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
News
Govt urged to provide safe, supportive environment for menstruating girls
The government has been urged to take urgent steps toward providing a safe and supportive environment for menstruating girls to ensure proper personal hygiene and promote school attendance.
Sarah Nkansah Boateng, a midwife at the Eastern Regional Hospital made the call during a forum organised as part of activities to observe Menstrual Hygiene Day celebration in the New Juaben North Municipality of the Eastern Region.
The event was held under the theme “Together for a Period-Friendly World.”
She noted that many girls skip school during their menstrual periods due to a lack of access to sanitary products and appropriate spaces to change them.
“The basic necessities for these girls are not being provided; creating a safe and enabling environment is crucial,” Madam Boateng emphasized.
She called on school authorities and policymakers to prioritise the construction of hygienic and private changing spaces in schools.
She further appealed for a collective effort to address menstrual health challenges affecting girls in the community.
The New Juaben North Municipal Director of Health Services, Nana Yaa Konadu, also highlighted her office’s initiatives in both school-based and community clinics to educate young girls on menstrual hygiene.
She stressed the health implications of poor menstrual hygiene, saying, “When girls lack access to sanitary pads and a clean environment, it can negatively impact their reproductive health.”
Madam Konadu warned that the absence of menstrual hygiene facilities and products left some girls vulnerable to exploitation, increasing the risk of teenage pregnancy.
The Municipal Chief Executive for New Juaben North, Mr Samuel Adongo, described menstruation as a natural biological process and not a taboo or burden.
He expressed concern over the poor state of sanitation facilities in schools.
“I have visited almost all public schools in the municipality, and none has a proper, standard toilet facility suitable for girls,” he stated.
Mr Adongo assured that the assembly would work to create an enabling environment to reduce school absenteeism related to menstruation.
“Too many girls are missing school because of their menstrual cycle, and this is unacceptable,” he added.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Koforidua
News
Akwesi Agyeman, Ekpe vow to lead GJA to ‘era of purpose and professionalism’
As the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) prepares for its national elections, two of the key contenders, General Secretary Aspirant Akwasi Agyeman and Vice Presidential hopeful Rebecca Ekpe have called for a return to ethical journalism, stronger mentorship and institutional reforms.
They both made the remarks during separate visits to The Spectator and The Ghanaian Times, respectively to solicit for votes.
Akwasi Agyeman, an Editor with Multimedia is seeking to lead the association into what he calls a “new era of purpose and professionalism.”
He stressed the urgent need to reposition the GJA as a strong and relevant voice in national affairs.
“We cannot continue with business as usual. The GJA must be visible, active, and fearless in advocating for the rights and welfare of journalists,” he said during a meeting with media practitioners in Accra.
Mr. Agyeman noted that his leadership will focus on building partnerships, improving member services, and restoring the dignity of the Association. “We need to rekindle the spirit of solidarity within the GJA and provide real value to members, especially the younger generation,” he added.
Ms Rebecca Ekpe, a respected Broadcast Journalist and Editor, echoed similar sentiments in her call for mentorship and capacity building.
“I discovered through my journey that journalism is not just my job, it is who I am. My path in journalism was shaped by my seniors in the newsroom, and now I feel called to give back,” she said.
Ms Ekpe envisions a GJA where senior journalists regularly engage with young professionals through face-to-face mentoring and training platforms. “Even if you attend a session and pick just one idea, it could change the course of your career,” she remarked.
She also raised concerns about the rise of misinformation and the blurred lines between journalism and social media content creation. “People sit online insulting others and call themselves journalists. When they are attacked, GJA defends them, but we must ask: are they truly journalists? We must protect the integrity of our profession,” she stressed.
The Editor of The Spectator, Mrs Georgina N.M Quaittoo wished them well in their campaigns and quest to serve the GJA.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
