A coalition of 55 civil society organizations (CSOs) in Ghana has appealed to the government to expedite the clearing of essential Family Planning (FP) commodities that have been stuck at the Tema Port for over seven months due to unpaid duties and accumulating demurrage fees.
They indicated that the delay in clearing these vital supplies, which were donated by the West Africa Health Organization (WAHO) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has resulted in a national shortage of contraceptives, posing public health risks, according to a report by Adom Online.
The CSOs also noted that the shortage could lead to a spike in unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and increased maternal mortality rates.
They estimate that these FP commodities, if cleared, have the potential to prevent approximately 62,728 unsafe abortions and avert 2,514 child deaths, ultimately saving 255 maternal lives.
They added that the FP commodities could also save the government over GH₵200 million in healthcare costs.
These essential commodities include a variety of reproductive health supplies, such as oral contraceptive pills, hormonal implants, injectables, condoms (both male and female), intrauterine devices (IUDs), vaginal rings, and emergency contraceptives.