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Psychological distress rises among teenage girls
The Mental Health Authority of Ghana has recorded rising psychological distress cases among teenage girls in the country.
The rise, according to the authority, is linked to academic pressure, family issues, gender-based violence, and isolation.
This was disclosed by Victoria Naema Abdulai, the founder of the One Project Africa Foundation (OPAF), a non-profit organisation focused on empowering women and girls.
Ms Abdulai said this at a mental health awareness session organised by the foundation for students of the Accra Girls Senior High School in Accra.
It was held under the theme “Empowering Her Mind, Voice and Power: Fostering a Resilient Tomorrow for the Girl Child through Mental Wellness,” which was aimed at building self-awareness, promote emotional healing, and encourage resilience among young girls.
She stated that mental health was not a luxury but the foundation on which every girl’s future should be built
Ms Abdulai said despite the rising need, mental health remains one of the most misunderstood and neglected issues in our society.
She said without mental wellness, young girls will continue to struggle silently with learning, dreaming, and relating to others, warning that the lack of attention to girls’ mental health is costing society their potential.
She urged students to embrace their emotions and seek help when struggling. “You are not weak for having emotions. You are human. Seeking help does not make you a failure, it makes you courageous.”
Touching on what the foundation does, Ms Abdulai said the foundation teaches girls how to pass exams but not how to process pain, obey instructions but not how to handle rejection. We are obsessed with excellence but ignore the exhaustion.”
A Mental health practitioner and addiction specialist, Esther Kyewaah Opoku, on her part stated that mental health was not separate from general well-being but central to it. “Without your mental health, you are not healthy,” she said.
She mentioned that adolescence is a fragile period, with the brain still developing until age 25.
She disclosed that one in seven adolescent girls in Ghana has a mental disorder, with 26 per cent experiencing depression, 29.8 per cent emotional distress, and 14.8 per cent suffer trauma or behavioural issues.
She also blamed these conditions on peer pressure, bullying, sexual abuse, and toxic comparisons driven by social media. “We are sitting on a time bomb,” she said, urging early intervention and compassion.
According to her, adolescence is a critical stage of mental and emotional development, during which the executive brain, or forebrain, continues to form until age 25.
“This period is filled with vulnerabilities that, if unmanaged, can lead to lifelong challenges,” she said.
Ms Opoku therefore called for compassion, peer support, and continuous education on mental health to break the cycle of silence and stigma, particularly among young girls, saying “nobody should feel alone or hopeless.”
By Stephanie Birikorang
News
Nana Yaa Serwaa Sarpong Inspires and Awarded at the 2025 National Youth Mentorship Summit and Awards
The 2025 National Youth Mentorship Summit and Awards, held at the University of Ghana Business School, was more than a gathering—it was a transformative experience that brought together the nation’s leading minds in entrepreneurship, finance, leadership, and youth development.
But among the constellation of inspiring voices, it was Nana Yaa Serwaa Sarpong, celebrated Media Expert and General Manager of EIB Network, who delivered a keynote speech that left the most lasting impression.
Nana Yaa’s story is one of resilience, vision, and reinvention in Media and building brands. From her early days as a teenage TV presenter, she has risen to become one of Ghana’s most influential women in media.
With over 26 years of experience in Media alone, she now oversees some of Ghana’s top media outlets under the EIB Network umbrella. Her journey, marked by passion and purpose, framed the tone for a summit rooted in transformation and global relevance.
In her keynote address, Nana Yaa urged participants not only to develop big visions but to measure themselves by continental and global standards, “We are our only competition,” she declared, “but when setting your standards, set them to both continental and global benchmarks.”
Drawing from Psalm 90:12 and Proverbs 4:23, she emphasized to the youth gathered, the importance of intentional living, guarding one’s heart, and valuing time as the currency of purpose. “What you set your heart to determines what you achieve,” she said, urging the young participants to develop discipline, consistency, and courage in pursuit of their goals.
A standout quote from her speech “What separates a poor man from a wealthy one is courage,”sparked thunderous applause.
Nana Yaa reminded the youth that true sustainability in leadership is not about titles but about long-term thinking, resilience, and a commitment to personal development, irrespective of the reality around you.
She also shared her vision for Women in Sustainability Africa (WiSA), an initiative she founded to champion inclusive development and gender-balanced innovation.
“If it resonates with you,” she told the audience, “join and help shape a future of sustainable leadership, nation and continent.”
In a dedicated segment, Nana Yaa laid out a powerful roadmap for the youth of Ghana to leverage the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to create meaningful opportunities.
She explained how SDGs are not abstract policies but practical frameworks for young people to build sustainable livelihoods. From climate-smart agriculture, entrepreneurship and digital innovation to social impact ventures, she emphasized that the SDGs hold vast potential for youth-led transformation.
She said, “You have access to tools the generation before you never had.Use the SDGs to solve local problems with global thinking. Create value, and prosperity will follow.”
The summit, themed “YouthPreneur: A Catalyst for a New Economy”, was hosted by Albert Prempeh Kusi, CEO of LEC Group and a leading voice in youth empowerment. It welcomed an exceptional lineup of mentors and speakers who shared real-world insights and inspiration.
Among the notable guest speakers were:Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, Deputy Chief of Staff (Administration) at the Office of the President, who represented the Presidency and offered policy-level perspectives on youth development.
Georgina Asare Fiagbenu, Senior Manager of Corporate Communications at MTN Ghana, who spoke on behalf of Stephen Blewett, CEO of MTN Ghana, emphasizing the role of digital transformation in youth employment.
Richie Mensah, music producer and CEO of Lynx Entertainment, who inspired with his journey of building Ghana’s Afrobeats stars from the ground up.
Sina Kamagate, Executive Head of Retail Banking at GCB Bank PLC, who provided financial literacy tools tailored for the youth.
Janet Sunkwa-Mills, CEO of Afribiz Group and Jane’M Salon & Spa, who brought insights from over two decades of FMCG marketing across the continent.
Albert Prempeh Kusi, whose mission of reframing the youth from job seekers to job creators resonated throughout the summit.
As the summit drew to a close, Nana Yaa’s parting words became a mantra for the next generation:“Be disciplined. Be consistent. Be courageous. And never forget, sustainability starts with you.”
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Police arrest three suspects for robbery attack at Jukwa
The Western Central Regional Police Command has arrested three suspects for a robbery attack at Jukwa near Afransie in the Western Region.
The suspects were arrested on July 15, 2025 after a Toyota Hilux pickup with registration number GT 7426-23, transporting gold concentrate from a mining site to Wassa Akropong, was attacked near Jukwa town.
The occupants of the vehicle at the time of the robbery included the driver, Kofi Gyamfi, a security guard, Bashiru and one other person.
The robbers attacked the vehicle and made away with the gold concentrate.
Following a swift Police intervention, suspect Foster Peprah, a small-scale miner, was arrested at the scene.
Preliminary investigations revealed that he carried out the robbery with one Isaac, who is currently on the run. During interrogation, Foster mentioned Kofi Gyamfi, the driver, as the individual who invited them to carry out the robbery.
Kofi Gyamfi was later arrested, and he named Bashiru, the security guard, as the originator of the plan. Bashiru was subsequently arrested at his hideout in Wassa Gyedua.
All three suspects are currently in Police custody assisting investigations, while efforts are underway to arrest suspect Isaac who is currently on the run.
