The Ga Manste, Dr. King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II has commended the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Ghana for involving traditional leaders in the fight against harmful practices that undermine equality. He also pledged to champion the fight against eliminating harmful practices in Ghana as well as promoting gender equality. The Ga Mantse further explained how partnerships are pivotal in ending violence against women and achieving the Agenda 2030 at large. He appreciated the work of UNFPA in promoting and protecting the health, dignity and rights of women and girls in Ghana. The Ga Manste, represented by the Chief of Abola, Nii Ahele Nunoo III made these remarks at the inaugural meeting of Friends of UNFPA on 2nd September,2020.

Welcoming the Friends of UNFPA, the Honorary Ambassador of UNFPA Ghana, Mrs. Claudia Lumor called on more individuals and corporate bodies be a part of Friends of UNFPA Ghana in order to accelerate efforts to achieve the United Nations sexual and reproductive health Agency’s three transformative results –zero unmet need for family planning, zero preventable maternal mortality and zero sexual and gender-based violence and harmful practices.

The Deputy Representative of UNFPA Ghana, Dr Agnes Ntibaryunwa in a presentation walked the audience through the work of UNFPA Ghana in ending teenage pregnancy, building the capacity of midwives, fulfilling the potential of young people among others as well as UNFPA Ghana’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In her concluding statements, she said that “Because of these life-saving interventions that cannot be done by UNFPA alone, we need you…Friends of UNFPA “.

Furthermore, Country Representative of UNFPA Ghana spelt out various ways Friends of UNFPA Ghana can contribute to the life-saving work of the Country Office. These include: creating awareness on the work of UNFPA on social media, organizing fundraising activities to support the work of UNFPA, serving as mentors to young people as well as providing internship opportunities, organizing legal workshops to help end sexual and gender-based violence among others.

Also, at the inaugural meeting was a popular artiste and a Friend of UNFPA, Rebecca Acheampong who mentioned how her Foundation is collaborating with UNFPA to help end period poverty. She added that, upon a recent engagement with the President of the Republic of Ghana, she advocated the provision of sanitary pads for young girls in school.

Friends of UNFPA Ghana, launched in November 2019,  is a broad partnership of opinion leaders including development partners, traditional rulers, religious leaders, academics as well as celebrity influencers and members of the diplomatic community who are interested in championing the interest of women and girls, including young people for the protection of their human rights and maximization of their potential.