The Chief Executive Officer of Global Media Foundation, Raphael Godlove Ahenu, who gave the advice, explained that the practice where many churches, mosques and parents shy away from educating their children about sex is a major setback to the campaign against illegal abortions and teenage pregnancies. The lack of sexual and reproductive health education among most young people has led to wanton sexual exploitation, unwanted pregnancies, avoidable deaths, health complications and abuse of emergency contraceptives among others.
Mr. Ahenu was addressing separate health summits with members of ‘Lead Me To Heaven Church’ at Kwatire and Amazing Grace Chapel at Odomase, both in the Sunyani West District as part of activities marking this year’s International Day of Action for Women’s Health, 28 May.
The Global Media Foundation and its key allies – Indigenous Women Empowerment Network, Kingdom Dream Foundation, and WEA Business Coalition Ghana – organised the two health summits, dubbed “Grassroots Women Health Summit”, at Kwatire and Odomase to further deepen people’s awareness on sexual reproductive health, dangers associated with unsafe abortions and teenage pregnancies.
Mr. Ahenu encouraged parents to spend quality time with their children and make conscious efforts to provide them with their basic needs as a way of preventing them from engaging in early sex. This will help prevent sexually transmitted infections and teenage pregnancies to avoid illegal abortions.
Mr Ahenu said it is regrettable that the then Brong Ahafo region (which is Ahafo, Bono and Bono East regions) annually record over 12,000 cases of teenage pregnancies, with most of them coming from Christian and Muslim homes.
According to him, over 64,000 cases of teenage pregnancies were recorded in Ghana last year alone, a situation which usually disrupts the academic pursuit of the girls and affects their development.
Rev Charles Baidoo, the Founder and Leader of the Amazing Grace Chapel International, on his part emphasized the critical role of the clergy in helping to reduce teenage pregnancies in the country and pledged his support toward that course.
SOURCES: E-mail from Rafael Ahenu, GhanaGlobal Media Foundation ; Modern Ghana/PHOTO, by Richard Kofi Boahen, 31 May 2019