Bolgatanga: The Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Advocates Network in the Upper East Region has called for bold and coordinated action to address the increasing teenage pregnancy rates.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Network issued a statement to mark this year's International Youth Day, observed globally under the theme, 'Youth Empowerment for a Sustainable Future.' The statement described teenage pregnancy as a major threat to the education, health, and future of girls in the region.
Statistics from the Ghana Health Service revealed that between January and May 2025, the region recorded 2,436 teenage pregnancies, including 25 cases involving girls aged 10 to 14 and 2,411 involving those aged 15 to 19. The statement highlighted teenage pregnancy as 'more than a health issue,' warning that it was a developmental emergency with far-reaching consequences such as school dropouts, health complications during childbirth, psychological distress, and economic burdens on families and public systems.
The root causes identified include the lack of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education, cultural taboos around adolescent sexuality, gender-based violence, poverty, transactional sex, and limited access to youth-friendly health services. The statement called on the National Youth Authority, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection to integrate reproductive health education into school and community programs for intensified education.
The Network also advocated for the expansion of adolescent-friendly health services across districts, strengthened legal and psychosocial support for survivors of sexual violence, and engagement with families, traditional leaders, and faith communities in open dialogue to find sustainable solutions to this issue. The call also included the mobilization of resources and partnerships to scale up interventions aimed at ending teenage pregnancy.
'Teenage pregnancy should never be a barrier to a girl's dreams. Every girl deserves the right to education, safety, dignity, and opportunity,' the statement emphasized, adding that on International Youth Day, all stakeholders must reaffirm their commitment to empowering youth and creating a future where every girl can thrive.
The SRHR Advocates Network comprises non-governmental organizations and civil society organizations working together to address critical issues affecting the growth and development of adolescents and young people in the Upper East Region. Their collective efforts aim to end issues like teenage pregnancy, child marriage, sexual and gender-based violence, and school dropouts to create promising futures for young girls.
The statement was jointly signed by members of the Network, including Youth Harvest Foundation Ghana, AfriKids, Rise Ghana, Restorative Seed Society, Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG), INTYON, the Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health (Upper East Region), Camfed Ghana, UERCC-UNFPA/Focal Person, Asige Foundation, and Right To Play, and was copied to the Ghana News Agency in Bolgatanga.
