Nana Oye: Current spate of gender-based violence worrying
The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur, has described as “worrying”, the current rate of gender-based violence.
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She has therefore given an assurance that the ministry will partner all interest groups to create the needed awareness on gender-based violence.
Nana Oye made these remarks when the leadership of the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG) paid a courtesy call on her in Accra Wednesday .
Social welfare and support
Nana Oye urged the PPAG to also focus on the welfare of head porters, popularly known as “kayayei”, and added that there had been many reported cases of the “kayayei” being victims of sexual abuse.
She further encouraged the PPAG to support the creation of awareness for the “kayayei” through their sexual reproductive health programmes and activities.
According to Nana Oye, the Department of Gender financed the surgical operations of 25 fistula patients last year, and was looking forward to financially supporting the surgeries of about 35 patients this year.
Nana Oye commended the PPAG for being instrumental in enhancing the lives of the vulnerable in society and further gave an assurance that her ministry was committed to collaborating with the PPAG to protect and promote the rights of Ghanaians.
Purpose of visit
Dr Cecilia Bentsi, a patron of the PPAG, said the purpose of the visit was to enhance the existing relationship between the PPAG and the ministry and also to affirm PPAG’s commitment to support the ministry in its quest to promote gender equality and social protection.
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She said the two institutions could work together to ensure the attainment of the objectives of both institutions.
Objectives of PPAG
Explaining the objectives of the PPAG, Dr Catherine Dawson-Amoah, the Executive Director of the PPAG, said the association had the objectives of reducing the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases, advocating the rights of the youth through sexual reproductive health information and improving couple relationships.
Dr Dawson-Amoah said the PPAG could be credited for the introduction of emergency contraception services in Ghana.
She said the PPAG had played a pioneering role in the provision of post-abortion care services and added that the enhanced relationship with the ministry would facilitate the attainment of its goals.