The Nairobi Summit on International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) presented an ideal opportunity for individuals, governments, civil society groups, youth advocates, traditional and faith-based leaders as well as private sector practitioners to reaffirm their commitment towards the goal of ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health care.

At the summit, which sought to accelerate progress on the ICPD Program of Action (PoA) that was first adopted in Cairo, Egypt in 1994, the co-conveners of the globally diverse gathering: the Governments of Kenya, Denmark and the UNFPA, committed to upholding the reproductive rights of women while empowering young people, especially girls to achieve their potential.

Ghana was represented at the Nairobi Summit by close to forty (40) people from various fields of endeavour, including: Government officials, members of Parliament, civil society workers, private sector practitioners, as well as youth advocates and traditional and faith-based leaders.

The highlight of the Summit was the reaffirmation to the ICPD PoA sessions, where countries outlined what their commitment which include indicators for measuring progress. The Director-General of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Dr. Kodjo Mensah-Abrampa who led Ghana’s delegation, presented commitments by the government of Ghana on Wednesday, November 13 at the ‘Tsavo B’ Hall of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC). The Government committed to reduce the maternal mortality rate of 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030 and enhance access for all adolescents and youth to culturally sensitive and age-appropriate information and education as well as, quality and responsive reproductive health services.

A popular Ghanaian entrepreneur Ms Claudia Lumor, CEO of Glitz Africa who is also UNFPA Ghana Honourary Ambassador joined a panel discussion at the summit to showcase how to do away with stigma using art and entertainment. Mr. Omar Seidu of the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) also presented on how Ghana was using data in the tracking and implementation of the SDGs within the country. Finally, yet importantly, a youth delegate from Ghana, Naa-Amy Wayne spoke on the topic, ‘ICPD in the digital age’, at a session within the Pamoja Zone.