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Make family planning centres, antenatal clinics adolescent friendly
Stigmatisation and judgmental attitudes from some health workers have been identified as some of the factors that discourages young people from accessing care.
The interim Country Director of Right to Play Ghana, Mr Evans Sinkari, has, therefore, urged family planning centres to be more welcoming and inclusive to adolescents seeking reproductive health services.
“Young people are among the most vulnerable when it comes to reproductive health, yet they face the greatest barriers to accessing services,” he said.
In an interview with The Spectator, Mr Sinkari explained that adolescents, aged 10 to 19, were at risk of unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and sexually transmitted infections due to limited access to information and services.
He stated that many were sexually active, whether by choice, coercion, or early marriage—yet often lacked adequate knowledge of, or access to contraception.
He emphasised that health workers’ judgmental attitudes, coupled with lack of privacy and confidentiality, often shame adolescents, deterring them from seeking contraceptives.
The fear that parents or community members may discover their choices further discourages them, he noted, and added that unfriendly environments at health facilities largely designed for adults, created feelings of intimidation, while financial and social barriers limit adolescents’ decision-making power and ability to pay for care.
According to Mr Sinkari, accessible and youth-friendly family planning centres would help reduce adolescent pregnancies and associated risks.
Contraceptive access, he stressed, prevents unsafe abortions, a leading cause of maternal mortality among adolescents.
He noted that promoting health and education would also reduce unintended pregnancies, allowing young people to remain in school and realise their potential.
On adolescent pregnancy, he noted that some health workers stigmatised young mothers when they sought antenatal care.
He emphasised the need for compassion, dignity, and professionalism in treating adolescent pregnant girls, arguing that stigmatisation undermined their rights and Ghana’s public health goals.
“It is not right for health workers in Ghana or anywhere to undermine adolescent girls,” he indicated, warning that such attitudes discouraged antenatal visits, skilled delivery, and postnatal care.
Some young mothers, fearing mistreatment, turn to unsafe abortions or unqualified traditional attendants, putting their lives at risk.
“These psychological harms lead to poor maternal and child outcomes, including preterm births, low birth weight, neonatal complications, and reduced uptake of postnatal services such as child immunisation and nutrition,” he explained.
Additionally, he cautioned that negative attitudes by health professionals perpetuate a cycle of harm, discouraging care-seeking, worsening health outcomes, increasing stigma, and undermining Ghana’s health and development goals.
Citing the 1992 Constitution and international agreements ratified by Ghana, such as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, he stressed that all adolescents have the right to quality, non-discriminatory healthcare.
Moreover, Mr Sinkari called for full implementation of Ghana’s Adolescent Health Services Policy and the National Reproductive Health Services Policy, which emphasise creating safe, supportive, and youth-friendly health services.
He said adolescent reproductive health must be a national priority, urging the establishment of more adolescent-friendly clinics across the country to provide education, reduce stigma, and help Ghana achieve SDG 3 on health and SDG 5 on gender equality.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Koforidua
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The Ghana Police Service has launched a manhunt for a suspect in connection with the disappearance of a 27 year old man at Oyibi.
In a press release dated April 14, 2026, the Police identified the suspect as Wisdom Tetteh and said he is being sought over the disappearance of Theophilus Ashitey Amarh.
According to the Police, the case was reported on April 7, 2026, after the victim failed to return home.
He had left the previous day with the intention of selling his Hyundai Elantra saloon car after being introduced to a prospective buyer by the suspect.
Investigations revealed that the victim was last seen at the suspect’s residence at Saasabi, where he had gone to meet the supposed buyer.
The Police noted that a follow up visit to the suspect’s residence on April 10 led to the discovery of suspected bloodstains in a room, raising concerns of possible foul play.
The scene has since been examined by the National Crime Scene Management Team with support from the Anti Armed Robbery Unit of the CID Headquarters.
The Police added that search efforts involving community members and local authorities have been carried out in the area, but the victim is yet to be found.
Further intelligence suggests that the suspect may have fled the country to neighbouring Togo.
The Police indicated that steps, including INTERPOL processes, have been initiated to track and arrest him.
The Command assured the public that all necessary measures are being taken to arrest the suspect and uncover what happened.
It also urged anyone with information on the whereabouts of the suspect or the missing person to report to the nearest police station to assist investigations.
By: Jacob Aggrey
A team member of the Kwahu Business Forum and special aide to the Chief of staff, Benjamin Essuman has revealed that the team is working on developing the forum into a major platform to support business growth and policy dialogue in Ghana.
According to him, efforts are underway to transform the Kwahu Business Village into an International Conference Hub that will attract businesses and investors from across the world.
He made the remarks during an interview with ghanaiantimes.com.gh journalist, Jacob Aggrey in Accra.
He said the forum was designed to bring together regulators, policymakers, entrepreneurs and investors to share ideas and help shape policies that support business development.
According to him, the concept began in 2024 when John Dramani Mahama and his Chief of Staff conceived the idea during the Easter period in Kwahu, where many entrepreneurs gather annually.
He said the first edition created a platform for business people to engage leadership directly and present their concerns.
According to him, the success of the maiden event led to the decision to make it an annual forum.
He said the second edition in 2025 focused on improving access to finance by bringing banks and financial institutions to interact with businesses.
He said institutions such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank participated and engaged entrepreneurs on funding opportunities.
According to him, the forum has now gone beyond dialogue and has become a platform for partnerships, negotiations and investment deals.
He said some entrepreneurs who participated in previous editions have secured support from financial institutions, with their projects progressing steadily.
According to him, the presence of the President at the forum continues to boost confidence among businesses and deepen engagement.
He said the 2026 edition was larger than the previous ones and was held at the newly developed Kwahu Business Village.
According to him, traditional authorities in Kwahu donated about 150 acres of land to support the development of a permanent business conference centre.
He said the forum is attracting both local and international companies, creating opportunities for networking and collaboration.
According to him, the initiative also promotes tourism activities such as paragliding in collaboration with the Ghana Tourism Authority.
He said the forum will continue to be held in Kwahu and is being positioned as Ghana’s version of the World Economic Forum.
Mr.Easuman further challenges such as overcrowding in previous editions have been addressed through the introduction of a digital registration system.
He said small scale businesses must take advantage of opportunities such as partnerships, mergers and government incentives to expand.
According to him, entrepreneurs should also collaborate with institutions like the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and the Ghana Export Promotion Authority to access international markets.
He said the long term vision includes developing the Kwahu Business Village into a world class facility capable of hosting global conferences, with possible plans to construct an airstrip.
According to him, the forum remains an important platform for businesses seeking growth, funding and expansion beyond Ghana.
Background
The Kwahu Business Forum was introduced in 2024 as an initiative to bring together business leaders and government officials during the Easter festivities in Kwahu.
It was conceived as a platform for dialogue but has since evolved into an annual event focused on promoting investment, networking and policy engagement to strengthen Ghana’s business environment.
By: Jacob Aggrey
