Teenage pregnancy is a significant issue in Ghana, with a 16.1% rate in 2019. The Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Assembly, the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, the Gender Desk Officer, and Inspirers and Advocates International, a non-profit organization, conducted a sensitization exercise on radio stations in the municipality to discuss and analyze the major trends and issues impacting adolescent girls and young women. The objectives of the sensitization included discussing the definition of teenage pregnancy, educating the public on sexual and reproductive health rights, promoting behavior change communication, and making recommendations on strategies to reduce teenage pregnancy prevalence and effects in the municipality and Ghana at large.
The Gender Desk Officer highlighted the adverse effects of teenage pregnancy, including health consequences, emotional crises, social discrimination, and loss of government revenues. Practical measures to reduce teenage pregnancy include sensitization on radio stations and communities, capacity building for stakeholders, engagement with traditional authorities, social intervention programs, and scholarships for girls. However, the Gender Desk Officer emphasized the need for parents to instill the right values and morals in their children to help them make appropriate life decisions. The Assembly is willing to support victims of teenage pregnancy and encourages them to seek support through the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, the Gender Desk Officer, or non-profit organizations in the municipality.