An NGO, Ark Development Organization (ADO) has coined a slogan dubbed “cross your leg” and responded as a “100% cross your Leg” campaign to fight alarming teenage pregnancy in Akyemansa District in Eastern Region.
The slogan was created as part of the implementation of “Safe and Protective Environment for Adolescent Development (SPREAD)” by the NGO.
The SPREAD project is sponsored by UNICEF in partnership with Global Affairs Canada.
“One slogan that we have adopted going to the communities, basic and secondary schools is that they have to cross their legs. So the young men will say cross your leg(because men normally open the legs) so the men will say Cross your Leg then the girls will say 100% cross your Leg meaning they are not going to open the legs again to maintain their virginity to reach adulthood”. Emmanuel Kwarfo Minta Project Director at Ark Development Organization told the media
Akyemansa district which is farming was second highest in 2021 in terms of early teenage pregnancy in the Eastern region and fifth highest in late teenage pregnancy cases.
A total of 364 teenage pregnancy cases were recorded at the Antenatal Care units of the various health facilities in 2021 and 190 were recorded as at midyear of 2022 in the district.
Denis Takyi Duku, Deputy Education Director in Charge of supervision and Monitoring at Ghana Education Service, Akyemansa district blames the high teenage pregnancy cases on poverty and Okada operators.
“We largely blame the high teenage pregnancy on the Okada boys having an affair with the girls. In fact, between 70 and 80% of all girls who get pregnant could be apportioned to the Okada boys. They may be responsible. For instance, we had an issue in Social Welfare where two boys impregnated a particular girl. The Okada boys work every day so they get some amount of money and once they have money they are able to convince some of the girls to buy them some gifts for example phones especially in the evening when they buy food for them. The girls or ladies become convinced that they are the guys who can help them and that is what is digging the grave of the future of these girls”. Denis Takyi Duku explained.
Some parents agree that worsening economic hardship makes it difficult to meet the needs of their children pushing the young girls into immoral acts, therefore, appealing to the government to provide some economic empowerment opportunities for them.
“The economy is hard. They don’t buy anything . We are unable to take care of our children. So some of our children are going wayward . Immoral activities all over the communities “. A parent said.
Akyemansa district is one of the districts that Performs poorly in the Eastern region as far as BECE is concerned.
In 2020 for instance, four schools in the district recorded zero per cent in the BECE.
The rate of School dropout is also high.
The Ghana Education Service in the district largely blames the situation on the increasing “boyfriend-girlfriend” relationships involving teenage girls.
The project officer of Ark Development Organization, David Kwaning says 89 of 369 adolescent mothers recorded in 2020 have so far been identified for assistance to go back to school or enrolled in economic empowerment programs or legal aid.
“Per what the Ghana Education Service gave us, we have about 369 adolescent mothers in the district as of 2020. So we are to identify them and then assist them in three ways. Some of them have to go back to school, others need justice, and others too need health assistance. So we have identified 89 of the Adolescent mothers” David Kwaning Project Officer said
Meanwhile, the NGO is initiating legal action against a man who took undue advantage of a 12-year-old vulnerable girl who dropped out of school after her father died, exploited her in child labour, and defiled and impregnated her.
The project has reached 1,577 out of the target adolescents of 2000 with four months to end.
The teenagers benefited from cyber security, career development, adolescent reproductive health, and social protection among others.
However, Stakeholders in the Akyemansa District are however not happy with the project duration, therefore, want an extension for the gains to be sustained to reduce teenage pregnancy to the lowest minimum
Source: Mybrytnewsroom.com/Obed Ansah
