The Birim North District Director for the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Kwasi Temeng, has called on stakeholders to collaborate in promoting adolescent reproductive health.
He said reproductive health and gender-based education for the youth are vital for advancing gender equality, improving health outcomes, and strengthening social cohesion.
He made the remarks during a stakeholder engagement organised under the auspices of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Programme (2023–2027), which seeks to promote adolescent health, gender equality, and the prevention of gender-based violence.
The event was held under the theme “Promoting Adolescent Health Reproductive, Gender-based equality and Empowerment Through Civic Engagement.”
In his address, he explained the purpose of the event and encouraged all stakeholders to feel free in sharing their opinion. He then introduced the first speaker thus, Mr Kaesar Tetteh from the Ghana Health Service who spoke about Adolescent Health and the Myth and stigma surrounding Family Planning and contraceptives.
A rep from the Ghana Health Service, Kaesar Tetteh, highlighted the importance of adolescent health, noting that the adolescent period, between the ages of 10 and 19, is a critical stage of physical, emotional, and social development.
During his statistics, he noted that Abortion recorded in Adolescents across the country in last year were 7,000. Eastern Region recorded 46 mortality rate in Adolescent girls in 2024. 4,000 total pregnancies were recorded in Eastern Region with 400 teenagers making the list from Birim North.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), complications from pregnancy and childbirth remain the leading cause of death among girls aged 15–19 globally.
Each year, an estimated 21 million girls aged 15–19 in low- and middle-income countries become pregnant, with 12 million giving birth.
The deputy Chairman of the Commission, in charge of operations, Mr. Akuamoah noted that the stakeholder engagement provided a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and coordinated action in addressing adolescent pregnancy, family planning, and harmful social practices affecting young people, especially girls and underserved youth.
He explained that family planning for adolescents is not about promoting sexual activity among the youth, but rather about empowering them with the knowledge and tools to make informed decisions.
Mr Paul Afonyo of the District Police service of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service in Birim North explained that gender-based violence is a physical, sexual, psychological, or economic harm-inflicted on individuals based on gender.
He stressed that it often stems from gender inequality and harmful social norms. He encouraged men to report violence issues and avoid shyness.
He further urged intensified community education through churches, mosques, and information centres to tackle the menace, adding, “Parents must take full responsibility for their children by providing their basic needs.”
The stakeholders were drawn from local government, traditional and religious leaders, service providers, civil society organisations, local NGOs, representatives from girl and youth empowerment clubs, security institutions, and the Assembly.
Finally, Nana Ofori Danquah, Chief of Ajenua promised staff of N.C.C.E to help in every capacity to eradicate the kankar called Teenage Pregnancy in the district and restore the District to parenthood.
