According to Dr. Ibn Chambas, despite the potential of a large population size to translate into significant economic growth as had been seen in countries like China and India, it was imperative for African countries to control the recent “demographic explosion” that the continent was experiencing.

[contextly_sidebar id=”YCltBSQbi0W9NXl293OIvJdLESdavlP6″]Speaking at the inaugural UPSA Annual Leadership Lecture in Accra on Wednesday, Dr. Ibn Chambas, argued that, African countries risked collapsing under the weight of large populations as the social structures that are in place were already struggling to cope with the needs of the existing population.

“Population growth per se is welcome as it is also a factor of economic growth. In case of Africa, so far, it is rather a problem because the population grows faster than the economy, and countries cannot cope with the increasing demands for basic social services such as water, sanitation, education, and health. Although urbanization is needed for the transformation of African economies, its rapid pace adds to the stress on the economy; hence the need to manage it properly.”

United Nation estimates show that, the population of sub-Saharan Africa is expected to exceed three billion by the next century.

According to Dr. Chambas, Nigeria and Tanzania are also estimated to become the third and fifth most populous countries in the world by the time, while the Democratic Republic of Congo will be third African country in the top ten.

“Being the most rapidly growing part of the world, sub-Saharan Africa’s one billion people will surge in the next 50 years to two billion and three billion and reach an estimated 3.7 billion in 2100, right behind Asia’s four billion by then. Based on well-regarded UN Population Division estimates, Nigeria will become the third most populated nation in the world, after India and China. Tanzania, now a mere 75 million people, will soar to 340 million and become the fifth largest country in the world. The Democratic Republic of Congo will hold 212 million and be the eighth largest polity, bigger at that time than Brazil.”

Rural extinction

Dr. Ibn Chambas noted that, the rise in the population in the African countries was translating into the congestion of the urban areas and big cities on the continent.

This, he said, would result in cities “mushrooming” and a decline in the population in rural area “from 50 percent of the total today to 25 per cent of the population in 2100.

Such a major surge in the population, according to him, would create numerous challenges in resource allocation, quality service provision and governance.

“Where will the food to feed these new millions come from? How will they be governed? Are current methods of political management adequate? Most of all, can Africa, like Asia, realize a demographic dividend if educational resources are sparse and new employment possibilities cannot keep pace with population growth?,” he queried.
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By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Manage Africa’s population to stop economic meltdown – Chambas appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, he noted the efforts in family planning education was not yielding results and perhaps roping in queenmothers, especially, would be more impactful.

[contextly_sidebar id=”LI3cQWXyhWHlyHWa8SGpADacGXkIdenP”]This is especially so given the rural areas generally record the highest birth rates.

Prof Akosa observed that the economy was pinching enough and urban couples shied away from many children but rural people still go in for upwards of five children.

Some of these rural couples leave the upkeep of their children to fate, he added.

Concerns with Ghana’s growing population have seen the Executive Director of the National Population Council, Leticia Adelaide Appiah advocate for the government to use incentives to encourage Ghanaians to use family planning methods.

Family Planning is essential to stemming the ballooning population, which stands at 28.1 million, but a different medium for the education is needed, according to Prof. Akosa.

“For all the years we have been working on Family planning, we are still nowhere in terms of the Ghanaians who doesn’t want a child taking a family planning product. This is where I think we should gather our energy and work towards… What is important is that our rural communities need to be properly educated. For them, it is quantity, not quality and you go to any of rural communities and you will see the children galore.”

In Prof. Akosa’s view, queenmothers could get through to families in the rural areas better than health workers are doing.

“If we use them [queenmothers] as part of the vehicle for educating our rural folks, I think we will be more successful than health workers doing it. Somehow, health workers are more detached and it is assumed that it is their job…

“I think that it is important that the Health Service comes into serious dialogue with the Queen mothers Association and begins to let them also play their role… they have a role to educate the community,” he said.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Queenmothers should champion family planning education – Prof. Akosa appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to her, the population growth rate if not checked would reduce the quality of human resource in the country and stagnate economic development.

[contextly_sidebar id=”XQ5i9p8Sm3iu0zxS6HAdPNkRZKfwbLEq”]Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Monday, Dr. Appiah said despite the importance of population growth, it must be regulated to correspond with economic development.

“Population growth is good, but it should be regulated so that it does not outstrip economic development,” she said.

The 2016 Population and Housing Census pegged Ghana’s total population at 28.21 million.

China is among the few countries in the world who have adopted a major population control policy to restrict childbirth.

In 1979, the country started the “one child per family policy” (Juali Li 563) which stated that citizens must obtain a birth certificate before the birth of their children.

A state government in India has instituted a policy to offer newlyweds a cash grant of 5000 rupees or $106 to wait two years to have their first child. Other states have also made having more than two children a disqualification from holding public office.

But Dr. Leticia Appiah said Ghana must not necessarily place a cap on the number of children couples are allowed to produce but reward those who take up family planning initiatives such as spacing and delaying childbirth.

“If the person wants it [a child] you cannot deprive them…Our problem is population growth, why don’t we incentivize family planning uptake?” she quizzed.

She called on the government to make family planning services more accessible to encourage its patronage.

Dr. Appiah further noted that government could consider placing a cap limit on the number of children per family to benefit from some of its social intervention programs to encourage family planning.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Use incentives to encourage family planning – Population Council to gov’t appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.