An NGO Ark Development Organization with funding from UNICEF and in collaboration with Ghana Education Service has initiated football competition among communities and schools in Akyemansa District in Eastern region to fight alarming rate of teenage pregnancies.
The initiative is part of a project dubbed “Safe and Protective Environment for Adolescent Development (SPREAD) being implemented in the community by the NGO and UNICEF to fight the menace.
Akyemansa district recorded the highest teenage pregnancy cases in 2021 in Eastern region but dropped to second position in 2022
The football competition dubbed “Soccer for Change” was used to create a platform for both male and female teenagers as well as community members to be educated on effect of teenage pregnancy on the health of the girl child ,her education and socio-economic status in future and the overall effect on development of the community.
Project officer of Ark Development Organization David Kwaning revealed a total of 207 teenage mothers were identified from last year to first quarter of 2023 ,Seven of whom supported and sent back to school.
He is hopeful that, by the end of the project this year, teenage pregnancy cases will further drop.
Emmanuel Kwarfo Mintah Executive Director Ark Development Organization, said the two year SPREAD Project embedded with “Cross Your Leg Campaign” is ending but hopeful that the impact of the project reducing teenage pregnancy in the district over the period of implementation will be sustained for a drastic reduction in cases.
Some of the teenage girls who participated in the football competition shared their views blaming poverty and irresponsibility of parents for the alarming teenage pregnancy cases in the area.
Some said their parents fail to provide their basic needs including sanitary pads forcing them to go into sexual relationship with men for such support.
Some of the young men also
blamed parents for not providing the needs of their teenage girls pushing them to depend on men particularly Okada riders who also take undue advantage to have sex with the young girls resulting in teenage pregnancy.
Stephania Amissah Brikorang, In charge of Girl Child Education in the Akyemansa District said most of the abusers are Okada riders. She cited an instance where an Okada rider impregnated three students in same school.
Currently only 9 of the BECE candidates are pregnant in the district a marginal success attributed to the SPREAD Project.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
