The Executive Director of Women, Media and Change (WOMEC), Dr Charity Binka, has called for urgent, bold and sustained national action to protect the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and young people in Ghana.
Marking Sexual and Reproductive Health Awareness Day 2026, Dr Binka stressed that the observance must go beyond symbolic reflection and translate into concrete policy implementation, increased domestic investment, and measurable reforms.
In a press statement issued in Accra, Dr Binka described sexual and reproductive health and rights as fundamental human rights that must not be compromised under any circumstances.
She warned that persistent misinformation, deep-rooted stigma, and unequal access to services continue to threaten the health and dignity of millions of women and girls.
“Access to accurate information and quality, responsive healthcare should not be negotiated,” Dr Binka stated. “Yet despite global, regional and national commitments, many women and girls continue to face barriers to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services.”
She noted that these gaps contribute to preventable maternal health complications, unsafe practices, and far-reaching social and economic consequences that disproportionately affect women and young people.
Dr Binka called on government and relevant duty bearers to move beyond policy rhetoric and focus on effective implementation. She urged increased domestic funding for reproductive health, strengthened health systems, and the provision of adolescent- and youth-friendly services that are accessible, affordable, confidential, and free from stigma.
She further emphasised the need to prioritise early detection and quality treatment of reproductive health conditions such as cervical cancer, sexually transmitted infections, endometriosis, and other challenges that remain underdiagnosed and undertreated.
According to her, comprehensive sexuality education remains a critical tool for prevention, empowerment, and informed decision-making.
Addressing the role of the media, Dr. Binka underscored its responsibility in shaping public discourse and influencing policy action. She called on media institutions to move beyond episodic reporting and consistently elevate sexual and reproductive health as a national development priority.
“Responsible, evidence-based reporting is essential to challenge harmful myths, break the silence surrounding reproductive health issues, and hold policymakers accountable,” she stated, cautioning that misinformation and neglect must no longer define public conversations.
Dr. Binka stressed that empowerment must extend beyond awareness campaigns. Education, she said, must lead to policy reform, adequate budgetary allocations, improved service delivery, and measurable outcomes.
“The era of incremental progress has passed,” she declared. “We must accelerate collective action to ensure that every woman and girl can make informed choices about her body, access quality healthcare without discrimination, and live in dignity.”
Dr. Charity Binka signed the statement in her capacity as Executive Director of Women, Media and Change (WOMEC).
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