A US-based Ghanaian Professor of Law and social commentator, Prof. Stephen Kwaku Asare alias Kwaku Azar has criticized the decision by the Queen-mother of Koforidua- Oyoko banning outdooring and naming ceremony of babies birthed by teenage mothers.
The decisions according to the Queenmother, Nana Ankomah Serwaah Bonsu II, also Adontenhemaa of New Juaben Traditional Area are measures to curb the alarming teenage pregnancy menace in the community.
“I have instituted a traditional bye-law that if you are not above 18 and 20 years and you give birth, there will be no outdooring and naming ceremony for you. If you will do so do it in your room. This is part of measures to curb increasing teenage pregnancy in this community”
However, Prof. Kwaku Asare disagrees stating that “Nana Ankomah Serwaah Bonsu II, the Queen-mother and Adontenhemaa of the New Juaben Traditional Area, is right in being concerned with the high rate of teenage pregnancy in the area.
However, I beg to differ with her on the ban on outdooring and naming ceremonies for teenagers who give birth as part of measures to curb increasing teenage pregnancy in this community”.
He posited that “Outdooring and naming ceremonies are an important traditional event for formally welcoming and introducing new members of the community as well as expressing gratitude to the ancestors for gifting the community with a new baby.
The newborn and their parents should not be denied this traditional rite of passage. Rather, Nana Ankomah and the community should emphasize preventive measures. SALL deserves a seat in the 8th Parliament just as any new parents should be allowed to outdoor their babies”
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
