News
VR records 6,139 teenage pregnancies
One-hundred-and sixty-five girls between 10 and 14 years got pregnant in the Volta Region last year.
Out of this figure, 23 were recorded in the Akatsi South District, 21 in the Ketu North Municipality while Ho and Ketu South Municipalities recorded 14 cases each.
Also, 5,974 teenagers within the age group of 15 and 19 got pregnant during the same period.
This brings the total number of underage and teenage pregnancies in the region in 2020 to 6,139.
Out of the total figure, 774 were recorded in the Ketu South Municipality, followed by South Tongu District with 466 cases and then Keta Municipality with 464 cases.
The municipalities of Ketu North and Hohoe recorded 444 and 440 cases respectively while North Tongu District also recorded 414 cases.
Madam Florence Gyaase-Nketiah, Deputy Volta Regional Director of Nursing (Public Health) made the startling revelation to The Spectator at Ho on Tuesday.
She said that the Akatsi North District recorded 94 cases which was the least number of the pregnancies.
According to her, the health authorities in the region were working vigorously with the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service, and the United Nations Sexual and Reproductive Health Agency, UNFPA to curb the trend significantly.
The Deputy Director of Nursing entreated parents to talk openly with their children on sexuality, saying the “world is changing and so are the body development stages of our children.”
She expressed concern over the usual silence on the identities of the men who impregnated under-aged girls in the communities and called on all and sundry to help to expose the perpetrators for the appropriate action to be taken against them.
She again said that the 6,139 cases of underage and teenage pregnancies were among the 45,411 antenatal registrations in the region last year.
Still on the underage and teenage pregnancy figures, the Adaklu and Afadzato South Districts recorded 121 and 117 respectively, while Akatsi South recorded 392 cases, with 273 of such pregnancies occurring in the Anloga District and 300 in the Ho West District.
The rest are Kpando Municipality, 309; North Dayi District, 137; South Dayi, 302 and Agotime Ziope 181.
In a world where fathers are increasingly consumed by work and the pursuit of financial security, Bishop Michael Quartey, the Regional Overseer of the Perez Chapel International, has urged fathers to prioritise spending quality time with their children.
This, he said makes them develop trust, love and sense of security in building confident responsible adults.
Bishop Michael Quartey made this known in an interview with The Spectator ahead of the Father’s Day celebration tomorrow.
He noted that while many fathers are providing the financial needs of their families, children also require emotional support, guidance and quality time from their fathers.
“A lot of children are engaged in a lot of negative things just because of the absence of their fathers and it is about time we sit up.”
Bishop Quartey explained that fatherhood goes beyond meeting financial obligations and involves being physically and emotionally present in the lives of their children.
“Fathers serve as role models whose actions and decisions often influence the values and attitudes of their children” he disclosed.
He also elaborated that regular communication, participation in school activities and involvement in children’s daily life could significantly strengthen family bonds and contribute to the overall well –being of the children.
He added that though the modern day fathers are doing so well, we need to continue to change the narrative by putting in extra effort in the upbringing of our children.
“Being a father is a great joy and it is very necessary for fathers to be celebrated because they go through a lot,” he indicated.
Mr Quartey used the opportunity to encourage all fathers to continue doing their best and pray for their children as well.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
A new cultural, trade, and diplomatic platform celebrating Ghana-Norway ties was launched on Saturday, June 13, at Palms by Eagles Hotel, Accra.
Dubbed the ‘Akwaaba Nsuo & Velkommen Fjord Durbar 2026’, the event draws on the symbolism of Ghana’s rivers, -Nsuo, and Norway’s fjords to highlight water as a shared cultural, economic, and environmental identity.
The three-day event is scheduled for July 31 – August 2, 2026 in Oslo, Norway. Activities will include a trade exhibition, durbar of chiefs, and B2B networking sessions.
Speaking at the launch, CEO of the Durbar, Kofi Mulan, said Ghana’s rivers like the Volta, Pra, and Ankobra have long sustained livelihoods through fishing, transport, and spirituality.
“Similarly, Norway’s fjords represent the cornerstone of its maritime heritage, global leadership in ocean industries, and environmental stewardship,” Mr Mulan added.
“These parallel relationships with water form the philosophical and thematic spine of the entire event. The Akwaaba Nsuo & Velkommen Fjord Durbar 2026 is therefore framed as a convergence of heritage and innovation,” he said.
Organisers say participants will benefit from Global visibility and cultural diplomacy in Europe, stronger ties with Norway, and increased market access for exports like fashion, crafts, agribusiness, and processed goods under AfCFTA frameworks on the Ghana side.
On the Norway side, they noted access to Norwegian expertise in maritime technology, aquaculture, and renewable energy, plus opportunities in fisheries, offshore energy, and sustainability projects.
The Durbar is positioned as a high-level exchange platform to deepen trade and diplomatic relations between Ghana and Norway.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
