The Ashanti Region’s Department of Gender has issued a stark and urgent call for immediate action to combat the alarming rise in teenage pregnancy within the region. Concerned by a concerning trend, the department has emphasized the critical need to intensify efforts across all sectors – parents, schools, communities, health professionals, government agencies, and development partners – to address the multifaceted factors contributing to this issue. This comprehensive strategy is vital to protect vulnerable young people and ensure their sexual and reproductive health is prioritized. The Department’s assessment, presented during a series of sensitisation workshops held in districts and municipalities across the region, highlighted the need for sustained collaboration to effectively tackle this challenge.
The workshops, coordinated by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council, brought together young people and adults from diverse locations, including Adansi Asokwa, New Edubiase, Sekyere Central, Kwadaso, Asokore Mampong, Atwima Nwabiagya South, and Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly. The workshops aimed to strengthen adolescent-friendly health services, enhance access to crucial sexual and reproductive health information and services, and promote the rights and well-being of young people. Specifically, the Department facilitated the sharing of best practices and strategies to mitigate the factors driving teenage pregnancy, including poverty, lack of education, and limited access to services.
The Department’s leadership, delivered by Madam Ama Nyanta Boateng, emphasized the crucial role of parents in reporting instances of rape involving their children to the police. She strongly cautioned against private settlements or compromising with alleged perpetrators, stressing that such practices can deny victims justice and expose other children to significant risk of sexual abuse. Madam Boateng underscored the imperative for parents to take serious allegations of sexual abuse seriously and ensure that victims receive appropriate protection, comprehensive counseling, and ongoing support.
Furthermore, Madam Mercy Adomah Besseah, the Regional Director of the National Population Council, expressed grave concern regarding the sexual and reproductive health challenges confronting young people in the Ashanti Region. According to a recent Ghana AIDS Commission report, the Ashanti Region has recorded the second-highest number of HIV/AIDS cases among young people in the country. This development is particularly worrying given the significant proportion of young people contributing to the country’s future workforce. Madam Besseah highlighted the urgency of addressing this issue, emphasizing that young people constitute a vital and growing segment of the population and that concerted efforts are critical to prevent new infections and reduce teenage pregnancy. She advocated for the provision of young people with accurate information, appropriate counseling, and readily accessible adolescent-friendly health services to empower them to make informed decisions regarding their sexual and reproductive health. The workshop also provided participants with an opportunity to discuss the underlying causes and consequences of teenage pregnancy, sexual abuse, HIV/AIDS, and other reproductive health concerns affecting adolescents. Several participants expressed optimism that the knowledge gained would enable them to educate their peers and contribute to efforts to reduce teenage pregnancy and other health-related challenges within their communities.
Minority has also expressed concerns regarding a reported GH¢22 billion loss to the GoldBod vehicle accident on the KNUST campus, resulting in several injuries. This incident underscores the need for a thorough investigation and accountability within the institution.
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Source: Adom Online
