GLOMEF, partners intensify adolescent empowerment drive in Sunyani

Civil society groups are calling for stronger community involvement and policy support to safeguard the future of Ghana’s adolescents.

This advocacy was renewed at the second edition of the Adolescents Radio Outreach Clinic and Community Forum, held in Sunyani by the Global Media Foundation (GLOMEF) and its partners.

The programme, supported by Fondation Botnar through Ecorys UK, brought together over 200 adolescents, parents, educators, and local authorities to engage in frank dialogue on teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS and other challenges confronting young people.

Delivering the keynote address, Raphael Godlove Ahenu, Chief Executive Officer of GLOMEF, stressed that adolescent well-being is not just a health issue but a development priority.

He noted that the initiative, under the Resilient City for Adolescents (RCA) Project, is designed to empower young people to actively participate in shaping healthier and safer communities.

“Investing in adolescents today means building a stronger future for our cities and the nation at large. We cannot afford to ignore the social and health challenges threatening our young people,” Ahenu emphasised.

Health experts who addressed the forum underscored the urgency of tackling teenage pregnancy and HIV/AIDS among adolescents.

Felicia Konadu, Bono Regional Health Promotion Officer, warned that peer pressure, poor parenting, poverty, and social media exposure were fueling risky behaviours among the youth.

On his part, Ahmed Ibrahim Bambilla, Bono Regional Technical Coordinator of the Ghana AIDS Commission, linked teenage pregnancy and HIV to the same behavioural factors, urging a stronger prevention drive anchored on abstinence and responsible living.



The advocacy drive was amplified by adolescent leaders such as Rahima Umar Ishaq, Majority Leader of the Sunyani Adolescents Parliament, and Master Justice Wiawdo, Adolescent MP for Sunyani Newtown, who joined peers from St James RC Basic School in calling for more opportunities for young people to speak and be heard.

The event, broadcast live on Service Radio 104.9 MHz and streamed via Facebook, was also supported by the Ghana Health Service, Ghana Education Service, the Ghana AIDS Commission, Sunyani East and West Municipal Assemblies, and other stakeholders.

Commending Fondation Botnar and Ecorys UK for their sustained support, Simon Asore, Executive Director of Citizens Watch Ghana, and Mr Edward Ayabila, Programmes Manager of GLOMEF, called for broader collaboration among stakeholders to build resilient adolescent-friendly communities across Ghana.