THE COUNTRY Director of The Centre For Development and Population Activities (CEDPA), an NGO, Mrs.Alema-Mensah, has announced that results from studies indicate that over 80 per cent of adolescents are sexually active and living risky sexual lives, and this group constitutes valuable human capital for the future.

Therefore in order to promote responsible sexual behaviour in young people who are the future generation they must get access to information, communication skills and empowerment to guide them in making good decisions.

Mrs. Alema-Mensah was speaking at the opening of "The End of Project Dissemination Conference of CEDPA's Enable Project" in Accra. The Enable project was implemented in the country from September 1998 to February 2003 by CEDPA-Ghana with funding from USAID, to engage various NGOs engaged in advocacy for behavioural change and social mobilization initiatives, to address the factors that prevent women and the youth from taking control of their reproductive lives.

She noted that the maternal mortality rate has increased from 214 per 100,000 live births to 250,000 per 100,000 in 1999, and most of these women are still in their prime and these deaths do not only cause social and economic loss to the state, but also bring psychological trauma to the families, especially dependents.

In another address to participants, the Special Advisor to the President on HIV/AIDS and Population, Prof. F.T Sai, advised workers in the health industry not to shy away from the word sex, when educating the public on sexually transmitted diseases, because sex is a vital component for the continued existence of the human race.

He said without sex the entire human race shall be wiped out in the space of 50 years, adding that that there is concrete evidence that the youth are engaging in sex at very tender ages, and being the future generation they must be specially targeted for education and counseling, therefore sex should not be a taboo word for the educators or peer educators.

In a speech read on behalf of the Minister of Health (MOH), Dr. K. Ahmed, Chief Medical Officer at MOH, said the NPP government appreciates the work being done by NGOs, like CEDPA, in complementing the efforts of the ministry, because it is aware of the problems in the health delivery service.

He commended CEDPA for being noted as one of the world's recognized organisations whose activities are having positive impact on the lives of individuals and communities through the adoption of innovative and effective strategies to improve on their reproductive health especially of women and children.