(Credit, M Deen Suleman, S/No-356)

Kumasi, Dec. 10, GNA - Ghanaian women have been urged to be more assertive and demand respect for their sexual and reproductive rights. The General Secretary of African Rural Evangelistic Association, a local NGO, Mr Israel Ghaffah, said this is necessary to reduce maternal deaths and poverty among them.

He said they should be bold and insist that their views and decisions on sex and reproduction are not ignored.

Mr Ghaffah was speaking at a day's workshop on sexual and reproductive rights of women, in Kumasi, on Thursday. It was jointly organized by Amnesty International Ghana and Pre-Group, an NGO based at Kumasi.

More than 30 participants from both sexes attended the workshop, held under the theme "Advocacy on Women Sexual and Reproductive Rights." Globally, it is estimated that about 500,000 women die annually from childbirth related complications, and this Mr Ghaffah said could be prevented if their rights were upheld.

Pastor Frank Agbeko, the Chairman of Pre-Group, appealed to women to form advocacy groups to address issues pertaining to family planning, maternal health and women's rights. 10 Dec 09