Unprotected sexual practices among teenagers is common in the Sene West District of Brong-Ahafo Region, Mr Moses Addai Fofie, the District Chief Executive, has said.
He said because of the alarming proportions of uncontrolled pre-marital, sexual behavior among adolescent boys and girls, teenage pregnancy was high and obstructing girl child education.
Mr Fofie made this known when he inaugurated school health clubs in 22 basic schools in the district, under the Ghana Adolescent Reproductive Health Project, being implemented in the District.
The project, with funding from the DFID through the Palladium Group, an international Non-Governmental Organisation, is aimed at improving maternal health and adolescent reproductive health choices, as well as helping to address the adolescent needs of the school children.
Mr Fofie noted with regret that many parents in the district had shirked their responsibility towards the upbringing and development of their children.
He pointed out that sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhea and syphilis as well as HIV were also on the ascendancy in the District.
The District Chief Executive emphasized that an effective collaboration was required from teachers and school management committees and Parent Teacher Associations to bring the situation under control.
Mr Fofie asked teachers to ensure that the school clubs were strengthened and sustained.
Mr William Xetor, the Sene West District Director of Education, advised parents to draw their adolescent boys and girls closer to them.
This, he noted, would enable parents and guardians to identify the adolescent needs of their children and guardians, and help them to address such needs as well.
Mr Xetor asked parents to provide their children with the basic necessities of life and educational materials to sustain their interest in schools.
Mr Francis Gwira Darko, the Sene West District Coordinating Director, advised the school children to take their studies serious by concentrating on their books.
He asked them to avoid bad peers and respect their teachers so that the teachers would also develop the desire to guide them in life.
Mr Darko entreated teachers to work hard to help improve on the abysmal performance of pupils and students in the district.
