This 2006 research DAWN report by Afua Hesse, in collaboration with Ali Samba, examines sexual and reproductive health policy and service provision in Ghana. Focusing on abortion within the broader context of reproductive health, the publication assesses national progress in relation to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and commitments arising from the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). The study explores the relationship between legal frameworks, health systems, and access to care, paying particular attention to unsafe abortion as a significant contributor to maternal mortality.

The report discusses the implementation of Ghana’s 1985 Criminal Code amendment, which permits abortion under specific circumstances, and examines the gap between the law and its application, noting limited awareness of these provisions among both healthcare providers and the wider public. It also addresses post-abortion care, contraceptive access, and the barriers faced by adolescents and unmarried young people in obtaining reproductive health services. Drawing on institutional and hospital data, the publication documents socio-economic disparities in access to care and examines the legal, social, and policy factors shaping reproductive health outcomes in Ghana.