Teenage pregnancy alarming in Brong-Ahafo - NGO

Statistics from the Brong-Ahafo Regional Health Directorate indicates that 11,581teenage pregnancies were recorded in the region in 2014.

The teenagers are between 15 years and 19 years.

Mr Raphael Godlove Ahenu, the Chief Executive Officer of Global Media Foundation, a human rights and media advocacy non-governmental organization, said the directorate recorded 6,400 cases in 2013.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview on Tuesday, Mr Ahenu said the figures were gathered from the various antenatal clinics of the region’s health facilities.

He observed that the situation was very alarming and called for an urgent attention from all stakeholders to help control the problem.

Mr Ahenu recommended intensive sex education in basic schools, and the promotion of family planning services for sexually active teenagers to control the situation.

He emphasized the need to also create avenues where young people could access sexual reproductive healthcare services.

“The non-existence of a supportive system for pregnant girls encourages unsafe abortion, which undermines for the country’s goal to meet the MDG 5, aimed at reducing maternal deaths,” Mr Ahenu said.