The District Chief Executive for the Ellembelle District in the Western Region, Hon. Kwasi Bonzo popularly known as Ellembelle Davide has expressed worries over the alarming rate of teenage pregnancy among school girls in the area.
Hon. Kwasi Bonzo made this known during the Second Ordinary Meeting of the Assembly held on Monday, October 8, 2018, at the District Assembly's Hall, Nkroful.
Addressing the gathering, the DCE, Hon. Bonzo described the incidence as a major challenge to the Assembly.
He revealed that records from the Ellembelle education office as well as the reported cases from the Social Welfare in the area indicate a high rate of pregnancy among the school girls especially the final year students at the various Junior High Schools in the District.
He added that this year alone twenty-one BECE candidates were reported pregnant.
"Records from Education Office as well as the cases that are reported at the Social Welfare in the District indicate a high rate pregnancy among girls preparing to write their final year BECE exams at the Junior High School".
He added "This year for instance, out of a total of 1,589 candidates who sat for the Mock Exams organised for JHS candidates, 21 pupils were not able to write the exams as a result of pregnancy related cases".
He said the pregnancy has been increased from 15 percent to 19 percent.
He continued that, the Assembly through the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development undertook a sensitization programme on the effect of it and how to protect themselves from unsafe sex in fifteen schools in the area.
"In order to reduce the incidence, the District Assembly through the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development undertook a sensitization programme on the effect of teenage pregnancy and how to protect oneself from unsafe in fifteen (15) schools in the District", he emphasized.
He, therefore, used the occasion to appeal to the Assembly Members to collaborate with the Assembly to ensure total control of the menace.
"Hon. Assembly Members, while the education against teenage pregnancy continues, your support and collaborations are needed to ensure a total control of such menace".
He stressed "We also need to continue to strengthen the relevant structures such as P. T. A at the community level to enable them play a more complementary role in the supervision and monitoring of teaching and learning process in our communities".
As a result, he also tasked the District Education Directorate to collaborate with the Department of Social Welfare District Health Directorate, Community Development and Development Planning Unit, to develop innovative strategies to solve the social canker.
