News
‘Love, nurture teenage girls unconditionally’
Chief Superintendent of Prisons (CSP) and Head of Commercial Unit at the Senior Correctional Centre in Accra, Ms Helen Korkor Quarcoo, has asked parents to unconditionally love and nurture their teenage girls in order to have that sense of belonging and make them feel safe at home.
She made the call in an interview at the “Access to Agency: Empowering women through digital inclusion” conference held in Accra recently.
According to the Senior Officer, most teenage pregnancies usually occur due to some emotional challenges which makes the teen girls go out searching for love and affection that is not provided at home.
Sharing more insights, CSP Quarcoo was of the view that teenage pregnancy could be a form of trauma response to emotional starvation which has huge repercussion on the girl child both physically and psychologically.
“Some of these teenage children living in the villages and remote areas who are not loved at home usually get brainwashed by false love from some irresponsible area boys/men who later impregnates them and run away,” she narrated.
CSP Quarcoo said teenage pregnancy was a complex issue associated with various factors including the absence of emotional needs.
Stressing on emotional needs, she indicated that teenage girls may seek love, attention or validation through relationships that may potentially lead to teenage pregnancies.
The Senior Officer further stated that lack of self-worth as a result of no-love shown at home leads to low self-esteem or feelings of worthlessness.
She said it could be a contributive factor to promiscuous behaviours resulting in unprotected sex.
Additionally, Mrs Quarcoo underscored that it was important to approach the heart-wrenching issues of teenage pregnancy with empathy and understanding or recognising the unique circumstances and challenges each girl faces.
She called for supportive services, conscious education and dedicated resources to be invested in helping teenage girls navigate through these complex issues.
Moreover, the Chief Superintendent of Prisons noted that empowerment of teenage girls and building their self-esteem is another way of fighting teenage pregnancies.
“Fostering positive self-image, worth and life skills through education, mentorship and community engagement, would positively help work towards achieving a low rate of teenage pregnancies and promote healthier outcomes for teenage girls”, she indicated.
By Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) has held its Fourth Quarter Ministerial Advisory Board Meeting to review progress, discuss key policy matters, and strengthen collaboration towards achieving its strategic goals.
The meeting brought together members of the Advisory Board, which was set up under Section 39 of the Civil Service Act, 1993 (PNDCL 327), and the Civil Service (Ministerial Advisory Board) Regulations, 2010 (L.I. 1961).
The Board serves as a platform for continuous engagement between the Ministry and its stakeholders.
Its role is to advise the sector Minister on policy planning and implementation, while ensuring that programmes on gender, social protection, and child welfare align with national priorities and government development goals.
The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, commended the Board for its consistent support and technical guidance in advancing the Ministry’s mandate.
She noted that the Ministry’s work in promoting gender equality, protecting the vulnerable, and ensuring the welfare of children and families depends on strong policies and effective partnerships.
Dr. Lartey stressed that the Advisory Board plays an important role in helping the Ministry deliver its mission in a sustainable and impactful way.
A major highlight of the meeting was a presentation on the Ministry’s achievements so far this year, followed by discussions on future policy direction and strategic focus areas.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has been unanimously elected as the Chairperson of the Africa Geopolitical Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
The election took place on October 19, 2025, during the ongoing 151st IPU Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland. His victory places Ghana at the center of continental and global parliamentary diplomacy.
With this new role, Speaker Bagbin will coordinate and harmonize Africa’s collective positions on major IPU decisions and policies.
He will also serve as the continent’s chief representative on key issues such as governance, peace, security, and sustainable development.
Speaker Bagbin currently serves as the President of the Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures (COSPAL) and is the immediate past Chairman of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) International.
In his remarks after the election, he thanked African delegations for their confidence and unity, particularly commending Nigeria for seconding his nomination and Senegal for withdrawing its candidate in the spirit of cooperation.
He pledged to strengthen collaboration among African parliaments and promote transparency, democratic governance, and sustainable development through stronger legislative institutions.
He succeeds Ms. Angela Thokozile Didiza, Speaker of South Africa’s National Assembly, who served with distinction.
The Africa Geopolitical Group, formed in the early 1950s, serves as a continental branch of the IPU, ensuring fair representation of African countries in the Union’s committees and decision-making bodies.
It also coordinates Africa’s common positions on major parliamentary issues discussed at IPU assemblies.
By: Jacob Aggrey
