Pop Growth Could Hamper Aspirations - Kitcher

Takoradi (Western Region), 4 Nov. Ghanaians have been warned that if the current population trend is not curtailed, the nation's attempt to become a middle income country by the year 2020 will be futile. Mr. Jeff Kitcher, Western and Central Regional Manager of the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana, gave the warning at the Western Regional annual general meeting of the Association in Takoradi. Mr. Kitcher said the current population growth of about three per cent a year is already eroding the gains the economy has made and if efforts are not made to reverse it, ''this will thwart the Vision 2020 programme''. He called on policy framers not rpt not to neglect the population components of development since its effects would overshadow other economic returns. He urged Ghanaians to be wary of the impact of population on their standards of living and plan their families accordingly.