A coalition of 55 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Ghana’s reproductive health sector has urgently appealed to the government to clear essential family planning (FP) commodities that have been stranded at the Tema Port for over seven months. Valued at $1.6 million, these life-saving supplies, donated by the West Africa Health Organization (WAHO) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), have accumulated significant demurrage fees, resulting in critical shortages nationwide.
Risk to public health and maternal care
The coalition warns that the delay in clearing the FP commodities jeopardizes national health goals.
The stockout of these supplies, including contraceptives, poses a serious threat, potentially leading to an increase in unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and maternal mortality.
These outcomes, the group states, would hinder efforts to improve maternal, newborn, and child health.
According to the coalition, using MSI’s impact calculator, the availability of these commodities could prevent 2,514 child deaths, 255 maternal deaths, and 62,728 unsafe abortions.
In addition, it could avert 199,182 unintended pregnancies and save the government over GH₵200 million in healthcare costs.
Call for govt intervention
The coalition is urging the government to promptly settle the unpaid duties and accrued fees to ensure the safe release of the FP commodities.
They also stress the importance of conducting a thorough quality assessment once the supplies are cleared to confirm their safety and effectiveness for public use.
This delay comes on the heels of Ghana’s recent launch of the Family Planning Costed Implementation Plan (GFPCIP), where the government pledged to provide equitable access to quality FP services by 2030.
However, the ongoing issues at the port cast doubt on Ghana’s ability to meet this commitment and its alignment with global FP2030 goals, the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The coalition remains committed to working with the government to prevent such future delays, urging proactive measures to safeguard reproductive health services across the country.
