Donor funds from the ECOWAS Gender Secretariat amounting to US$81,000.00 has since 2017, been locked up in the accounts of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection without utilization.
The money was provided for the construction of accommodation for Mercy Women’s Catholic Hospital, Mankessim, in the Central Region.
The hospital specializes in obstetric fistula (OBF) issues.
Some Members of the Parliament of Ghana who are not happy about the situation have recommended to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to as a matter of urgency, complete the necessary paperwork to access the funds for utilization during the first quarter of 2020.
The revelation about the locked up funds was made when the joint committee on Gender and Children & Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises chaired by Hon. Dr. Kojo Appiah-Kubi and Hon. Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi presented its report to the plenary on Thursday, December 12, 2019, on the 2020 annual budget estimates of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection for consideration and approval.
The Ministry, kasapafmonline.com understands, pledged to sponsor thirty (30) fistula surgeries in 2019 but reneged on its promise, provoking the joint committee to recommend to it to fulfill that pledge in 2020.
“This sponsorship promise, if fulfilled, will free up hospital funds to cater for more people”, the report in part read.
Obstetric fistula has been on the rise in Ghana in recent times. Research indicates that about 1,300 new cases are recorded annually in Ghana with no sign of the figure reducing.
Obstetric Fistula is an abnormal hole that develops between the virginal, rectum or and bladder as a results of prolonged labour during childbirth. This condition causes women to leak urine or faeces or both.
Majority of women who have this ailment are living in isolation due to the rejection they face from relatives and friends even though it is not infectious.
According to experts, even though this condition prevails in all 10 regions of Ghana, the Northern region has the highest prevalence, followed by Ashanti, Western, Central and the Upper regions. Currently, there are three main hospitals which offer dedicated OBF care – Mercy Women’s Catholic Hospital at Mankessim-Central region and Tamale Fistula Center, Tamale Central Hospital all in the Northern region.
The United Nation’s Population Fund and the Ghana Health Service assessment of OBF 2014-2015 data indicated that 53% patients were married and 35% at least have had primary education.
According to officials, about 80% of women go through a successful surgery after first attempt. Women who develop this abnormally usually suffer a chronic skin condition which is caused by the direct irritation of urine. Some patients also develop blisters and sores around their thighs caused by the constant urinary incontinence and friction. It is also reported that 8 out of 10 women lose their babies from the delivery which caused the fistula.
Commenting on the situation, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for Asuogyaman, Hon. Thomas Ampem Nyarko, said the attitude of the Ministry is uncalled for since it doesn’t encourage donor sponsorship on critical issues.
“If the Ministry wants donors to continue to support us, then funds earmarked for certain interventions must quickly be utilized. I am surprised that the funds are still locked up in the accounts of the Ministry”, he said.
The NDC MP for Pusiga, Ms. Laadi Ayii Ayamba, was equally not happy about the failure of the Ministry to utilize the ECOWAS Gender Secretariat money.
In her contribution to the motion for consideration and adoption of the joint committee’s report, she said “We have gone to look for this money – we’ve spoken to donors and have given us this money. The question is what has prevented us from using the money since 2017? Meanwhile, the ministry is starved with cash and we have ministries with similar cases. How can we go back and ask the donors to support us again? Are we saying that since 2017 we haven’t given any report to the donors with respect to the non-utilization of the funds? We need to be conscious of some of these things and we need to ensure that we work to justify whatever we think needs to be done for this country”.
The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Cynthia Mamle Morrison, who moved the motion for approval of the Ministry’s 2020 annual budget estimates of GH745,887,663.00 promised to report back to the House measures she has put in place to access and utilize the locked up funds.
