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Teenage girls abuse emergency contraceptives in Wa
Mrs Charity Banye, Director at the Department of Gender in the Upper West Region has expressed concern on the excessive use of emergency contraceptive pills by most teenage girls in the Wa Municipality as permanent family planning method.
She said that wrongful use of the drug could have catastrophic effect on those who patronised it without recourse to professional advice from qualified health personnel.
“As its name suggests, it is an emergency pill that is taken after accidental sexual relations such as rape, defilement or unplanned acts to prevent unplanned pregnancies not a drug that is taken after every sexual act.
“Most teenage girls in the Wa Municipality abuse the drug instead of abstaining from sex or seeking permanent family planning solutions. This could pose threats to their health,” she warned.
Mrs Banye stated this at a teenage mothers’ leadership conference at Wa recently when she took her turn to address the participants on sexual education.
The Programme which was at the instance of the LifeAgain, a non-governmental organisation in the region brought together some 120 beneficiary teenage mothers of the organisation to share challenges, ideas and success stories after having received assistance from the NGO to continue with the life that was truncated by unplanned pregnancy and childbirth.
The Director stated that the best method for the girls to stay safe from sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies was to abstain from sexual relations and rather channel those energies wasted in unfruitful relationships to their studies.
“As the name indicates, it is a family planning method; what family are you planning at this age and with whom, that boy who hides behind the building on the blind side of your parents? You need to place more value on yourself and stay chaste”, she advised.
She stated that there had been instances where men had denied pregnancies because they claimed the ladies were given emergency pills but the ladies had to bear the responsibility of the child alone.
“Emergency contraceptive pills could interfere with your menstrual cycle and also cause other side effects which can affect your studies if you are a student or your entire day if you are engaged in other forms of activities”, she said.
She used the opportunity to appeal to the young ladies to take care of their bodies but not allow males dose them with emergency pills after sexual relations that could have been prevented.
The Wa Municipal Girl-Child Education Officer, Pognaa Amamata Mumuni lamented that pre-marital sex had become frequent among the young, particularly teenagers and appealed to them to stay away from such acts.
She stated that sex was the preserve of married couples which was created by God for a purpose in the marriage so it was unhealthy for young girls to participate in it when they were still dependent on their parents.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Organisation, Ms Saudatu Mohammed also appealed to beneficiaries of the programme put the help they had received from her her NGO to good use.
From Lydia Darlington Fordjour, Wa
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Invest in the welfare of children – UNICEF
The Country Representative for United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Ghana, Mr. Osama Makkawi Khogali, has urged the government and other stakeholders to invest more in the welfare of children.
He explained that Africa was home to a growing number of children, and by the year 2050, four out of every 10 children in the world will live in Africa.
This, he said, was a major reason why more investments are needed in children’s education, health, nutrition, safety, digital access, and job training.
Mr Khogali said this in a statement copied to The Spectator in Accra on Monday June 16 to commemorate the Day of the African Child.
Every year on June 16, the Day of the African Child is celebrated to remember the brave children of the 1976 Soweto Uprising in South Africa. These children stood up against unfair education and fought for their rights. Today, the day reminds everyone to stand up for the rights and welfare of African children.
Mr. Khogali said, “we must act now so that children would not only survive but grow and succeed. Africa’s future is global, and it begins with the children of today.”
The Country Representative for UNICEF said, in Ghana, children make up about 45 per cent of the country’s population, indicating that the future of Ghana depends heavily on how well children were supported and protected today.
He therefore called on governments, communities, families, and individuals to work together and make sure every child has access to good education, health care, safety, and opportunities.
“Helping children now is the smartest way to build a strong and successful country,” he added.
UNICEF is the world’s leading children’s organisation. It works in over 190 countries to protect children’s rights and ensure that every child has the chance to live, grow, and reach their full potential.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
News
First Lady, Lordina Mahama address 7th Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative Summit in Dubai
The First Lady of the Republic of Ghana on Wednesday, June 18, addressed the prestigious 7th Edition of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI) Summit in Dubai.
The programme held at Hilton Hotel was attended by First Ladies from about 15 African and Asian countries.
The First Lady shared insights on strengthening healthcare systems, empowering women, and celebrating the impactful partnership between Ghana and the Merck Foundation over the past 13 years.
Mrs Mahama also underscored the critical role of First Ladies as Ambassadors for the “More Than a Mother” campaign, working to break the stigma around infertility and promote gender equality.
At the Committee Meeting held on Thursday, June 19, Mrs.Lordina Mahama through her presentation showed video documentary of her varied projects aimed at impacting lives.
The documentary showcased her extensive works in Education, health and other sectors of the country.
This received applauds and commendation from her colleague First Ladies and leadership of Merck Foundation.
Expressing gratitude to the Merck Foundation, she reiterated her and the Lordina Foundation’s commitment to strengthening collaboration for enhanced initiatives in health, education, and combating social stigma across Ghana.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme, Dubai
