News
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
The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts has announced that government is encouraging Ghanaians to dedicate every Wednesday to the wearing of fugu, also known as batakari, as part of efforts to promote the country’s cultural heritage.
In a correspondence dated February 10, 2026, the ministry explained that the initiative forms part of government’s broader commitment to preserve, promote and celebrate Ghana’s rich cultural identity.
It called on all Ghanaians, as well as friends of Ghana both at home and abroad, to take part by wearing fugu in its various designs and styles, together with its traditional accessories.
According to the ministry, the move is aimed at deepening national cultural awareness and strengthening the country’s sense of identity, while projecting Ghana’s heritage to the international community with pride.
The ministry further noted that the initiative is expected to bring social and economic benefits to the country.
It explained that increased use of fugu would support local weavers, designers, artisans and traders involved in the production and sale of the attire, while also creating more business and employment opportunities across the value chain.
Government believes that the nationwide embrace of fugu will help strengthen national unity, boost the creative economy and serve as a strong symbol of Ghana’s cultural confidence and self expression.
The correspondence was signed by the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, who reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to policies that promote Ghanaian culture and creative industries.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The National Democratic Congress parliamentary candidate for the Ayawaso East Constituency, Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed, has denied allegations that he induced voters during the party’s recent parliamentary primaries.
In a statement issued to the media on Monday, February 9, 2026, Baba Jamal confirmed that he appeared before a committee chaired by Mr Kofi Totobi Quakyi, which was set up to investigate claims of vote buying during the primaries held last Saturday.
He noted that he used the opportunity to clearly state his innocence and reject the accusations against him.
He stressed that his political record in the constituency shows respect for party processes and unity.
He recalled that he had previously contested two primaries in Ayawaso East and lost both times to the late Member of Parliament. On each occasion, he explained that he accepted the results peacefully in the interest of party cohesion.
Referring to the last primaries ahead of the 2024 general elections, Baba Jamal disclosed that he obtained 309 votes, while the eventual winner secured 452 votes.
He pointed out that his rising support among party members is not based on inducement but on the initiatives he has undertaken, his personal integrity, and a shared commitment to improving representation for the constituency in Parliament.
He expressed appreciation to the committee for granting him a fair hearing and thanked delegates in Ayawaso East for the trust they have placed in him to lead the NDC into the upcoming by election.
According to him, that confidence strengthens his resolve to work with party supporters to bring development to the area and improve living conditions for residents.
Baba Jamal ended his statement with messages of loyalty to the NDC, the Ayawaso East Constituency, and Ghana, reaffirming his commitment to the party’s values and goals.
By: Jacob Aggrey
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