Stakeholders Push for Actionable Solutions to Bridge Gaps in Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights in Ghana

Stakeholders in the Ashanti Region last week massively participated in Parliamentary Network Africa’s Regional Consultative Workshop on the Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) Policy Influencing Project in Kumasi, in the Ashanti Region, to reflect on the state of Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights in Ghana and propose actionable solutions to address the numerous challenges facing SHHR in Ghana.

The workshop drew participants from Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), youth groups, political parties, media houses, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), Academia, and Religious and Traditional leaders. The main objective of the regional consultative meeting was to identify policy gaps and implementation bottlenecks and to collectively propose strategies to align policy and practice with the country’s health goals.

During the workshop, stakeholders were divided into groups to discuss key issues and came up with key recommendations to address them. The Civil Society, NGOs, and Youth Organizations group called for policy reviews — including a reassessment of the Children’s Act and Cybersecurity Act — to reflect present realities. They advocated for strengthening youth clubs, addressing root causes of teenage pregnancy and early marriage, and employing behavioral change communication strategies to empower parents and children to openly discuss sexual health.

The Political Parties’ and Youth Parliament group advocated for legislative reforms, particularly the amendment of the legal age of consent from 16 to 18, a policy shift from abstinence-only education to comprehensive sexual education in schools, punitive measures against teachers who exploit their positions, and the institutionalization of a National SRHR Week to raise awareness across the country.

The Media group recognized their key role in shaping attitudes and understanding. They called for allocating airtime to SRHR education, developing specialized content desks, securing funding to enable journalists to travel and report from hard-to-reach areas, and strengthening collaboration with stakeholders to produce insightful and culturally appropriate messages.

The Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies and academia group called for institutional collaboration, performance monitoring, and allocation of internally generated funds to campaigns and education initiatives. They stressed the role of education service agencies in extending SRHR programs to communities and preserving helpful traditions — such as puberty rites — to guide young people’s transitions into adulthood.

Religious and traditional leaders group demanded stronger legal enforcement and policy implementation, community oversight mechanisms, punitive measures for violations, and extensive public education campaigns. They pledged to activate their platforms to support these initiatives, adding a powerful moral voice to policy enforcement and education.

During the opening ceremony of the regional consultative engagement, Madam Beatrice Kwarteng, Director for Planning at the Ministry of Health, in her remarks, stressed that closing the gaps in SRHR will require “dedication, bold policy, and consistent investment”—and not just promises. “We must back our words with action by allocating appropriate resources in the budget.”

She called for greater institutional coordination, urging agencies and ministries to dismantle working in silos and collaborate more effectively — particularly in delivering services at the community level and sharing data. Traditional and religious leaders, she insisted, must be engaged in this transformation. “Change starts in our communities. We need their support and influence to help drive education and service delivery.”

Furthermore, Madam Kwarteng advocated for the active participation of women and young people in policy discussions, noting that “those affected by policy should be at the table when decisions are being made.” She also underscored the necessity of high quality, disaggregated data to measure progress accurately and guide policy decisions. “We need to track indicators to know whether we are making a difference.”

In conclusion, the workshop demonstrated a strong, multi-sectoral will to collectively tackle the barriers to SRHR in Ghana. The recommendations put forward reflect a deep understanding of policy, education, and societal dimensions of the issue. The path forward lies in integrating these recommendations into policy reviews, education programs, and community campaigns — empowering all sectors to become champions for the health and well-being of future generations.

To conclude the engagement in the Ashanti Region, the PNAfrica team paid separate courtesy calls on the office of the Regional Minister and that of the Kumasi Metropolitan Mayor’s office respectively to present copies of the ECHOES project policy brief on Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights.

Courtesy Visit at Kumasi Metropolitan Mayor’s Office

The policy brief outlines key gaps in policy and implementation and offers actionable recommendations to align local policy and practice with the national framework for strengthening SRHR.

By Florence D.Y. Gbolu