RAPID The Change We Seek

Ghana Ashanti Region Nearly 10.2 million people by 2040

OVERVIEW

 Over the course of her life, each woman in the Ashanti Region has nearly four children.  Because use of family planning is low, family sizes are large, driving population growth.  Increasing women’s use of family planning would lead to healthier families and reduce stress on the orld Bank Ashanti Region’s systems and

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Government of Photo by: © Jonathan Ert Rita Willaer “Family planning could bring more benefits to more people at less cost than any single technology.” —, Former United Nations Secretary General

If the Ashanti Region’s population grows more slowly, it will be easier to improve health and education, invest in a better economy, and reduce strain on the region’s infrastructure and resources.

The Ashanti Region’s population is growing rapidly, and with only 23.3 percent of What Can Be Done married women using any method of family planning, the rate of growth is For the Ashanti Region to achieve its unlikely to slow. development potential, investments in If women in the region continue to have nearly four children each, its population family planning must become a priority: could double by 2040. • Develop and implement a regional- In this scenario, the larger population will continue to hinder the region’s level family planning/population Photo by Allison Stillwell development progress; however, the region could greatly improve its prospects by strategy, as well as an accompanying strengthening its commitment to family planning. costed implementation plan Nearly 40 percent of the Ashanti Region’s population is under age 15. Smaller family sizes through increased use of family planning could relieve pressure • Commit resources for regional-level on the provision of primary education and public health services, as well as alleviate family planning commodity storage If contraceptive use remains low, food insecurity, unemployment, and underemployment. and distribution to ensure universal population growth could rapidly access in both urban and rural areas accelerate, further challenging the • Lobby the district assemblies (via the region’s development. Regional Coordinating Council) to 345.6 million 29.3 million 43.4 thousand allocate 0.5 percent of their District Cedis saved in primary Cedis saved in the Fewer new jobs will be Assemblies Common Fund to support education by 2040 health sector by 2040 needed by 2040 Contraceptive Prevalence Rates family planning activities By region, 2011 • Expand the supply of region-sponsored With fewer students, With a smaller With smaller families 29 less resources are population, less and more job security, family planning providers, thereby 30 - 27 26 27 needed for education. pressure is placed on individuals can enjoy enhancing access to services at the 24 23 22 the health system. higher incomes. 19 community level and in rural areas 20 - 16 13 • Reach citizens and traditional leaders with family planning messages and 10 - education, thereby dispelling myths References and misconceptions 0 - Greater Percentage of Married Women CentralWesternEasternVolta AshantiBrong AhafoNorthernUpper WestUpper East 1. Ghana Demographic and Health Survey 2003, 2008 2. Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, 2011 3. Resources for the Awareness of Population Impacts on Development (RAPID) Model for Ashanti Region, 2015 HEALTH This document was prepared with the support of the Health Policy Project, POLICY Source: Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, 2011 PROJECT funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). NATIONAL POPULATION COUNCIL