Chief Executive Officer of Global Media Foundation (GLOMeF), Raphael Godlove Ahenu, has called on world leaders to make safe abortion accessible to every woman who requests it.

According to him, “estimates from 2006 shows that, in developing countries, the yearly cost for treating complications from unsafe abortion amounts to US$ 553 million and US$ 6 billion for treating post-abortion infertility across the world”. 

Mr Ahenu who was speaking to journalists in Sunyani demanded universal access to safe abortion and contraceptive services for all women to help save them from dying from unsafe abortion.

He said according to the World Health Organization (WHO), unsafe abortion continues to be a public health crisis and one of the largest contributors of maternal mortality and morbidity in Africa, adding “estimates from 2012 indicate that in developing countries alone, an estimated 7 million women per year were treated in hospital facilities for complications of unsafe abortion”.

“The WHO further estimates 220 deaths per 100,000 unsafe abortions in developing regions and 520 deaths per 100,000 unsafe abortions in sub-Saharan Africa. Whilst the whole of Africa accounts for 29% of all unsafe abortions, the continent sees 62% of unsafe abortion-related deaths,” he added.

Mr. Ahenu observed that criminal laws on abortion are discriminatorily enforced and impact the most vulnerable women and girls.

“Criminalizing abortion violates many basic human rights, including the right to life, liberty, security, health, and freedom from torture”.

He noted that women who fear prosecution for unsafe abortions often delay or fail to seek treatment at public health facilities.

He suggested the need for governments, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa to act and prevent avoidable maternal deaths from unsafe abortion.

Such an initiative he says meets the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal SDG 3, which aims at reducing the maternal mortality ratio to fewer than 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.

According to him, his organisation is closely working with other stakeholders under its new project “safe abortion for all” to advocate young people's access to safe abortions and contraceptive services in Ghana.