PRESIDENT J. A. Kufuor yesterday inaugurated the reconstituted National Population Council (NPC) at the Castle, Osu, in Accra.
The 23-member council, chaired by Mrs Virginia Ofosu-Amaah, is tasked with the responsibility of managing and co-ordinating population related programmes in the country.
President Kufuor, in a speech, urged the members to help in the achievement of an acceptable population growth rate to facilitate planning and socio-economic development.
He entreated them to place their professional experiences at the disposal of the country.
President Kufuor advised them to approach their work with the urgency needed. Mrs Ofosu-Amaah, on her part, stressed the need to fully integrate population concerns into development programmes, particularly at the local and district levels.
She said the increasing feminisation of poverty, the spread of HIV/AIDS, high rate of infant child and maternal mortality, and the need to address issues relating to adolescent reproductive health and problems of the aged in the society remain major challenges in the country.
She said the solution of these problems will ensure the effective implementation of the revised National Population Policy and called for the provision of the necessary resources.
Other members of the council are, Naa Prof. John S. Nabila, Vice-Chairman, Dr Richard Turkson, Executive Director of NPC, Mrs Philomena Johnson, National Development Planning Commission, Prof. S. A. Amoa, Director-General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Mrs Ernestina Naana Hagan, FIDA, Prince Aaron Andansi, National Youth Council, Dr K. A. Twum-Baah, Ghana Statistical Service, Alhaji M. N.D. Jawula, Ministry of Finance, Dr Robert Aboagye-Mensah, General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana, and Mrs Winfred Amugi, Trades Union Congress, among others.
In another development, Mrs Loretta Vanderpuye of the Ghana Television and the 2001 CNN Best Environmental Journalist award winner was at the Castle to present her award to President Kufuor.
He described the award as an honour to Ghana and journalists. He said Mrs Vanderpuye’s choice of the environment is a manifestation of her concern for people.
He said journalism is an important profession and urged journalists to tell the truth.
Mrs Vanderpuye, on her part, urged the authorities to help solve the numerous environmental problems in the country to save the lives of people dying from environmental and sanitation related diseases.
She also called for regular training and support for journalists.
Source: GhanaWeb
