The overlord of the Bongo Traditional Area, Naba Salifu Alemyaarum, has disagreed with the National Population Council (NPC) on its intended move to limit couple’s child birth to three babies, cautioning it can create problems for couples.
Naba Alemyaarum, who doubles as the Vice President of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs, said the NPC should engage couples pragmatically on the issue and not force the policy on them.
“In my opinion, I totally disagree with the National population Council that compulsory birth must be three children. Even though it might be a good one but it is in the wrong direction”.
The council wants to bring to being a policy that will allow couples to have a maximum of three children as a way to control the national population growth.
According to the NPC, the country’s annual population growth rate stands at 2.5%, a trend that poses treats to development.
But responding to the issue on Day Break Upper East on A1 Radio Thursday, the paramount chief said the polygamous nature of Northern people, especially, will make it difficult for couple to adhere to the policy.
He agrees the policy is a good one but added it is in the wrong direction and being implemented the wrong way. He said issues of child killer diseases and the poor health care system in the country have continuously robbed couples of their children hence couple wanting to have more to guard against the unforeseen.
“Even after many years we have CSM which we are yet able to control. How many times have we taken immunizations against that disease? You know how devastating that disease can be. If you have three children and CMS comes to wipe out all the three children, what do you do? We have not yet reached the status of the developed countries where everything is working. We haven’t reached that stage”. He stressed.
Naba Alemyaarum urged the council to rather channel resources to lessen instances of teenage pregnancies and the numerous child births by ‘mad’ women on the streets.
“Teenage pregnancy; that is where I think government and the national population council should be looking at, because teenage pregnancy is very high. Children are giving birth to children without fathers. They are not looking at that. But that can actually help console the birth rate.
“Even on the streets we are seeing mad women giving birth to children. What are they doing about that” He quizzed.
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