ATIWA: Rate of teenage pregnancy alarming

Teenage pregnancy

The Magistrate at the Atiwa District Magistrate Court, Mrs. Ankomah Yeboah has described the rate of reported cases of teenage pregnancy as alarming.

 Addressing assembly members at the first ordinary meeting of the second session of the assembly, Mrs Yeboah said he was not happy about the high number of cases that she has to handle each day on teenage pregnancy related issues.

According to her, what is more alarming the age rage of the girls which are usually 13 to 16. She said even in most cases, the men are also teenagers thus making the case more difficult while the chances of caring for the pregnant mothers difficult.

She therefore advised parents to be more careful and play active roles in nurturing their children towards a better future, urging them to be responsible for the needs of their children especially girls so that they are not easily lured by men.
 
She called on the assembly to enact bye laws to regulate the movement of children especially at night.

She also disclosed that, she and other colleagues are making plans to embark on a sensitization programme using themselves as examples to get the girls to be more interested in education and avoid premarital sex.

Speaking on the issue, the District Chief Executive Mr. Emmanuel Atta Twum indicated that a number of bye laws including one that is hoped to address the rate of teenage pregnancy has been enacted and would soon be gazette.

He complained that the attitude and utterances of some parents draw their children into premature sex and appealed to them to have a firm control of their children especially those with high crave for money.

Dominic Shirimori/Ghanadistricts.com