Women in Ghana can access safe abortions: why are so many still using unsafe methods?

March 5, 2026
D. Yaw Atiglo, Charlotte Abra Esime Ofori

Ghana’s abortion law is relatively liberal. Abortion is legally permitted in the first trimester when a pregnancy endangers the mother’s life or physical or mental health, or when it is due to rape or incest. Thus, medication abortion has become more widely available.

Medication abortion involves the use of mifepristone and misoprostol pills which stop pregnancy and enable the uterus to expel it naturally. When used correctly and with proper guidance it is an acceptable, effective and safe method.

Continued: https://theconversation.com/women-in-ghana-can-access-safe-abortions-why-are-so-many-still-using-unsafe-methods-274991

Ghana – Sexual reproductive health rights project impacts 200,000 people in two regions

7 January 2026

Over 200,000 people, including young people under 20 years from 11 districts in the Northern and Upper East Regions, have been impacted by a project that seeks to empower adolescents and young people to access accurate information on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).

Implemented by MSI Reproductive Choices Ghana (MSIG) and Youth Advocates Ghana (YAG) with funding from the European Union and support from the Ghana Health Service (GES) and the Ghana Education Service, the three-year project dubbed, Youth For Health, revamped and equipped 26 adolescent corners in the implementing districts.

Continued: https://www.myjoyonline.com/sexual-reproductive-health-rights-project-impacts-200000-people-in-two-regions/

07.01.2026

Ghana Education Service

Ghana Health Service

MSI Reproductive Choices Ghana

Theresa Oppong Mensah

Youth Advocates Ghana

Ghana – 200 adolescents receive SRH education, STI screening in Anloga

December 19, 2025
By Benard Worlali Awumee

Anyanui – A total of 187 adolescents from Anyanui, Atiteti, and Agbledomi in the Anloga District have benefited from sexual and reproductive health education and free screening for sexually transmitted infections.

The progamme aimed to improve awareness, promote positive behaviour and confirm STI-free health outcomes among participants.

Continued: https://gna.org.gh/2025/12/200-adolescents-receive-srh-education-sti-screening-in-anloga/

19.12.2025

News

sexual and reproductive health education

AD1087: Ghanaians support women’s autonomy but are divided on abortion and contraceptives

Most citizens back sex education and letting pregnant girls stay in school.

Maame Akua Amoah Twum
2 Dec 2025

Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) remain a critical challenge in Ghana, particularly with regard to teenage pregnancy and access to contraception. Between 2016 and 2020, Ghana recorded 13,444 pregnancies among girls aged 10-14 and 542,131 pregnancies among adolescents aged 15-19 (UNFPA-Ghana, 2022). Teenage pregnancy rates are about twice as high in rural areas as in cities (Mohammed, 2023). Poverty, limited education, and stigma surrounding SRHR continue to restrict access to essential services (Amoadu et al., 2022).

One profound consequence of teenage pregnancy is educational disruption. A study in a suburb of Accra (Chorkor) showed that more than 80% of pregnant schoolgirls drop out permanently (Gyan, 2013), and participants in re-entry programmes often face stigma, a lack of support, and economic hardship.

Continued: https://www.afrobarometer.org/publication/ad1087-ghanaians-support-womens-autonomy-but-are-divided-on-abortion-and-contraceptives/

02.12.2025

Research

public support for abortion

sexual and reproductive health and rights

GHANA – Youth urged to seek help from trusted adults and health facilities on sexual health issues

October 6, 2025

The Advocacy and Youth Coordinator at Marie Stopes Ghana, Henrietta Kaakyire Ataah has urged young people not to keep their sexual and reproductive health concerns to themselves but to seek help from trusted adults, Ghana Health Service facilities or Marie Stopes clinics where youth-friendly providers are available.

At the premiere of the second season of Atoua at the Silverbird Cinema in Accra, she highlighted a rise in unsafe abortion among adolescents and explained that the series was created to respond to that problem.

