The Chronicle on Saturday’s painstaking investigations conducted at Abomosu, a farming community in the Atiwa District of the Eastern Region, has uncovered how teenage prostitution is threatening the future of the district, and the nation at large.
It was revealed during the paper’s weeks of investigations that the area is a first class spot for teenage prostitutes, whose ages range from nine t o fifteen years. They belong to an age group which is expected to be in the classrooms, but have jumped into the commercial sex train, as a result of total neglect by their parents.
What is even more worrying is the high number of Senior High school students, together with Class Three pupils.
Some residents who spoke to The Chronicle on Saturday attributed the situation to the lucrative nature of the business, hence, the students’ involvement. It was discovered that these children take between GH5 to GH10 per night from their customers, for services rendered. Another school of thought attributes it to illegal mining, popularly known as ‘galamsey’, which most of the young men depend on for a living.
The situation, the paper noted, had contributed to a high HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the area, since most of the teenagers who practice the trade lack knowledge of sexual reproductive health and its associated complications.
Speaking to the paper, Mr. Joseph Asiedu Tinkorang, a teacher of the AMA Zion Primary School, expressed grave concern over the development. He explained t hat the development had affected teaching and learning, as well as bred disrespect among other social vices in the community.
Mr. Tinkorang, however, called on the traditional authorities and the assembly to rise and bring the situation under control, before it gets out of hand.
