Walewale students concerned about teenage pregnancy

Some students in the West Mamprusi District of Northern region have expressed concern about the increasing rate of sexual promiscuity among their colleagues, which result in unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.

They said most female students are falling prey to sexual advances from males who are much older than them due to monetary and material considerations.

Miss Agbleze Victoria Atsupui and Miss Mary Sumani, students of Suguru Roman Catholic Junior High School at Walewale who spoke with Ghana News Agency, appealed to stakeholders especially the law enforcement agencies to help reverse the trend.

The students were speaking during the sideline of a sexual and reproductive health forum organised by the Coalition of NGOs in Health. It was aimed at deepening the students and community members understanding of sexually transmitted diseases and its effects.

Chief Alhassan Amidu, Regional Population Officer told the participants that the fertility rate in the Region is too high due to unwanted pregnancies and minors getting involved in sexual activities during the early stages of their lives.

He said getting involved in sexual activities when young disadvantage females because they are likely to get cervical cancer and other related diseases, which are injurious to their health.

Chief Amidu observed that more children are having children because rape, defilement and disregard for morality had become very common practice among Ghanaian societies.

He said: “Virginity is no more a pride.”

He advised students to concentrate their time and energies in education through which they could gain their future careers. Mr Moses Azabu, Regional Chairman of the Coalition of NGOs in Health said the body has more than 500 members.

Members of the Coalition are into various health thematic areas which include TB, malaria, HIV and AIDS, hepatitis B, immunisation and reproductive health. STAR-Ghana, a multi-donor pooled organisation is funding activities of the Coalition.