MOZAMBICANS TO UNDERSTUDY GHANA'S POP POLICY

Accra, Jan. 29, Two Mozambican government officials now in the country to study Ghana's population programme, today had discussions with Dr Richard Turkson, Executive Director of the National Population Council in Accra. They are Dr. Abdul Razak Noormahommed, Minister of Health, and Mrs. Victoria Ginja, of the Department of Population and Social Development of the Ministry of Planning and Finance. Dr. Noormahommed, who is the head of the delegation, said his country was in the process of formulating a national population policy. He said as part of that exercise, it had been considered necessary for the delegation to visit Ghana and exchange views with the government and members of the National Population Council on the experience of Ghana in policy formulation and implementation. The Mozambican Health Minister said while in the country, the delegation would look at the contents of Ghana's national population policy, including action plans, especially those relating to fertility regulation, and reduction in mortality and morbidity rates. It would also examine population distribution, reproductive health, family planning policy, gender, as well as population and development, and environment related programmes. In his remarks, Dr Turkson said the government finances most of its programmes, with some assistance from donor agencies. He advised that in dealing with donor agencies, Mozambique should find "neutral grounds" to ensure that policies are not rpt not imposed on her by donors. Mrs. Esther Apowokin, Programme Director of the NPC, said the revision of Ghana's population policy became necessary because of emerging issues like HIV/AIDS virus, problems of the youth, teenage pregnancy, and environmental issues. She said the secretariat serves as a co ordinating body for all the government sectors, to achieve its goal of reducing population growth and making the country's development programmes sustainable.