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55 CSOs call on gov’t to clear essential family planning medical products stuck at the Tema Port

By Franklin ASARE-DONKOH

A coalition of 55 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) working in reproductive health in Ghana, is urgently calling on the government and the Ministry of Health to clear essential Family Planning (FP) commodities, and other medical products, stuck at the Tema Port for well over seven (7) months.

According to the group, immediate clearance of those locked-up products is critical to prevent a shortage of the commodities which could significantly increase the rate of unintended pregnancies, leading to unsafe abortions and maternal mortality.

The call by the 55 CSOs was contained in a statement issued in Accra on Wednesday, October 23, 2024.

“The FP commodities valued at $1,610,563 donated to Ghana by the West Africa Health Organization (WAHO) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), among other medical products, have not been cleared from the port since February 2024.

The delay in clearance, caused by unpaid duties and subsequent demurrage fees, has led to critical shortages of key contraceptive supplies at the central and regional medical stores and health facilities across the country.” Portions of the statement read.

Below is the full statement from the 55 CSOs

For Immediate Release

Urgent Call to Clear Family Planning Commodities Stuck at Tema Port for more than Seven Months

Accra, Ghana—23rd October 2024: A coalition of 55 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) working in reproductive health in Ghana, is urgently calling on the government to clear essential Family Planning (FP) commodities, and other medical products, stuck at the Tema Port for over seven (7) months. This action is critical to prevent a shortage of these commodities which could significantly increase the rate of unintended pregnancies, leading to unsafe abortions and maternal mortality.

The FP commodities valued at $1,610,563 donated to Ghana by the West Africa Health Organization (WAHO) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), among other medical products, have not been cleared from the port since February 2024. According to the Coalition, the delay in clearance, caused by unpaid duties and subsequent demurrage fees, has led to critical shortages of key contraceptive supplies at the central and regional medical stores and health facilities across the country.

The stockout of these essential supplies has a significant impact on national efforts to improve the health outcomes of Ghanaians, increasing the risk of unintended pregnancies and undermining efforts to improve maternal, newborn, and child health outcomes in Ghana. The Coalition, using MSI’s impact calculator, states that these FP commodities, when used by women, are estimated to avert 2,514 child deaths, 255 maternal deaths, 62,728 unsafe abortions, and 199,182 unintended pregnancies and save the government of Ghana more than two hundred million Ghana cedis in direct healthcare costs.

Ghana recently launched the Ghana Family Planning Costed Implementation Plan (GFPCIP), reaffirming the government’s commitment to ensuring that by 2030, all persons of reproductive age have equitable and timely access to quality FP information, commodities, and services in line with global FP2030 goals. However, delays in clearing essential FP commodities, leading to stockouts, cast doubt on this pledge, the African Union Agenda 2063, and the larger Sustainable Development Goals. The government’s inconsistent management of donated supplies not only undermines Ghana’s commitment to these national and global goals, but also risks damaging its international reputation and future partnerships.

Call to Action

● The Coalition is asking the government to immediately clear the FP commodities by paying the duties and accrued demurrage.

● The Coalition is urging the government to take decisive and proactive measures to prevent any future occurrence of similar delays and potential loss of donated commodities.

● The Coalition demands that a quality control assessment of the commodities be conducted once they are cleared from the port. This assessment is crucial to ensure that the use of these commodities is not detrimental to users’ health.

In conclusion, the Coalition is asking the government to prioritize the improvement of health outcomes for Ghanaians, particularly in the area of reproductive health. The Coalition is committed to working with the government and other stakeholders to ensure that the country meets its FP commitments.

For media inquiries, please contact:

● Esi Asare Prah, Advocacy Manager, MSI Ghana on 0541230140 /esi.prah@mariestopes.org.gh

● Doris Ampong, Communications Manager, ARHR on 0242259638/ d.ampong@arhr.org.gh

● Patricia Ampomah, FP2030 Youth Focal Point on 057 272 3921

-ENDORSED BY-