By Emelia B. Addae/GNA
Asokore (E/R), Nov. 8, GNA – Parents have been urged to strengthen communication and supervision to protect adolescents from pregnancy, drug abuse, violence and other harmful behaviour.
Mr Michael Asamoah, Eastern Regional Focal Person for the Government of Ghana-UNFPA Eighth Country Programme, made the call at Asokore SDA Demonstration School.
The engagement brought together parents of Junior High School students to discuss adolescent health, safety and responsible behaviour.
Mr Asamoah said the programme included the Adolescent Girls Programme, which promotes adolescent health rights and addresses violence against girls and women.
He added that it also sought to reduce teenage pregnancy and increase the adoption of family planning services.
The United Nations Population Fund sponsors the programme with financial support from the Canadian Government.
Mr Asamoah explained that the meeting followed several educational sessions organised for students at the school.
He noted that the engagement aimed to help parents identify home practices that could expose adolescents to pregnancy, violence and emotional harm.
According to him, involving parents would ensure that the education continued at home.
He said effective guidance would help children make sound decisions as they moved through adolescence.
Madam Patricia Birago, Eastern Regional Girls’ Education Officer, described adolescence as a critical stage of physical, mental, social and emotional change.
She advised parents to guide their children with patience and maintain open communication with them.
Madam Birago also encouraged parents to pay close attention to personal hygiene, particularly menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls.
She identified inadequate supervision, financial difficulties and poor parent-child relationships as factors that could expose adolescents to negative peer pressure.
Such conditions could also lead to early sexual activity and other risky behaviour, she stated.
Madam Birago said these challenges could result in unplanned pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections and involvement in criminal activities.
She warned that such outcomes could disrupt children’s education and limit their future opportunities.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Lydia Wemegah, Eastern Regional Coordinator of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit, urged parents to guide their children actively.
She observed that young people were increasingly exposed to harmful social influences.
ASP Wemegah said regular parental involvement and open communication were important in shaping adolescents’ values and decisions.
She disclosed that some adolescents became involved in crime through friends who introduced them to ghettos and groups engaged in harmful activities.
The officer cautioned that early involvement in crime could leave young people with criminal records.
Such records could limit access to education, employment and other opportunities later in life, she added.
ASP Wemegah encouraged parents to build trusting relationships that allowed their children to discuss problems without fear.
She said young people also needed emotional support to resist pressure and make responsible choices.
During the interactive session, parents shared concerns about teenage pregnancy, drug abuse, peer pressure, disobedience and other challenges affecting adolescents.
GNA
Edited by D.I. Laary/Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporter: Emelia B. Addae
Email: [email protected]