as long as people continue to accept and engage in sexual activities
without being prepared to give birth. Despite the risks (death and other
health complication) involved in clandestine abortion, people continue to
engage in the act. The central inquiry is; why do people continue to do
clandestine abortions despite its associated risk? Do people have knowledge
on abortion concerning its legalities and associated risks? This paper thus
seeks to clarify the above questions by examining the knowledge, awareness
and perceptions of females on abortion, with focus on clandestine abortion in
the Kintampo North Municipality of Ghana. The paper reveals that, though
most females have little knowledge on the 1985 abortion law, they are aware
of the risks associated with criminal abortion. Despite being aware of the
risks, circumstances such as unwanted pregnancies, poverty, desire to pursue
education and career goals, and job related issues compel most to abort
pregnancies through dangerous means. The paper therefore calls for public
education on abortion laws in Ghana to be intensified and possibly, consider
shifting the existing paradigms of the abortion law in order to curb
clandestine abortions and its associated fatalities.