The Government of Ghana has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding access to quality, equitable, and voluntary family planning services. This was stated by Mr. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Minister of Health, at the national launch of the 2026 National Family Planning Week and World Contraception Day in Accra. The event was organized by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and partners. The Minister emphasized that family planning is an essential investment in health and human rights.
The 2026 National Family Planning Week is being held on the theme: “A Choice for All: Agency, Intention, Access,” with the motto: “It is Your Life, It is Your Future.” Mr. Akandoh noted that Ghana has made progress in family planning, citing data from the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey. The survey showed that modern contraceptive use among married women aged 15 to 49 had increased from 23.2 per cent in 2014 to 27.8 per cent in 2022. Unmet need for family planning had also declined from 59.9 per cent to 23.4 per cent over the period.
Despite the progress, Mr. Akandoh acknowledged that the current level of 23.4 per cent unmet need remains significant. He emphasized the need to pay particular attention to adolescents and young people, persons in underserved communities, and others who might face barriers to accessing family planning information and services. The Minister also stressed that quality counselling must be accurate, balanced, and respectful, while decisions on family planning must remain voluntary and free from coercion.
Dr. Caroline Amissah Reindorf, Deputy Director-General of the GHS, said the Service is expanding access to a broad range of contraceptive methods through public health facilities and community-based services. Health worker training, improved counselling, community engagement, and stronger referral linkages are being used to improve service delivery. The GHS is also strengthening commodity forecasting, procurement, distribution, and stock monitoring to improve the availability of contraceptive commodities at service delivery points.
Dr. Kennedy Brightson, Director of the Family Health Division of the GHS, said the commemoration provides an opportunity to highlight the work being undertaken across the country to support individuals and couples with family planning information, counselling, and services. He noted that the theme is particularly relevant because behind every family planning statistic is an individual making decisions about relationships, education, work, family, and the timing and spacing of children.
The week-long activities will include health promotion, media engagements, community outreach, and service delivery activities aimed at bringing family planning information and services closer to the people. Dr. Brightson commended the Ministry of Health, development partners, professional associations, civil society organisations, the private sector, traditional and community leaders, the media, and GHS staff for their continued collaboration. He also recognised the contribution of Regional and District Health Directorates and frontline health workers to the delivery of family planning services across the country.
The national observance brings together policymakers, health professionals, development partners, traditional and community leaders, civil society organisations, the private sector, academia, and the media to strengthen collaboration towards improved family planning services in Ghana. Some individuals and institutions, including TV3’s Health Reporter, Sarah Apenkroh, were honoured for their contributions in advancing family planning health in the country.
Key points
- The Government of Ghana reaffirms its commitment to expanding access to quality, equitable, and voluntary family planning services.
- Ghana has made progress in family planning, with modern contraceptive use among married women aged 15 to 49 increasing from 23.2 per cent in 2014 to 27.8 per cent in 2022.
- The 2026 National Family Planning Week aims to bring family planning information and services closer to the people through health promotion, media engagements, community outreach, and service delivery activities.
