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 undermines Ghana’s commitment to these national and global goals and risks damaging its international reputation and future partnerships.

Call to Action

The Coalition urgently calls on the government to:

• Expedite the clearance of FP commodities by promptly settling the duties and accrued demurrage fees, ensuring that these essential commodities reach its intended population
• Implement decisive, proactive measures to prevent future delays and avoid the risk of losing vital donated commodities.
• Conduct a thorough quality control assessment of the cleared FP supplies to guarantee their safety and integrity, ensuring they are fit for use and do not pose any risk to users’ health.

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

-ENDORSED BY-