Civil society organisations in Ghana have expressed grave concern over critical family planning supplies, valued at $500,000, which have been held at the port since August 2024.
Procured by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for the Ministry of Health, these essential commodities—including contraceptive pills, implants, injectables, condoms, and IUDs, alongside clinical tools such as speculums and forceps—remain uncleared.
As these items sit in storage nearing their expiry dates, stock levels at national and regional medical stores continue to dwindle, threatening a nationwide shortage.
Clinics across the country are facing a crisis that endangers women’s access to pregnancy prevention, maternal health services, and safe alternatives to unregulated abortions.
Speaking on Nyankonton Mu Nsem, Henrietta Kaakyire Ataah of MSI Reproductive Choices Ghana emphasised that nearly five containers filled with vital health equipment must be cleared as a matter of urgency.
She lamented that these essentials have remained at the ports for an extended period, suggesting that if the government were truly concerned about the health of Ghanaians, particularly women and children, they would have taken proactive steps to address these bottlenecks.
“Failure by the government to release them from the port will bring huge consequences to our health sector,” she warned. “The negative impacts include loss of lives, rising STDs, increased teenage pregnancies, and more.”
Madam Ataah maintained that family planning is a fundamental public health service rather than a luxury.
She noted that a prolonged shortage of contraceptives would likely lead to a surge in unsafe abortions, increased child poverty, and higher maternal mortality rates.
The current scarcity is expected to disproportionately affect young girls, who already face significant barriers to accessing reproductive health services and have few alternatives when public supplies are exhausted.
Furthermore, the UNFPA has threatened to reduce its contribution to Ghana’s family planning commodities from 75% to 25% should this situation persist.
In light of these risks, the organisations are admonishing the Ministry of Finance, the Ghana Revenue Authority, and the Customs Division to facilitate the immediate clearance of these commodities and ensure their prompt dispatch to the National Medical Stores.
Additionally, Ataah called upon the Ghana Health Service and the Ministry of Health to establish a robust contingency supply plan to prevent stock-outs at the district and facility levels during the clearance and distribution process.
To prevent a recurrence of these administrative challenges, the government must also review the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) classification for all UN agencies and diplomatic bodies procuring health commodities for the country. Ensuring a more streamlined process for such vital shipments is essential for the long-term stability of Ghana’s healthcare infrastructure.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
