freely and confidently.

To explore more event highlights through pictures.