Connect with us

Hot!

C/R records 3,198 teenage pregnancies within 5 months

Published

on

The Central Region has recorded a total of 3,198 teenage pregnancies from January to May this year.

According to the Ghana Health Service (GHS), drivers, farmers and teachers continued to be the group of men who were impregnating the teens.

Madam Lydia Acquah, a nutrition officer at the Ekumfi District Health Directorate who revealed this, described the situation as ‘very pathetic’ and called for pragmatic measures to be put in place to tackle it.

She was addressing some youth groups in Ekumfi at a day’s step-down engagement between youth groups and policy makers on policy development and implementation on youth participation in decision making at Ekumfi.

The event was organised by the National Youth Authority (NYA) in collaboration with the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) with funding from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Speaking on adolescent sexual reproductive health and its related issues, Madam Acquah revealed that the spread of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) was common among adolescents.

She said accessing health services was a problem for teen expectant mothers and adolescents with STIs due to the stigma attached to them.

Madam Acquah said the GHS established adolescent friendly clinics to specifically educate and respond to the reproductive health needs of the adolescent, and to ensure they received adequate access to health services.

But surprisingly, she bemoaned, the adolescents were not patronising them, saying this could partly be the reason for the high teenage pregnancies in the region. 

Additionally, she indicated, sexual exploitation by some unscrupulous men, irresponsible parenting, misconceptions about family planning, and lack of sex education and family planning had compounded the problem.

In the Ajumako Eyan Esiam District, where more than 237 teen pregnancies had been recorded, Mrs Esther Amankwah, Acting District Health Director underscored the need to assist and guide adolescents as they transitioned into adulthood. 

She said adolescents were faced with several reproductive health challenges and that their inability to make the right choices could adversely destroy their future, and cautioned the youth against drug abuse and said such risky behaviours could have lifelong consequences on their health, education and social lives.

ASP Doris Amewude, Deputy Central Regional DOVVSU Coordinator spoke about the role of the youth and other stakeholders in ending Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV), and stressed that rape and defilement cases must not be settled at home. GNA

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Hot!

Justin Kodua Frimpong files nomination to seek re-election as NPP General Secretary

Published

on

General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Kodua Frimpong, has filed his nomination to contest the position of General Secretary again as the party begins its rebuilding efforts ahead of the 2028 general elections.

He was accompanied by party stalwarts and supporters who were in high spirits, expressing confidence that he is the right person to hold the position.

Speaking after filing his nomination, Mr Kodua Frimpong assured the rank and file of the party that he would not disappoint them.

Advertisement

“I can assure you that the faith the rank and file of the party have had in me, I will never disappoint them,” he said.

He also pledged to run a clean campaign devoid of personal attacks.

“I can assure you that our internal campaign will be devoid of personal attacks,” he told his fellow contestants and the rank and file of the party as he seeks to retain his position.

His tenure has seen the party through the 2024 general elections, where the NPP lost power to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) after eight years in government.

Advertisement

The party is currently in a rebuilding phase, with internal elections scheduled to elect new national executives to lead its reorganization towards the 2028 polls.

The General Secretary position is considered one of the most influential in the party’s administrative structure, responsible for the day-to-day running of the party secretariat and implementation of party decisions.

By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Hot!

UGMC disputes Michael Blackson’s claims over late mother’s treatment

Published

on

The University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) has disputed claims made on social media by comedian Michael Blackson concerning the treatment given to his late mother, saying a review found that the allegations did not accurately reflect what happened during her stay at the hospital.

In a statement issued in Accra on August 5, 2026, the management of UGMC expressed condolences to Mr. Blackson and his family over the death of his 83-year-old mother, who died at the facility on July 16, 2026.

The hospital said it had taken the concerns raised by Mr. Blackson seriously and conducted a thorough review in line with its clinical and administrative procedures.

According to the statement, the facts presented by Mr. Blackson on social media contained “numerous inaccuracies” and did not accurately reflect the medical care provided to his mother.

Advertisement

UGMC explained that she was referred to the facility from another hospital and received treatment there from May 27 to July 16, 2026, a period of about eight weeks.

The hospital stated that it would not release details of her diagnosis, treatment, medical records or other aspects of her care because it had a duty to protect patient confidentiality, even after death.

It said the decision was intended to respect the dignity of the deceased and the privacy of her family.

UGMC further stated that all clinical decisions at the facility are made by qualified healthcare professionals based on medical judgment, established standards of care and the best interests of the patient.

Advertisement

The statement added that such decisions are made in consultation with authorised family representatives where necessary and that billing and financial procedures are governed by institutional policies and are separate from clinical decision-making.

The hospital noted that it values feedback from patients and their families and considers both positive and negative comments important for improving the quality of care.

Mr. Blackson had earlier used social media to criticise the care his mother received at UGMC, prompting the hospital’s response.

By: Jacob Aggrey

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending