By Michael Foli Jackidy
Ho (V/R), Oct. 17, GNA – The Complementary Education Agency (CEA), under the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has trained selected youth leaders in the Volta Region on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention and reproductive health.
The three-day training, held in Ho, aimed at equipping participants with knowledge and practical skills in reproductive health and GBV prevention to enable them support young people in their communities.
Madam Lilly Asamoah, Senior Programme Officer at the CEA, speaking on behalf of Mr Daniel Kwesi Ashiamah, Executive Director of the Agency, said the workshop provided an important opportunity to strengthen the capacity of youth leaders to effectively use reproductive health education materials.
She said the materials to be distributed to participants would serve as valuable tools for promoting informed decision-making, responsible behaviour and positive health outcomes among young people.
Madam Asamoah reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to working with partners and other stakeholders to promote inclusive education, youth empowerment, and reproductive health education.
Mr Samuel Atsu Klu, Volta Regional Director of the CEA, described the workshop as more than a training exercise, saying it represented an investment in the knowledge, safety, dignity and future of adolescents.
He said adolescence was a critical stage of human development during which young people experienced significant physical, emotional and social changes and therefore required accurate information, proper guidance and a supportive environment to make informed decisions.
Mr Klu noted that misinformation about reproductive health, peer pressure, unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, unhealthy relationships and gender-based violence continued to pose serious challenges to adolescents, with consequences for their education and overall well-being.
He encouraged participants to apply the knowledge acquired in their communities by promoting gender equality, responding appropriately to concerns, and supporting adolescents facing challenges.
Some traditional leaders who attended the opening ceremony expressed appreciation to the CEA and its partners, particularly UNFPA, for providing youth leaders with the opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills in reproductive health and gender-based violence prevention.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Bertha Badu-Agyei/Lydia Kukua Asamoah