Bono Minister urges adolescent to avoid risky sexual behaviours with lifelong consequences

By Dennis Peprah, GNA 

Sunyani, (Bono), Nov. 25, GNA – Mr Joseph Addae Akwaboa, the Bono Regional Minister has called for a collective approach to tackle emerging challenges and needs confronting adolescents in the country. 

Nonetheless, he urged adolescents to avoid risky sexual behaviours which had lifelong consequences, advising them to make responsible choices, seek accurate information, utilise available health services, and protect themselves against HIV infections. 

“Your future is valuable, your dreams are valid, and your health must never be compromised by preventable infections,” he advised. 

Mr Akwaboa said challenges like limited access to education, poor reproductive health services and child labour undermined the potential of adolescents and weakened the foundations of the nation’s collective progress. 

The Regional Minister made the call in a speech read on his behalf by Mr Vincent Antwi Agyei, the Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive, at the opening session of a day’s adolescent conference organised by the Global Media Foundation (GloMeF), a human rights and media advocacy Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in Sunyani. 

The GloMeF in collaboration with Citizens Watch, and Indigenous Women Empowerment Network, also NGOs with support from Star Ghana Foundation, Unifor Social Justice Fund (Canada), West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), ActionAid Ghana (AAG) organised the conference. 

It was on the theme: “Empowering the next generation: GloMeF and partners deliver high impact,” and sought to mobilise societal support to tackling child labour and other challenges inimical to the holistic growth and development children and adolescent boys and girls. 

Mr Akwaboa commended GloMeF and its partners for their commitment to adolescent wellbeing and for providing a platform where young people could voice their concerns, share their experiences, and shape solutions. 

He noted that across the country, adolescents continued to face a range of challenges that directly affected their proper upbringing, development and wellbeing, and lauded the conference that provided adolescents the opportunity to identify and express the issues affecting them, engage duty bearers, and contribute to shaping the solutions that affected their lives. 

“In line with our commitment to adolescent health, it is crucial to draw attention to the rising concerns of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections among young people,” saying ending those challenges required the collective effort of government, families, communities, and institutions. 

Mr Akwaboa stated that “No child should be denied their right to education, safety, and healthy development” and gave an assurance that the Bono Regional Coordinating Council (BRCC) remained deeply committed to advancing the rights and wellbeing of adolescents in the region. 

He said the BRCC would continue to collaborate with the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, Ghana Education Service, civil society organisations, traditional authorities, youth groups, and development partners to reduce child labour, strengthen education delivery, promote adolescent health, and ensure that every young person grew in dignity, safety, and confidence. 

Mr Akwaboa emphasised the government’s dedication to achieving the full objective of the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) programme by prioritising investments that expanded access, improve quality, and ensured fairness within the basic education system. 

“We continue to implement the ongoing free sanitary pad distribution programme for adolescent girls in basic and secondary schools. This programme received allocation in the 2025 budget, and the recently presented 2026 budget has significantly increased its allocation to expand its reach,” he said. 

Mr Akwaboa said: “This is not just a health intervention, but a dignity intervention aimed at promoting menstrual hygiene, reducing absenteeism, preventing stigma, and ensuring that no girl is left behind simply because of her monthly cycle.” 

Earlier in a welcoming address, Mr Raphael Godlove Ahenu, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of GloMeF, explained that the conference sought to provide a safe and enabling environment for adolescents to express their needs, aspirations, and proposed solutions. 

GNA 

Edited by Christabel Addo