Continued: https://ghanaiantimes.com.gh/youth-urged-to-seek-help-from-trusted-adults-and-health-facilities-on-sexual-health-issues/

06.10.2025

News

Atoua film

Ghana Health Service

Henrietta Kaakyire Ataah

Unsafe Abortion in Ghana – A Risky Reality for Young Girls

June 27, 2025

Accra – Giving birth as a teenager, especially in a deprived community like James Town, a densely populated suburb of Accra comes with immense social stigma and minimal support.

For Naa Adukwei Sowah, the challenges were even more acute.

Born to a single mother who struggled to provide for her children, Naa grew up as the eldest of three and was forced to engage in petty trading to support her family, leaving little time for school.

Continued; https://gna.org.gh/2025/06/unsafe-abortion-in-ghana-a-risky-reality-for-young-girls/

27.06.2025

Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana

Valaska Dinsey

World Heath Organisation

Ghana – Media urged to lead campaign against unsafe abortion

March 18, 2025

The media has been charged to lead the campaign against unsafe abortions which continue to claim the lives of women and young girls in the country.

According to a Project and Advocacy Officer with the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG), Michael Tagoe, contrary to common beliefs held that abortion was illegal in the country and it was actually permissible by law.

Continued: https://ghanaiantimes.com.gh/media-urged-to-lead-campaign-against-unsafe-abortion/#google_vignette

18.03.2025

News

EmpowHER project

Emmanuel Okanta Akoto

Michael Tagoe

Naadu Awuradwoa Addico

Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana

sexual and reproductive health

IPAS Ghana congratulates Dr Eunice Brookman-Amissah

February 27, 2025

Former country Director of IPAS Ghana, Dr Koma Jehu-Appiah, has congratulated Ambassador Dr Eunice Brookman-Amissah on her appointment by President John Dramani Mahama to the Council of State.

“We fully trust in your capabilities to deliver,” says Dr Jehu-Appiah in a statement issued in Accra yesterday copied the Ghanaian Times.

Ambassador Dr Brookman-Amissah is a physician and an advocate who has dedicated most of her career to improving women’s reproductive health and rights globally and especially in Africa.

Continued: https://ghanaiantimes.com.gh/ipas-ghana-congratulates-dr-eunice-brookman-amissah/

27.02.2025

News

Dr Koma Jehu-Appiah

Dr. Eunice Brookman-Amissah

Ipas Ghana

John Dramani Mahama

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

Ghana – Adolescents in 5 regions in Ghana lack Sexual Reproductive Health services – Study

February 21, 2025
By ⁠Kingsley Adusei Amakye

A study has revealed that adolescents across five regions of Ghana are cut off from assessing Sexual Reproductive Health services in various health facilities.

CAMFED Ghana, which carried out the studies, wants Ghana Education Service (GES) to introduce comprehensive and age-appropriate Sexual Reproductive Health education into the national curriculum.

The initiative is to enhance Sexual and Reproductive Health education and services for adolescents in rural Ghana. The recommendations follow a CAMFED study that analyzed Sexual Reproductive Health services in the five regions where there is a high rate of child marriage, teenage pregnancy as well as Sexually transmitted diseases.

Continued: https://3news.com/health/adolescents-in-5-regions-in-ghana-lack-sexual-reproductive-health-services-study/#google_vignette

21.02.2025

News

CAMFED Ghana

Fairuza Abdul-Rashid Safian

Ghana Education Service

sexual and reproductive health services

Ghana – Silent empowerment: Rural-urban women take control of family planning behind closed doors

Mona Lisa Frimpong
6 January 2025

On a May morning in 2024, Stella (not her real name) rushed to the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG) clinic at Suame, her heart pounding.

It has been her routine for some time now. The weight of her fears pushed her faster as she weaved through the busy streets. Each step felt heavier, but the clinic was her only hope.

With a glance over her shoulder, she received her monthly birth control shot.

Continued: https://www.myjoyonline.com/silent-empowerment-rural-urban-women-take-control-of-family-planning-behind-closed-doors/