News
Sexual demands in exchange for support —plight of adolescent girls
Some girls in three regions have lamented over the demand for sex by men in exchange for help, a situation that often results in teenage pregnancies.
The concern was raised during a United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)-led consultations with more than 200 adolescents out of which 80 per cent were girls.
The consultations, done in partnership with government, created safe spaces for girls between the ages of 10 and 19 to share their challenges and aspirations, and proposed solutions.
Participants were drawn from Wa, Kumasi and Tema, covering the Upper West, Ashanti and Greater Accra regions.
Seventeen-year-old Faustina, one of the participants, spoke about the harsh reality many girls face.
“The men who support us often demand sex in return, which leads to pregnancies. Some of us are willing to work, but there are very few opportunities available. If we had access to jobs, we would gladly take them so that we can move away from this harmful lifestyle,” she revealed.
The initiative forms part of Ghana’s national priorities for adolescent girls’ well-being and aligns with the broader West and Central Africa agenda to secure a brighter future for girls.
UNICEF Ghana’s Adolescent and Gender Lead, Irene Tumwebaze, said the perspectives shared will guide programmes in health, education, child protection, climate resilience, digital inclusion, mental health, and life skills.
“When we listen to adolescent girls and boys, we gain an unfiltered understanding of their realities and aspirations,” she explained. “These consultations are not just about listening; they are about action. The voices of adolescents, particularly girls, will help shape policies and programmes that invest in their potential, advance gender equality, and ensure a brighter future for all,” she added.
She asserted that the engagements highlighted the urgent need to place adolescent girls at the centre of decision-making processes, ensuring their voices and leadership influence policies that directly affect their lives.
UNICEF and its partners, Madam Tumwebaze emphasised, have pledged to continue translating these insights into concrete action by strengthening programmes that empower adolescent girls and provide them with the opportunities needed to thrive.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
News
President Mahama to hold first media encounter of his second term
President John Dramani Mahama will host a Presidential Media Encounter on Wednesday, September 10, 2025.
The event is scheduled to place at The Presidency at 8:00pm.
The encounter will provide a unique platform for President Mahama to engage the Ghanaian people through the media, on pressing national issues, his Resetting Ghana Agenda, policies and ongoing projects
It will also offer an opportunity for journalists to pose questions directly to the President on a wide
range of subjects affecting the nation.
Participation will be strictly by accreditation
The Presidency looks forward to a productive and engaging session with the media
News
Star Oil serves final demand notice to Goshers
Lawyers of Star Oil have issued final demand notice to social media user Benjamin Kojo Mensah, popularly known as Goshers, demanding GHS 20 million in damages for defamation.
The company said in a statement that a demand notice was served on Mr. Mensah on Friday morning, but it expired at the close of day on Saturday without compliance.
As a result, Star Oil instructed its lawyers, Lex Vanem & Associates, to proceed to issue a final demand noticd for retraction and rendering of unqualified apology.
The added that, the company will proceed to court should Goshers fail to comply with the directive.
According to the lawyers, Mr. Mensah posted on Facebook on September 3, 2025, alleging that he had been cheated after buying fuel at Star Oil’s Anyinase station near Elubo.
He wrote, “I feel cheated by Star Oil this morning,” and attached a crying emoji and a video.
The company described the post as defamatory, unfounded, and malicious.
It said the post had gained wide attention, with more than 2,000 likes, over 264 comments, at least 30 shares, and more than 58,000 views by the following morning.
The same content was also uploaded on YouTube.
Star Oil noted that its team reached out to Mr. Mensah to understand his concerns but insisted that the claims damaged its reputation.
The company stressed that it had built its brand over the past 27 years to become the largest distributor of petroleum products in Ghana and would not allow social media to be used to tarnish its image.
The company also urged customers who feel cheated or encounter poor service to use Star Oil’s official hotlines or the National Petroleum Authority’s Consumer Protection Service to lodge complaints, saying these were the proper channels for redress.
By: Jacob Aggrey
