By Evans Worlanyo Ameamu
Keta (VR), Dec. 6, GNA-Stakeholders in and around Keta Municipality of the Volta Region have been urged to play a crucial role in training children and inculcating good culture and family values in them to mitigate unwanted pregnancies.
The move would also enable curb teenage pregnancy among young girls and build strong and better moral life in younger generations for a brighter future.
Madam Margaret Dovlo, Public Health Nurse at Keta Health Directorate, during National Commission for Civil Education (NCCE) organised public programme at Keta, emphasised the need for intensified education on prevention and cited statistics that showed a significant percentage of maternal mortalities in the municipality with majority of teenagers under 24 years old.
“The consequences of teenage pregnancy are far-reaching, with pregnant teenagers often facing complications like premature labour, and even death due to their underdeveloped systems, we have responsibilities to train them well” she said.
She explained that the complications are linked to poor nutrition and inadequate healthcare, which highlighted the need for accessible reproductive healthcare services for teenagers.
She said teenage pregnancy among children was also a leading cause of school dropout rates with many teenagers becoming pregnant and having their education and future career prospects cut short while some become repeated teenage mothers, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and limited opportunities.
“To mitigate this issue, we are calling on stakeholders for intensified sex education in schools, focusing on consent, contraception, and healthy relationships and engagement in conversations about teenage pregnancy prevention.”
Madam Dovlo, who is also an adolescent focal person, urged stakeholders to lead the discussions on strategies for prevention and support to emphasise on the need for collaboration to create a brighter future for teenagers.
She noted that the National Youth Policy also listed four key strategies aimed at promoting adolescent health and reducing adolescent pregnancy, including empowering them to make choices regarding their sexual debut and preventing early and unplanned pregnancies.
Madam Elinam Lina Bensah, the NCCE Director at Keta, also stated that the commission was working hard to educate parents and adolescents across the municipality on adolescent health and pregnancy prevention to provide support to pregnant teenagers.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/ Linda Asante Agyei
December 6, 2025
Picture attached