Editorial
Don’t demand sex from teenage girls when you support them
Some teenage girls are becoming increasingly concerned about men requesting sex from them in return for the support they provide.
The girls have urged for intervention to address their predicament, claiming that the demand for sex by men in exchange for assistance frequently leads to teenage pregnancies among them.
The girls voiced these concerns when the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) conducted a study in three locations with over 200 adolescents, 80 percent of whom were girls.
The initiative forms part of the larger West and Central Africa strategy to ensure a better future for girls and is a component of Ghana’s national priorities for the welfare of teenage girls.
Participants were selected from the Greater Accra, Ashanti, and Upper West regions, including Wa, Kumasi, and Tema.
In collaboration with the government, the consultations were conducted to establish safe spaces where girls between the ages of 10 and 19 may discuss their goals and concerns and propose solutions.
The girls said that “some of us are willing to work, but there are very few opportunities available” and described their situation as a terrible reality that is having a significant impact on them.
They also bemoaned the fact that “we would gladly take jobs if we had access to them so that we can move away from this harmful lifestyle.”
Even more disturbing is the abusers’ use of their social status, influence, and power to coerce, manipulate, exploit, or threaten these defenseless girls. Some victims may feel pressured to comply with the abuser’s demands, making it difficult for them to report the abuse or escape, which causes emotional distress.
Experts in emotional therapy say that serious mental trauma, such as anxiety, sadness, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), can result from feeling helpless and exploited.
The Spectator advises parents to be responsible, mentor, and assist teenagers in making decisions about their sexual health. They should also establish private, open avenues for sex education discussions in order to allow their children to ask questions about sex, puberty, and relationships,
By empowering victims, holding perpetrators accountable, creating safe environments, and fostering education and awareness we can work towards preventing sexual abuse and help reduce the high rate of teenage pregnancies.
The Spectator applauds UNICEF for promising to keep turning these realisations into tangible action by strengthening programmes that empower adolescent girls and provide them with the opportunities needed to thrive.
We also implore the government and all other stakeholders to take action in order to invest in teenage girls’ potential, promote gender equality, and provide a better future for them.
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The recent floods in Accra and the neighbouring areas, which were brought on by a heavy downpour, were very catastrophic and caused loss of lives and property damage.
Similar severe flooding and downpours were also reported in other regions, which has caused anxiety and dread whenever it rains.
In a short period of time, the floods had a dangerous effect on entire communities and landscapes. Because of this, a lot of people are now temporarily putting up with friends or family members.
Videos that went viral on social media showed cars and other valuables being swept away by the floodwaters with little to nothing being done to stop them.
Certain organisations, including the New Times Corporation (NTC), publishers of The Ghanaian Times and The Spectator, were not spared because the flood level damaged important documents and swamped their premises.
Even locations outside of flood-prone zones were inundated by the floods.
The rains would intensify along with thunderstorms, according to the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet), which is tasked with observing, analysing, and disseminating weather and climate information to protect lives, promote economic planning, and maintain public safety.
It is important to remember that increased evaporation and atmospheric moisture due to climate change might intensify rainfall. Furthermore, more catastrophic floods are caused by heavy rainfall and shifting topography.
We discussed the causes of floods and mitigation strategies in our earlier editorial, “Accra floods necessitate change in attitude.”
Although the current flood situation is dire, safety can be greatly improved by being ready and understanding what to do.
The Spectator encourages the public to make an effort to be well-informed about weather predictions and take the required precautions to stay safe because the GMet is now providing accurate forecasts.
Make excellent use of the alert services that you can sign up for these days to get notifications on your phone.
Water, non-perishable food, a flashlight, batteries, prescription drugs, crucial documents in waterproof containers, and first aid supplies should all be prepared and kept readily available.
Safeguard your house and offices, relocate valuables to higher floors, and raise electrical appliances off the ground.
Avoid coming into contact with floodwater whenever you can since it might be tainted with chemicals, sewage, and other dangerous substances and also reptiles.
To make sure your neighbours are secure, it is crucial to check on them, especially if they are elderly, disabled, or living alone.
Additionally, parents need to make sure their children do not play in or close to floodwaters.
Let us be careful as there are floods everywhere.
Dear Editor,
I wish to plead with the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) to dispatch personnel to some of the flash points when it rains.
What happened last Monday and Tuesday at major transport terminals must not be something that must be repeated.
I wish to first of all commend the Interior Minister, Mr Muntaka Mubarak for the swift intervention by announcing the ‘holiday’ that gave workers and school children a relief.
It was such a tough moment for workers driving and those not driving. The situation at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle Interchange and other transport terminals forced workers to walk long distances.
Apart from the lack of public transport, pedestrians had to navigate through mud, making it difficult to move around.
I believe that with the presence of police personnel, the traffic situation can be well managed to ease the huge traffic congestion to make travelling a lot easier.
Frank Amoah,
Kasoa
