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Allow women, girls to decide number of children – UNFPA Country Rep
Dr Ochan
The Country Representative for United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), Dr Wilfred Ochan has called for the empowerment of girls and women to enable them decide the number of children they want to have.
He said the decision to avoid or delay pregnancy was a struggle endured privately by most women and girls in low and middle-income countries as some were not permitted to take contraceptives without prior approval from their partners.
Dr Ochan said this on Tuesday in Accra at the National Launch of the 2023 Family Planning week which was held on the theme “family planning, my choice, my freedom.”
The day was also to commemorate the World Contraceptive Day which is marked on September 26 each year.
According to Dr Ochan limited choice of contraceptive methods, availability of services and gender based barriers were also some of the hindrances to making it difficult for women and girls to have a decision on the number of children they wish to have.
He said there have been some biases against some methods which had resulted in misinformation, information restriction and also limited access to family planning services which includes financial barriers.
He said globally the proportion of women of reproductive age who have their needs for family planning satisfied with modern contraception methods had only increased by 10 percentage points since 1990.
The Country Representative for UNFPA was of the view that it was time women take full control of their sexual health saying that it called for a concerted effort from all.
“Women, men, Health workers, Religious and traditional leaders, the government and its agencies, the private sector development partners, the media and in deed everybody, we all need to embrace and also make sure that our girls in particular and our women are empowered through family planning for their health, economic and social benefits,” he said.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
The New Times Corporation (NTC) on Monday held its annual thanksgiving service, bringing together staff and management to reflect on the past year, express gratitude, and renew their commitment to the organisation’s growth.
At the service, the Deputy Chairperson of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) and a Board Member of the New Times Corporation (NTC), Madam Charity Binka, called for strong and intentional collaboration among staff, emphasising that unity and teamwork were crucial to transforming the corporation during its challenging times.
“This is a time to break silos, share ideas and work together as one team with a shared vision,” she said, adding that innovation and digital transformation must be embraced to secure NTC’s future.
Madam Binka expressed gratitude to God for sustaining the corporation and its employees despite financial and operational difficulties.
“Though the journey has not been smooth, God has sustained us. We are here today because of His grace,” she indicated, acknowledging the resilience and dedication of staff who have kept The Ghanaian Times and The Spectator among the country’s most respected newspapers.
Quoting Jeremiah 29:11, she encouraged staff to remain hopeful and confident that brighter days lie ahead.
Delivering the sermon, Rev. John Akorli of Word Divine International Ministry at Sukura, Accra, cautioned staff against excessive talking and gossip, warning that careless speech could create unnecessary problems.
Rev. Akorli further reminded staff that their identity should not be defined by past mistakes, family background, or negative labels.
He encouraged them to live confidently, depend on God’s guidance, and remain focused on their responsibilities, noting that spiritual awareness and discipline were essential to personal and organisational growth.
The service ended with prayers for unity, renewal, and a prosperous new chapter for the New Times Corporation.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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The Catholic Bishop of the Koforidua Diocese, Bishop Joseph Afrifa Agyekum, has expressed concern over the rising rate of divorce in the country, attributing the trend largely to inadequate knowledge about marriage and misplaced expectations of couples.
He said many marriages were collapsing because couples entered into the union without a clear understanding of the responsibilities, sacrifices and commitments that marriage demands.
The Bishop raised the concern while addressing congregants at the 50th anniversary of the Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church at Madina on Sunday.
According to him, marriage was increasingly being viewed through unrealistic lenses shaped by social media, peer pressure and material expectations, rather than mutual respect, patience and shared values.
“Many people go into marriage with expectations that are not grounded in reality. When those expectations are not met, conflict sets in and eventually leads to separation or divorce,” he observed.
The Bishop noted that some couples lacked proper preparation before marriage, adding that pre-marital counselling was often treated as a formality rather than an opportunity to gain deeper insight into marital life.
He stressed the need for churches, families and society to intensify education on marriage, particularly among the youth, to help them make informed decisions before entering into marital unions.
The Bishop also urged married couples to embrace dialogue, forgiveness and understanding, saying disagreements were inevitable but could be resolved through patience and commitment.
He urged couples experiencing challenges to seek counselling instead of resorting to separation, emphasising that strong families remained the foundation of a stable and progressive society.
By Kennedy Afedzi
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