This International Women’s Day we’re reminded that gender equality – whether in Ghana or across the world – can only be achieved with access to sexual and reproductive healthcare and rights.
I can’t tell you exactly how or why my fate was different from many other young women and girls in my community; I was just one of the lucky ones. Unlike many young girls in rural Ghana, who become pregnant at an early age, I made it to university. This showed me that women and girls can achieve anything they put their minds to, with the right support.
This International Women’s Day, as we talk about how we #BreakTheBias, we know that when women and girls have a seat at the table, we are better placed to grapple with the challenges this world is facing. From finding solutions to global inequality, to designing new approaches to environmental sustainability, the contributions of women and girls are essential to building a fairer future for all of us.
I grew up in Nsuaem from the western region where teenage pregnancy and girls dropping out of school was normalised and almost an acceptable fact of life. Young people would often face stigma; those days you will hear parents and even teachers say “oh this one will not make it to high school” or “why will you bother to send this one to high school, she will get pregnant anyways”. Stories of young women in my community becoming mothers at a young age or dying as a result of unsafe abortions were all too common.
Growing up in such a space, it took me until university to even learn about contraception. In level 200, when I went back home to establish girl child clubs in schools in my community, in almost every school I went the teachers doubted that I truly grew up and schooled from Nsuaem. Since then, I wanted to make sure that all young people were able to access the same quality information on their reproductive health, to avoid unplanned pregnancies. I wanted to see many girls like me, who may come from poor backgrounds, to have a fair chance at a better future. I’ve now dedicated my career to ensuring women and girls can make reproductive choices on their own terms that are best for their futures.
Reproductive health is at the cornerstone of women and girl’s ability to realize many other rights, including the right to an education, the right to bodily autonomy, and to choose their own pathways in life. Access to education, including reproductive health education, and to sexual and reproductive health services including contraception, are essential in supporting the agency of women and girls wherever they are. Globally, UN data shows that countries that rank highest on gender equality are those where most women and girls enjoy sexual and reproductive health and rights.
These rights and choices, taken as a given in many countries, remain out of reach for millions around the world. In Ghana, we have one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in sub-Saharan Africa at 14%, with many adolescents struggling not only to access contraception but the autonomy to shape their own futures. I remember one girl who was forced to drop out of school after becoming pregnant. I was able to speak with her about contraception and she is now learning the vocational skills she needs to enter work and decide her future. To ensure women and girls don’t miss out on opportunities, we need to advance equitable access to these life-changing services.
There are signs of positive change across Ghana. In November last year, Government made commitments to expanding access to contraception under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), with long-term contraception methods now free for NHIS card holders across the country. With sustained investment, this commitment will go a long way towards ensuring women and girls can realize their rights and aspirations.
I’ve seen in my own life just how vital access to reproductive health services can be. Sometimes I sit and reflect on how different my life could have been, looking at where I come from; I would not be here today if I got pregnant and dropped out of school. With access to services provided by our teams at Marie Stopes Ghana, I’ve also seen many young women and girls change their lives for the better.
Access to Reproductive Health information and services is not only essential in Ghana but the world over. Investments in this sector will help women and girls to determine their futures and take their rightful place in society. The path towards a more gender-equal world begins with reproductive choice.
By: Esi Asare Prah, Advocacy and Donor Relations Manager at Marie Stopes Ghana