3.2 MILLION UNSAFE ABORTIONS IN YOUNG WOMEN 15–19 YEARS OLD, ALMOST 50% ARE IN AFRICA

The Ipas Ghana Youth Advisory Board (YAB) has lamented that, adolescent girls between that ages of 10-19 make up 70 percent of all hospitalizations resulting from unsafe abortion complications.

It said unsafe abortion cases in Africa is soaring as compared with other contents. “In Africa, the risk of death from unsafe abortion is higher than in any other region. Among the 3.2 million unsafe abortions in young women 15–19 years old, almost 50% are in Africa.” It noted.

In a statement signed by the Board Chairman, Richard Mawutor Dzikunu and copied to the General Telegraph, the Board observed  that inadequate knowledge of abortion laws, services and technology is major cause of unsafe abortion, adding that “because of the barriers to safe abortion, young women often find no alternative but unsafe abortion—even if abortion is legal.”

The statement indicated that unsafe abortion contributes to maternal mortality in the country and that “if we are serious about considering strategies for saving the lives of women and girls who die through pregnancy related causes in this country, we cannot leave out a factor such as unsafe abortion which accounts for 11% of deaths of women”

It also noted with regret that the high cost of accessing abortion services at the health centre is one of the barriers to save abortion. “…varying amounts of money are being charged for abortion services around the country. High amounts of money are being charged at various health facilities and by health officers (Midwives) including those trained by Ipas.”

The statement decried that “information gathered by the YAB from peer educators strongly suggests a high level of exploitation which eventually leads young women to non-certified and fake doctors or other means to eliminate a pregnancy.”

It therefore called on all stakeholders in the health sector including the Ghana Health Service “to employ the appropriate sanctions on midwives who are exploiting young women before providing a service which they have a right to.”

The board also implored stakeholders and  the Ghana Health Service to work around the clock to ensure that midwives operate within the approved charges for abortion services. It said “If we don’t call attention to reducing costs, we will likely eliminate social and religious barriers through advocacy but the issue of cost will remain.”

The Ipas Ghana Youth Advisory Board (YAB) was formed to integrate youth voices into Ipas programs meaningfully into decision-making processes at all levels within Ipas to ensure that young women have access to reproductive health services and information.

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Security alert: the concern of Ghanaians

Security concerns of Ghanaians have been heightened following the recent theorist attacks in some countries, particularly, neighboring Burkina Faso and Cote d’Ivoire.

A luxury hotel in Burkina Faso, was attacked about two months ago killing about 29 people, leaving several others wounded. Not long after that, another attack was launched in Cote d’Ivoire at the Grand Balsam Beach Resort where many lives were lost. About a week or two ago, another attack was directed to the Brussels airport despite the strict security services available.

These incidents have caused what can be described as “security tension” in Ghana. Several measures have been put in place by the security apparatuses in the country to avert any possibility of terrorist attack. Hotel operators have arranged strict measures to ensure the security of their clients.

In recent development, a three member team from South Africa had to be detained by the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), tried in court and later repatriated for being considered as security threat to the nation. It was alleged that the three member team was brought into the country by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) to train some security personnel for the flag bearer, the running mate and their families including other highly profiled party members.

Hitherto this incident, the president of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama was fiercely criticized for admitting some two Guantanamo Bay detainees into the country on the basis of what he describes as compassion. It however baffles me that a leader can have compassion for foreigners to the detriment of his people.

In recent times there is almost no church service where the peace of Ghana will not be preached or man of God who does not beseech his congregation to pray for the perfect peace of Ghana. These are all laudable initiatives to jealously safeguard the peace the country is already enjoying.

The fact must however remain that security preparedness or alertness is not the duty of an individual or a section of the citizens, but a collective responsibility of all.  Each person needs to be the brother’s keeper.

It is equally important that all persons in Ghana be treated in respect of democracy and the principle of rule of law, as they say, “what is good for the goose is good for the gander”. It is thus by my own standard, a share ignorance of some persons or group of persons to think that all efforts of sustaining peace should be directed towards external forces and factors, while relegating internal elements to the background.

In as much as efforts are strengthened to prevent any external attack on the country, we must also take cognizance of the internal factor and agencies that are potentially security threats, particularly, as Ghana goes to the polls in November. It is thus prudent that all our actions and inaction should be reflected upon before executing.

The security forces and other individuals need to recognize the interest and welfare of the general public first before fulfilling their selfish interests and those of their political parties. They must note that the national peace is the golden treasure of the country and that Ghana is an icon of peace in the eyes of Africa and the world at large. Every inch of possibility must therefore be maximized to the absolute benefit of the whole nation. The security forces and agencies must starve their interest and satisfy the interest of Ghana if our security campaign will be a success.

We are one people with one destiny, peace is what we want.