Police from Akyem Oda Divisional Police Command have embarked on an operation to arrest suspects in connection with the alarming teenage pregnancy cases in the district.
Three suspects including an old man who is about 64 years were arrested at Akyem Akokoaso and Kwaboadi No.1 communities.
The 64 year old man had sexually abused and impregnated his stepdaughter age 14 years. The girl gave birth two weeks ago.
He allegedly invited the girl from school anytime the wife is away to have sexual intercourse with her.
The two other suspects are teenagers accused of gang raping two siblings -12 and 15 year olds resulting in the pregnancy of the 12 year old girl.
There are harrowing incidents of sexual abuse at Ofoase Ayirebi constituency of Akyemansa district in Eastern region which have either left many teenage girls permanently traumatized or impregnated.
Sadly, the perpetrators have been let loose for many years.
Whereas majority of the victims have dropped out of school, others are still persevering to continue their education but performing poorly as a result of their conditions.
Emmanuel Kwarfo Minta, Executive Director of Ark Development Organization implementing SPREAD Project with Funding ROM UNICEF to end teenage pregnancy menace on Ofoase Ayirebi Constituency is worries that Ofoase Police command has no DOVVSU Office .
Again,DOVVSU office at Oda Divisional Police Command isdoes not have vehicles and logistics to operate
Some parents supported the arrest of the perpetrators to serve as deterent.
Background.
About a month ago, stories of gender and sexual based violence victim in Ofoase -Ayirebi were told .
Begining with sad story of 14 year old girl at Akyem Anyinase community which opened the can of worms of sexual abuse cases in the district.
The girl (name concealed) was sexually abused and impregnated by a 60 year old farmer who took her to stay with him after death of the girl’s father.
She was first abused and impregnated by Cousin of the 60 year old farmer but the pregnancy was terminated .
“I relocated from Akyem Anyinase to stay with him(abuser) at Akwatia when my father died.I stopped schooling and went to farm with him .His cousin impregnated me but they aborted it.He sent me a to a Clinic and they gave him some medicine so I drunk one tablet and the wife inserted another into my vagina. Then later the man slept with me at Adwobie community when we go to farm and impregnated me.He threatened me not to tell anyone that if I do he will sent me to the shrine at his hometown to kill me.He brought me back to Akyem Anyinase and abandon me that he is not responsible for the pregnancy because the baby doesn’t look like Him”.
The girl was rejected by her mother after she was brought back to Akyem Anyinase pregnant.
A good Samaritan in the community Abena Ampomaa is now taking care of her .She wants the Police to deal with the abusers of the girl.
In the same community, I met Awurama, she was 14 years in class six when impregnated by a 20 year old man..Her child is now 2 years five months old.Awurama has dropped out of school.
Narrating her ordeal amid tears , she said she was abused by the young man who offered to help her since her father was unable to provide her basic needs.
At Kwaboadi No 1 Junior High School, the dream of a 17 year old girl to become a nurse has almost been impaired after she was sexually abused and impregnated by a close relative. She is 9 months pregnant.
At Bontodiase community, two siblings- a 17 year Old JHS 3 student and 18 year old SHS 1 student have been sexually abused and impregnated by their abusers. Whereas the victim in JHS 3 who is eight months pregnant is still in school to chase her dream of joining Ghana Arm Forces, her sister has been sacked from Ofoase SHS.
Father of the victims Kwadwo Kwaning is worried however failed to report the incident to the Police instead took money from one of the perpetrators as customary rite admitting responsibility for the pregnancy.
At Akyem Akokoaso, two siblings –a 15 and 12 year old girls are traumatized after they were abducted by some okada riders and ganged raped in same room. The 12 year old is five months pregnant.
Grandmother of the victims, Madam Hagan wants the perpetrators punished.
The Akyemansa District continue to record high cases of teenage pregnancy. The district recorded highest cases in Eastern region in 2021 but dropped to second position in 2022.
District Education Director Akua Ayisi blames the situation on irresponsible parenting. She said many parents do not provide basic needs of the girls including sanitary pad hence largely depend on men who take advantage to abuse them.
UNICEF in partnership with Ark Development Organization are implementing “Safe and Protective Environment for Adolescent Development (SPREAD)” with slogan Cross your Leg 100% Cross your Leg to fight the menace in the last two years.
Stephania Amissah Brikorang, In charge of Girl Child Education in the District said most of the abusers are Okada riders. She cited an instance where an Okada riders impregnated three students in same school.
Currently only 9 of the BECE candidates are pregnant in the district a success attributed to the SPREAD Project.
Executive Director of Ark Development organization Emmanuel Kwarfo Minta said the organization has petitioned government to reduce taxes on sanitary pads for rural girls to afford just so they don’t depend on men who ends up sexually abusing them.
He also hinted of plans to get the involvement of Domestic Violence and Victims Supports Unit (DOVSSU) to establish an office in the Akyemansa District to pursue the perpetrators.
At a soccer competition for community members and schools as part of strategy to create awareness on teenage pregnancy menace, the 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.
The Akyemansa District Assembly and stakeholders need to initiate policy interventions and by-laws to deal with the menace.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
