UNFPA Urges Journalists to Scrutinize Development Programmes in Ghana

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has urged journalists in Ghana to intensify scrutiny of development programmes to ensure they translate into tangible improvements in people's lives. Dr. Wilfred Ochan, UNFPA Country Representative, made the call at the "Media Forum 2026: Conversations beyond the headlines" in Accra. He stressed that sustainable development required partnerships among government institutions, civil society organisations, traditional authorities, universities, young people, and development partners.

Dr. Ochan explained that although UNFPA provided technical expertise, policy advice, and international experience, meaningful development depended on Ghana's leadership, institutions, and understanding of its social and cultural context. He noted that effective partnerships should focus on achieving results that individual institutions could not deliver independently. Development, he said, happened in communities, schools, markets, and health facilities, where people experienced the impact of policies and interventions.

The UNFPA Country Representative highlighted the importance of collaboration between development institutions and the media, noting that journalists played a critical role in translating complex policies and statistics into information the public could understand. He welcomed constructive scrutiny, describing trust, evidence, and continuous engagement as essential to building a productive relationship with the media.

Ms. Emily Naphambo, Deputy Country Representative of UNFPA, outlined Ghana's eighth Country Programme, which commenced in 2023 and runs until 2027. The programme focuses on three areas: sexual and reproductive health services, gender and social norms, and adolescents and youth. She explained that the programme aimed to keep adolescent girls and young women alive and empower them to take charge of their futures.

The programme targets include reducing unmet need for family planning from 29.9 per cent in 2022 to 10.5 per cent by 2027, increasing modern contraceptive prevalence from 25 to 40 per cent, and raising skilled birth attendance from 79 to 91 per cent. Maternal mortality is targeted to decline from 310 to 125 deaths per 100,000 live births. Ms. Naphambo urged journalists to assess progress against these targets and identify communities being left behind.

Ms. Naphambo also identified policy and accountability, humanitarian preparedness and resilience, and population data as cross-cutting priorities. She urged journalists to examine gaps in funding and service delivery, keeping adolescent girls at the centre of their reporting. The forum brought together journalists and stakeholders to discuss the need for stronger collaboration between the media and development institutions.

The collaboration aims to ensure that policies and programmes are assessed not merely by their promises, but by their impact on the lives of women, girls, and young people. Journalists were encouraged to go beyond headlines and scrutinise development programmes to hold institutions accountable and highlight the experiences of women, girls, and young people.

Key points

• UNFPA urges journalists to scrutinise development programmes to ensure they benefit women, girls, and young people.
• Ghana's eighth Country Programme focuses on sexual and reproductive health services, gender and social norms, and adolescents and youth.
• The programme targets include reducing unmet need for family planning and maternal mortality, and increasing modern contraceptive prevalence and skilled birth attendance.