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| Women and their babies |
The projection by UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, that world population is expected to reach seven billion by the end of October this year cannot be dismissed as the churning out of mere statistical figures without relevance since it has implications to the quality of life of a people.
According to the Ghana Statistical Service, Ghana’s population for instance has grown from a small figure of 6.7 million in 1960 to 24.2 million in 2010. With the current growth rate of 2.4 per cent per annum, the country’s population is projected to double within the next 29 years with obvious implications for all sectors of the economy.
These concerns about the rapid growth of the world and also Ghana’s population were discussed at forum in Accra on July 11, at part of World Populations Day celebration in Ghana. In Ghana it was celebrated under the theme “Ghana in a World of 7 Billion: The implications” derived from the global theme of “The World at 7 Billion”. It was organized by the National Population Council in collaboration with UNFPA and other development partners.
Many people have the tendency to dismiss the call for population control as propaganda from the developed countries meant to limit the growth, expansion and possible military superiority of particularly developing countries including Africa. Others also question the benefits of family planning in relation to population control since some developed countries are suffering from a decline in fertility rates with an ageing population that urgently require more births to produce youth people to provide critical family support.
The reality however is that every nation would have to evaluate the rate of its own population growth, the implications and find peculiar solutions to it. Dr Stephen Korankye, the Executive Director of Ghana’s National Population Council is reported in the July 16, 2011 issue of the Spectator, weekend newspaper as saying that the challenges of reproductive health, maternal mortality, infant mortality, abortion and many more are some of the challenges that are posed in a fast growing population.
He says the mismatch between population growth and expansion of the economy often led to problems such as poverty, armed robbery and environmental issues. Other problems facing Ghanaians he identifies include difficulties in searching for decent places of rest and food, unemployment, crime prevalence rates and poverty.
Population control does not therefore mean people should not be allowed to give birth but do so when they need them, at a time they are capable of taking care of their food, shelter and educational needs, Dr. Korankye asserts.
Professor Clara Korkor Fayorsey of the Department of Sociology of the University of Ghana observes that the increasing rate of Ghana Population would place pressure on economic sectors such as agriculture, education, health, environment and natural resource. Others include rapid urbanization, problems of sexual and reproductive health, internal and ethnic conflict, environmental sustainability and the inability of the nation to tap the full potential of its growth.
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| Dr. Bernard Coquelin speaking at the event |
Dr. Bernard Coquelin, the UNFPA Representative in Ghana contends that the world is interconnected now than ever hence the need to increase the capacity of the people to share ideas, and engage communities across the globe to solve common problems. That, he said would help reduce inequalities and improve living standards of the people.
Effectively managing rapid population growth, health experts say will lead to smaller family sizes, longer life expectancy, healthier lives and attainment of higher levels of education. Intensification of family planning campaigns and involvement of men in reproductive health issues are the keys to the achievement of that goal.
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