A recent civil society training on family-planning budget tracking revealed that over 90 percent of Ghana's tracked family-planning expenditure in 2024 was financed by development partners. In contrast, the Government of Ghana accounted for approximately 9.48 percent. This significant reliance on external funding raises questions about the sustainability of family planning initiatives in Ghana.
The consequences of family-planning decisions extend far beyond the health facility and into Ghanaian homes, schools, workplaces, and the economy. Family planning is not only a health issue but also an economic one. When families can make informed decisions about having children, it affects how household resources are distributed among food, housing, education, healthcare, and savings.
Ghana's own family-planning agenda recognizes that reproductive health affects not only individual well-being but also the country's broader social and economic development. The connection between family planning and national development is reflected in the country's economic plans. Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson recently invited stakeholders to contribute to discussions on Ghana's economic direction and the preparation of the 2027 Budget.
Patrice Robertson, Founder of Eclectic Love, has called for Ghana to intentionally finance family planning from its own national resources and make that financing visible in its budgets. This call comes as the Ghana Health Service marks National Family Planning Week 2026 under the theme “A Choice for All: Agency, Intention, and Access.” The theme emphasizes dignity and decision-making in family planning.
Agency, intention, and access require more than just slogans; they necessitate accurate information, a capable health system, trained providers, and access to necessary commodities. However, Ghana's current financing structures may not support these requirements. The country's recent commitment of US$1.4 million toward contraceptive supplies is a step in the right direction but should be the beginning of a transition toward predictable domestic financing.
The urgency of this issue is highlighted by statistics on adolescent pregnancy in Ghana. The 2022 Demographic and Health Survey found that about 15 percent of females aged 15–19 had experienced pregnancy. A 2026 study analyzing DHIMS-II data found that health facilities reported 29,487 adolescent pregnancies between 2019 and 2023 in the Volta Region alone.
As Ghana continues to discuss its economic direction and budget preparations, stakeholders must consider the importance of domestic financing for family planning. This includes making financing visible in budgets and transitioning away from reliance on external funding. By doing so, Ghana can ensure that family planning is a national priority, supporting the well-being and development of its citizens.
Key points
- Ghana's family planning expenditure is heavily reliant on development partners, accounting for over 90 percent of tracked expenditure in 2024.
- The Government of Ghana accounted for approximately 9.48 percent of family-planning expenditure in 2024.
- Ghana has committed US$1.4 million toward contraceptive supplies, exceeding its commitment under the UNFPA Supplies Partnership Compact.
