By Anthony Adongo Apubeo
Bolgatanga, June 23, GNA – The Most Reverend Alfred Agyenta, the Catholic Bishop of the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocese, has expressed concern over the growing trend of teenage pregnancies in the Upper East Region.
Speaking during a homily to celebrate the holy matrimony of 32 couples at the Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish in Bolgatanga, the bishop described the phenomenon as a moral and societal crisis that demands urgent attention from families, communities, and institutions.
The Most Reverend Agyenta lamented that children, especially girls as young as 15, were increasingly becoming mothers, an indication of the breakdown of family structures and moral responsibility.
“Why should a child become a mother?” Bishop Agyenta asked.
He added: “That is the question we should all be asking ourselves. What is happening to our families that a 15-year-old should be responsible for taking care of another child?”
The bishop recounted heartbreaking stories of young girls who had become pregnant and were unable to continue their education, with some already mothers even as they prepared to write the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
“A good number of these girls were pregnant just months before the exams,” he revealed, expressing sadness at the long-term consequences for their future.
His comments come at a time when reports of teenage pregnancies have been rising in parts of Ghana, particularly in the Upper East Region.
For instance, before the just-ended 2025 BECE, a total of 21 girls were visibly pregnant, while 17 girls were lactating mothers, with others recorded during the examination process.
The Bishop attributed the situation to a general neglect of family responsibility and a failure of society to prioritise the proper upbringing of children, stressing that a healthy society begins with strong families where children are nurtured with love, care, discipline, and guidance.
“We are always quick to complain about the state of society, yet we fail to look within our own families. The transformation of society must begin at home,” he said.
The Most Reverend Agyenta also highlighted the need for the Church, community leaders, and parents to renew their commitment to the moral and spiritual upbringing of children.
He reiterated the Catholic Church’s teaching on marriage and family life, stressing that love between a man and a woman was sacred and must be rooted in lifelong commitment and mutual respect.
He added that teenage pregnancy was not just a social issue, but a spiritual and moral one, calling on families to provide the necessary protection and guidance for their children.
“If we fail to protect our children, especially our girls, then we fail as a society,” he emphasized.
Bishop Agyenta urged young people to remain focused on their education and to understand the value of their dignity and purpose in life, reminding them that they are called to grow, learn, and take responsibility in society.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Benjamin Mensah