Ghanaian Muslim members of parliament on Thursday countered suggestions to introduce standard family sizes or reduce the number of wives a man can have.
The deputies were contributing to a statement on the country's population explosion, a day before World Population Day which is being observed Friday, under the theme New Generation, their reproduction health and rights.
In her presentation, Ms Theresa Nyarko-Fofie, an MP of National Democratic convention-Nkoraza constituency, said Ghana's population growth rate is estimated at about 3.2 per cent per annum.
She called for serious steps to contain thjis high growth rate which has led to over-utilisation of agricultural lands, resulting in poor yields and commodity price increases.
In addition, she said, malnutrition and other diseases were on the increase, the desert spreading fast, while injustices have caused to the inadequacy and unfair distribution of resources.
Ms Nyarko-Fofie said the most affected by the unfavourable population growth is the women group comprising, the confused and frustrated school drop-outs, especially those between the ages of 10 and 19.
These, she said, go through hopeless lives and end up being impregnated or raped by unscrupulous men
The lady MP said attention should be focused on the plight of these unfortunate girls to protect them from sexually transmitted diseases, among others .
In the debate, most members of parliament expressed concern about the rapid population growth and the resultant socio- economic problems.
Some members even advocated for a standard national family size and the legalization of abortion.
However, proposals for a specific family size did not go down well with the Muslim Members who argued on religious grounds that any attempt to introduce a standard family size, particularly, the number of wives, would be contrary to the teachings of the Koran.
July 11, 1997
Source: Newswire