From 2010 to 2012, a total of 7,256 girls dropped out of school across six districts in Ayensuano, Afram Plains North and South, Birim North, Upper Man­ya, and Upper West Akim of the Eastern Region, according to statistics released by the Ghana Education Service (GES).

The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) also re­ported that a significant number of girls remained out of school at both the primary and second­ary levels, a trend that continued to raise alarm among education stake­holders and child protec­tion advocates.

At a recent adolescent sexual and reproductive health workshop held in Koforidua by the National Youth Authority (NYA), the Deputy Eastern Regional Director of Programmes of the NYA, Ms Priscilla Owusu, who disclosed this expressed deep concern over the growing rate of girl-child school dropouts.

She attributed the troubling trend to a combination of factors, notably teenage preg­nancy and poor parental supervision.

“About 33.69 per cent of the dropout cases are directly linked to ado­lescent girls becoming pregnant, often due to a lack of parental guidance and control,” Ms Owusu stated.

“When girls face such situations, many lose their confidence and find themselves marginalised and unable to return to school. They become less privileged and are denied the opportunity to fulfill their potential,” she pointed out.

She stressed the importance of confront­ing societal stigmas that alienated girls who become pregnant or drop out of school.

According to her, these stigmas often discour­aged them from return­ing to the classroom and reintegrating into society.

Additionally, she noted that grassroots involve­ment was crucial in reversing the dropout trend and empowering adolescent girls with the tools to succeed.

Also addressing partic­ipants at the workshop, Mr Raymond Teye Djima­jor, Head of Programmes and Counselling at the Department of Communi­ty Development, high­lighted a growing lapse in parental responsibility.

He explained that in­creasingly, parents were leaving the task of moral and emotional guidance to schools and religious institutions.

“Are these girls safe in their schools?” he ques­tioned. “Do they have access to the counselling, support systems, and re­sources they need within their schools, churches, or communities?”

Again, Mr Djimajor stated that while teach­ers and religious leaders have roles to play, the primary responsibility lied with parents and guardians.

He, therefore, called on civil society organisa­tions, faith-based groups, and traditional author­ities to join forces in protecting the rights and development of adoles­cents.

He urged the imple­mentation of coordinat­ed community-based initiatives focused on guidance, counselling, and life skills training for girls, noting that without these interventions, the region risks witnessing even higher dropout fig­ures in the coming years.

He called for a col­laborative effort by all stakeholders to ensure every girl in the Eastern Region has the opportuni­ty to stay in school, avoid early pregnancy, and reach her full potential in a supportive environ­ment.

 Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) were last Friday sworn into office.

The Acting Chief Justice, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, administered the oaths of office and allegiance to the newly elected executives of the association.

The new national executives of the association are Mr Albert Kwabena Dwum­fuor, President; Ms Rebecca Ekpe, Vice President; Mr Dominic Hlordzi, General Secretary; Mr Suleiman Mustapha, Or­gansing Secretary; Mrs Bertha Badu-Agyei, National Treasurer and Mr Zadok Kwame Gyesi, Public Affairs Officer.

The swearing-in ceremony, drew a diverse gathering of journalists, diplo­mats, traditional rulers, and government officials.

Justice Baffoe-Bonnie urged them to uphold professionalism and highest jour­nalistic standards and cautioned them of the consequences associated with taking an oath.

In her address, the Vice President, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, charged members of the media to uphold truth, balance, and integrity in their work.

She described journalism as a noble calling central to Ghana’s democrat­ic development, saying “let your work reflect the values of truth and national responsibility,” assuring the new leader­ship of government’s support in strengthening media free­dom and transparency.

On his part, Mr Dwumfuor unveiled a five-point agenda to guide his second term, with a focus on strengthening the GJA’s institu­tional structures, enhancing the welfare of mem­bers, advancing professional devel­opment, promoting regional integration, and undertaking constitu­tional reforms.

He reaffirmed his commitment to completing the GJA insurance scheme and launching a comprehensive health support system for journalists.

Mr Dwumfuor made an emotional appeal for national and international support for Pius Asare, a young journalist who sustained severe injuries during the 2020 elections and requires surgery in India to the tune of $35,000.

He also condemned the increasing at­tacks on journalists and called for urgent action from law enforcement agencies. Mr Dwumfuor stressed that brutality, intim­idation, and impunity against media practitioners should not be toler­ated in a civilised society.

Government spokes­person, Mr Felix Ofosu Kwakye, reinforced government’s com­mitment to a free and safe press environ­ment.

While welcoming constructive criticism, he condemned acts of misinformation and recent violent attacks on journalists.