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Main Article Content
Overview of the law and availability of abortion services in Ghana
Abstract
Methods: Using the information gathered from literature review the current law on abortion in Ghana and relevant sections of the criminal code were critically analyzed from medico-legal per-spective.
Findings: Since 1985 the Ghanaian law on abor-tion has changed from its preoccupation with pro-hibition and punishment towards liberalization of abortion but there has been delay in policy formu-lation and implementation to translate the law into services. Hence safe abortion services on medico-social grounds as permitted by the law are not readily available in national health institutions. Some aspects of the law still appear implicit and may hamper implementation of safe abortion ser-vice in the country. Conclusion: For clarity there is need for more amendments in the law in order to regulate abor-tion and to enhance the right of the woman to make a choice on her own. There is also the need to expedite action on development policy and standard guidelines for practitioners.
