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Invest in family planning to boost demographic dividends-NPC Boss
The Executive Director of the National Population Council (NPC), Dr. Leticia Adelaide Appiah has stressed on the need for Ghana to invest heavily in family planning which would help in turning the wheels towards economic development.
She was optimistic that, the demographic window of opportunity was opening for Ghana and therefore the citizens needed to become braver, stronger and bolder champions of population and development now than ever.
The Executive Director gave this address, during the launch of a documentary in Accra andfunded by USAID, which was designed to educate the public on the need for prioritizing family as a goal to demographic dividend.
Demographic dividend was explained by Dr. Appiah as the accelerated economic growth that a country could experience as a result of changes in population structure.
The NPC boss indicated that, sustained decline in fertility and mortality in countries produce changes in the population age structure with an accompanying increase in the working age population in relation to dependents.
She expressed optimism that, through sustained high-level of advocacy and sensitization, there would be an impact of reaping the demographic dividend.
That, she reiterated, would become a national priority among policy makers, political and traditional leaders which would bring about an increased commitment to invest in quality human capital.
“Though Ghana has experienced an appreciable decline in fertility since the 1980’s from 6.4 per cent in 1988 to 4.2 per cent in 2014 and corresponding dependency ratio, there is still room for further decline by focusing on reducing avoidable high-risk pregnancies”, she stated.
Dr. Appiah referred to the maternal health survey in 2017 which said that, the survival of infants and children depended in part on the demographic and biological characteristics of their mothers.
Shereccounted that, mortality and morbidity risk of mother and infant were higher if the mother was below 18 years, and birth intervals were less than two years and also women older than 35 to 40 years at first birth.
Delivering a keynote address at the launch, Dr. KodjoEssiem Mensah-Abrampa, Director-General of The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) said maternal mortality rate has been dropping since 2007 from 451 per 100,000 live births to 310 per 100,000 live births in 2017.
He said, Ghana’s census data showed that, the proportion of population under 15 years old had fallen steadily from 46.9 per cent to 38.3 per cent in 2010.
According to him, the window of opportunity for harnessing a demographic dividend was said to open when country’s dependency ratio declined below 60 dependents per 100 working-age adults.
Dr. Mensah-Abrampa indicated that, with thecurrent dependency ratio of 76 dependents per 100 working-age, there was no doubt that, Ghana has a window of opportunity to harness a demographic dividend.
The NDPC boss said that, since 2013, Ghana had consciously embarked on interventions to harness the demographic dividend by making strategic investments in key sectors including education, health, economy, nutrition and governance.
By Alfred NiiArdayAnkrah
The Ghana Police Service has launched a manhunt for a suspect in connection with the disappearance of a 27 year old man at Oyibi.
In a press release dated April 14, 2026, the Police identified the suspect as Wisdom Tetteh and said he is being sought over the disappearance of Theophilus Ashitey Amarh.
According to the Police, the case was reported on April 7, 2026, after the victim failed to return home.
He had left the previous day with the intention of selling his Hyundai Elantra saloon car after being introduced to a prospective buyer by the suspect.
Investigations revealed that the victim was last seen at the suspect’s residence at Saasabi, where he had gone to meet the supposed buyer.
The Police noted that a follow up visit to the suspect’s residence on April 10 led to the discovery of suspected bloodstains in a room, raising concerns of possible foul play.
The scene has since been examined by the National Crime Scene Management Team with support from the Anti Armed Robbery Unit of the CID Headquarters.
The Police added that search efforts involving community members and local authorities have been carried out in the area, but the victim is yet to be found.
Further intelligence suggests that the suspect may have fled the country to neighbouring Togo.
The Police indicated that steps, including INTERPOL processes, have been initiated to track and arrest him.
The Command assured the public that all necessary measures are being taken to arrest the suspect and uncover what happened.
It also urged anyone with information on the whereabouts of the suspect or the missing person to report to the nearest police station to assist investigations.
By: Jacob Aggrey
A team member of the Kwahu Business Forum and special aide to the Chief of staff, Benjamin Essuman has revealed that the team is working on developing the forum into a major platform to support business growth and policy dialogue in Ghana.
According to him, efforts are underway to transform the Kwahu Business Village into an International Conference Hub that will attract businesses and investors from across the world.
He made the remarks during an interview with ghanaiantimes.com.gh journalist, Jacob Aggrey in Accra.
He said the forum was designed to bring together regulators, policymakers, entrepreneurs and investors to share ideas and help shape policies that support business development.
According to him, the concept began in 2024 when John Dramani Mahama and his Chief of Staff conceived the idea during the Easter period in Kwahu, where many entrepreneurs gather annually.
He said the first edition created a platform for business people to engage leadership directly and present their concerns.
According to him, the success of the maiden event led to the decision to make it an annual forum.
He said the second edition in 2025 focused on improving access to finance by bringing banks and financial institutions to interact with businesses.
He said institutions such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank participated and engaged entrepreneurs on funding opportunities.
According to him, the forum has now gone beyond dialogue and has become a platform for partnerships, negotiations and investment deals.
He said some entrepreneurs who participated in previous editions have secured support from financial institutions, with their projects progressing steadily.
According to him, the presence of the President at the forum continues to boost confidence among businesses and deepen engagement.
He said the 2026 edition was larger than the previous ones and was held at the newly developed Kwahu Business Village.
According to him, traditional authorities in Kwahu donated about 150 acres of land to support the development of a permanent business conference centre.
He said the forum is attracting both local and international companies, creating opportunities for networking and collaboration.
According to him, the initiative also promotes tourism activities such as paragliding in collaboration with the Ghana Tourism Authority.
He said the forum will continue to be held in Kwahu and is being positioned as Ghana’s version of the World Economic Forum.
Mr.Easuman further challenges such as overcrowding in previous editions have been addressed through the introduction of a digital registration system.
He said small scale businesses must take advantage of opportunities such as partnerships, mergers and government incentives to expand.
According to him, entrepreneurs should also collaborate with institutions like the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and the Ghana Export Promotion Authority to access international markets.
He said the long term vision includes developing the Kwahu Business Village into a world class facility capable of hosting global conferences, with possible plans to construct an airstrip.
According to him, the forum remains an important platform for businesses seeking growth, funding and expansion beyond Ghana.
Background
The Kwahu Business Forum was introduced in 2024 as an initiative to bring together business leaders and government officials during the Easter festivities in Kwahu.
It was conceived as a platform for dialogue but has since evolved into an annual event focused on promoting investment, networking and policy engagement to strengthen Ghana’s business environment.
By: Jacob Aggrey
