She noted that in some areas of the country enrolment of girls far exceeded boys and said focus on the girl child alone is likely to leave the boys behind.

She said an in-depth research on Human Development took her to the Builsa District where it came to light that enrolment of girls exceeded that of the boys.

The Research Fellow made the call in her presentation at the launching of the 2004 District Human Development Reports (DHDRs) and progress report on Millennium Development Goals (MDGS) for three Municipal/District Assemblies at Tema. The areas are Builsa, Atwima and Tema.

The reports which become workable documents for the assemblies seek to develop realistic policies and strategies that have the capacity to bridge unacceptable differences in the quality of human well-being among different communities in the districts.

With "vulnerability" as the theme and sponsorship from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through its Wealth Creation Social Development Programme, the report covered eight areas of human development, production and trade, good governance and the environment.

In the area of health, Ms. Oduro said there is a high rate of HIV/AIDS and chronic nutrition among children in the Tema municipality and called for a reverse in the situation by adopting strategies.

On the economy, she said her research reveals that food prices are high in Tema, thus compelling borrowing to maintain their consumption level, as some purchase food on credit.

Launching the reports, Professor George Gyan Baffour, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning noted that Ghana is monitoring the prevalence of underweight children below five years, saying "malnutrition remains a concern in Ghana".

He said data from the 2003 GDHS results shows that 30 per cent of children less than five are stunted, 30 per cent wasted and seven per cent underweight.

"The 2004 MDG report indicates that if current trends in nutritional trend continue, it is likely that Ghana will meet the MDG target of reducing by half the incidence of underweight and wasted children by 2015."

Mr Daouda Toure, UNDP Resident Representative, hoped the report would bring connection among the global, national and district human development reports complementing one another.

He said it is UNDP's contribution to the decentralized and local authorities and urged stakeholders to study and work on it for the benefit of posterity.

Dr. Regina O. Adutwum, Acting Director-General of the National Development Planning Commission, who chaired the programme said the report seeks to provide decision makers with improved data for making informed decisions in the allocation of resources and urged them to be conversant with the contents.