The 2020 State of World Population (SWOP) Report has been launched globally and in Ghana!
Every year, the United Nations Population Fund publishes the State of World Population (SWOP) Report to guide policy making, advocacy, programming, research, monitoring and evaluation.
In Ghana, the much-anticipated 2020 SWOP Report titled Against My Will-Defying the Practices that Harm and Undermine Equality was launched via a live telecast on the five different channels of Ghana Television, DSTV, StarTimes, GOtv on 30th June, 2020.
The virtual launch started with an overview of the Report by the UNFPA Ghana Deputy Representative, Dr Agnes Ntibanyurwa. She touched on the three issues that the Report highlights, that is female genital mutilation (FGM), child marriage, and son preference.
Gracing the launch as a guest of honour was the chief of Akwamu Adumasa, HRH Nana Ansah Kwao IV. He expressed his regret about the prevalence of practices that harm women and girls despite the advent of technology and the increasingly ubiquitous nature of knowledge. Nana Ansah Kwao IV ended by making a passionate plea to all traditional leaders to ensure that harmful practices that undermine women and girls are completely stemmed out of the society.
Kokofu Kronkohene, Nana Atakora Bonsra led the traditional rulers who were present to make the call to action. The traditional leaders thus pledged saying,
“Not in our name should girls be traded for marriage.
Not in our name should women or girls be subject to mutilation.
Not in our names should females be sacrificed for the preferences of sons and men.
Not in our names should any persons be denied their human rights”
The launch saw the Executive Director of the National Population Council, Dr Leticia Appiah in her remarks stating that harmful cultural practices affect women and girls in every sphere of their lives. She emphasized that acts of human rights violation largely affect the development of a country like Ghana, which has more than half of its population being female.
Also present at the launch was the Chief Director at the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection Dr. Afisa Zakariah who highlighted the initiatives being implemented by the Government of Ghana to protect children and tackle gender-related issues.
Mr. Niyi Ojuolape, the UNFPA Representative, in closing the session expressed his gratitude to all the stakeholders for their engagement and participation. He called on them to move forward with their commitment to act for the betterment of health and well-being of women and girls in Ghana.
