Professor John Gyapong chaired a recent event marking the launch of the "Ghana on the Rise" initiative and the Ghana Resources for Awareness of Population Impacts on Development. The gathering included prominent figures such as His Excellency Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur, Vice President of Ghana; Mrs. Comfort D. Cudjoe-Ghansah, Minister for Social and Allied Agencies; Mr. Alex Segbefia, Minister of Health; Ms. Marian Kpakpah, Acting Executive Director of the National Population Council; Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, Director-General of the National Development Planning Commission; and Dr. Babatunde Ahonsi, United Nations Population Fund Representative.
Chargé d’Affaires Pat Alsup addressed attendees ahead of World Population Day on July 11, highlighting Ghana's potential to harness demographic changes for economic growth. She stated that with responsible transitions into working years as healthy adults with fewer dependents, young Ghanaians could energize and sustain national economic progress.
Alsup noted family planning as a key intervention: "Family planning can shift Ghana’s age structure and position the country for greater economic growth and productivity." She emphasized it as an investment in health that reduces poverty by enabling more governmental spending on infrastructure, education, and healthcare.
She pointed out challenges such as unwanted pregnancies and limited healthcare access driving maternal deaths: "These deaths–both of mothers and babies–are preventable... Together we need to commit to ensuring dignity, safety, and access to reproductive health care for women and girls."
The U.S., through USAID programs in Ghana, supports reproductive rights by ensuring contraceptive availability and delivering family planning services. Alsup urged continued efforts to improve healthcare availability so that "the 30 percent of Ghanaian women with an unmet need for family planning have better access."
Presentations during the event showcased USAID's support alongside leadership from the National Population Council addressing rapid population growth's impact on poverty reduction.
Alsup outlined steps needed for realizing a demographic dividend in Ghana through investments in institutional capacity building, human capital strengthening, employment prospect improvements, quality healthcare access expansion, governance enhancements, and sound economic policy.
She challenged leaders: "I challenge each of you here today...to play a part in Ghana’s growth by demonstrating your support for family planning."
Concluding her remarks she stated: "Investment in family planning is an investment in health...economic growth...progress." Alsup called for actions aiding Ghana to capitalize on its demographic dividend opportunities.