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The Deputy Minister of Health, Rojo Mettle-Nunoo, is calling for a national debate on the legalisation of abortion. According to him, the increase in maternal death rates is attributed to the practice of illegal and unsafe abortions especially by young mothers hence his call for a national debate on the issue. Mr. Mettle-Nunoo noted that the current maternal mortality, which stands at a frightening 350 deaths per 100,000 live births is detrimental to the development of the nation and affecting Ghana�s chances of achieving the Millennium Development Goal 5. Speaking to Citi News, Mettle-Nunoo explained that young teenage girls who mistakenly get pregnant must be protected and counseled to abort the pregnancy safely and legally. �The basic fundamental issue I am raising here is that do young mothers, teenagers, children who have no business getting pregnant but get pregnant any knowledge whatsoever that there is a legal framework that entitles them to fair and safe abortion. �In the event that a girl gets pregnant without necessarily wanting that pregnancy if she can be counseled, she can be directed as and when appropriate to some of legal service that would not put her life at risk. �