By Isaac Arkoh
Assin Fosu (C/R), June 06, GNA – The Assin Fosu Municipal Health Directorate has raised serious concerns about a troubling situation in the area, where many teenage girls, lacking financial resources, have resorted to transactional sex to afford sanitary pads and other essential items.
Officials noted that many parents have neglected their fundamental responsibilities to provide for their children’s basic needs, including food, medical care, shelter, clothing, love, attention, understanding, acceptance, quality time, and emotional support.
These neglects have created a dangerous void, with unscrupulous men, exploiting the situation to girls as sexual objects under the pretence of buying them sanitary pads and providing money for food and personal necessities, while parents remained helpless bystanders.
According to Mr Emmanuel Bediako Tandoh, the Municipal Deputy Public Health Nurse, this situation has led to a rise in teenage pregnancies, resulting in severe socio-economic and health consequences for the community.
Between January and March 2024, he said there were 593 antenatal visits, with 50 involving teen mothers aged 10-19.
In the same period in 2025, antenatal visits increased to 749, including 63 teen mothers, representing a concerning 8.4 rise in teenage pregnancies within some few months.
Mr Tandoh revealed this during an interview with the Ghana News Agency at a capacity-building event for youth leaders and faith-based organisations on sexual and gender-based violence and harmful cultural practices at Assin Fosu.
The event was organised by the Central Regional Coordinating Council (CRCC), the National Youth Authority and partners, supported by UNFPA.
The goal is to equip participants with knowledge and skills to reduce teen pregnancies, prevent abuses, advocate for victims, and help transform harmful cultural traditions in their communities.
Mr Tandoh attributed the rise in teenage pregnancies partly to widespread ignorance about their menstrual cycle, leaving many girls unaware of how to manage their periods safely and hygienically.
This lack of knowledge lowers their confidence, leads to school absenteeism, and increases vulnerability to early pregnancy.
He warned that teen pregnancies could cause serious health issues such as anaemia, low birth weight, stillbirth, and psychological trauma from social rejection and stigma.
Additionally, these pregnancies often resulted in school dropouts, unemployment, and single parenting, perpetuating poverty and limiting educational and developmental opportunities.
To address the challenges, Mr Tandoh called for intensified public awareness, family planning education and economic empowerment programmes.
He emphasised that solutions included livelihood empowerment, improved sex education, family planning, mentoring adolescent girls on proper behaviour and increased support from NGOs and donor partners for public sensitisation campaigns.
Mr Francis Obeng Takyi, the Regional Population Officer, addressed misconceptions about family planning, highlighting its role in enabling individuals and couples to plan their births and space their children.
He emphasised that family planning helped to improve maternal and child health, reduced financial strain, and enhanced parenting quality.
Without it, families faced health risks such as maternal mortality and complications from frequent pregnancies, as well as financial difficulties that could hinder child development and women’s social participation.
Mr David Allan Paintsil, Assistant Director II at CRCC, commended UNFPA’s leadership in promoting family planning and education to combat sexual and gender-based violence in the Region.
He urged the youth to avoid early and unprotected sex to prevent teen pregnancies and encouraged them to focus on education or vocational skills to become responsible adults and contribute positively to the society.
GNA
Edited by Alice Tettey/George-Ramsey Benamba