To combat the rising rate of teenage pregnancies, ActionAid Ghana has brought together students from nine senior high schools across the region for its Annual Regional Girls Conference.
Held under the flagship Young Female Platform (YFP), the event served as a safe space for adolescents to brainstorm, share ideas, and voice the everyday challenges that prevent them from reaching their full potential.
With alarming statistics pointing to thousands of teenage pregnancies disrupting the educational journey of young women in the Upper East Region, this year’s conference focused on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR).
During the opening session, Akuka Yakubu, the Regional Manager of ActionAid, highlighted the critical need for a collaborative approach. “We all know what is going on in the region regarding teenage pregnancies; so many girls get pregnant while still in school,” Mr. Yakubu stated. “This year, we are looking at mechanisms and ways we can work as civil society organisations, school authorities, and communities to put an end to this issue.”
Empowerment took centre stage as the students actively proposed localised solutions to keep girls in school.
These proposals, combined with actionable interventions from ActionAid and school authorities, are expected to form a solid blueprint for reducing teenage pregnancy rates among adolescents.
To ensure the messaging was relatable, ActionAid collaborated with the Regional Adolescent Health Focal Person and guest speaker Dora Kulariba, who delivered comprehensive, age-appropriate education.
The interactive sessions were designed to engage both young women and men, teaching adolescents how to make responsible choices.
“We strongly emphasise that at this stage, the best way is to abstain,” Mr. Yakubu noted. “But if you cannot abstain, there are several ways of preventing pregnancies and STIs. Once again, this remains our mandate as ActionAid.”
By engaging boys and girls alike, ActionAid continues to champion gender equality, bodily autonomy, and youth-led advocacy, ensuring that adolescent boys understand their role in preventing teenage pregnancies while empowering girls to stay in school and achieve their dreams.
The event, themed “Stronger Together: Advancing SRHR for Adolescent Boys and Girls for a Better Future,” featured performances by participating schools.
The programme included music, drama, choreography, poetry recitals, and debates, all aimed at promoting sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) among adolescents. It was hosted by Kongo Senior High School in the Nabdam District.
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