As the world marks International Youth Day today, August 12, 2025, the Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) Advocates Network, an association of NGOs in the Upper East Region of Ghana, joins global voices to spotlight a pressing issue threatening the potential of young girls: teenage pregnancy.
The association, led by Chairman Percy Asinvim, reveals in a statement that the Upper East Region recorded over 2,436 cases of teenage pregnancies in just five months. Out of the total, 25 cases involved girls aged 10-14 years, while 2,411 cases involved girls aged 15-19 years, according to the Ghana Health Service.
This alarming statistic highlights a developmental emergency for the region, as many girls drop out of school, losing access to knowledge and future careers. Young mothers face complications during childbirth and higher maternal mortality rates.Asinvim noted,
“January to May 2025 alone, 2,436 teenage pregnancies were reported in the Upper East Region, with 25 cases involving girls aged 10–14 and 2,411 involving girls aged 15–19, according to the Ghana Health Service. Teenage pregnancy is more than a health issue; it’s a developmental emergency. Many girls drop out of school, losing access to knowledge and future careers. Young mothers face complications during childbirth and higher maternal mortality rates. Stigma, isolation, and depression often follow, affecting mental health and self-worth. Families and public systems bear the burden, straining healthcare, education, and social services.”
The crisis is fueled by a lack of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education, cultural taboos, stigma around adolescent sexuality, gender-based violence, and weak support systems, which often lead to poverty and transactional sex. Many young girls have limited access to youth-friendly health services.This year’s theme, “Youth Empowerment for a Sustainable Future,” resonates deeply in a region where thousands of girls face premature motherhood, interrupted education, and diminished opportunities.
On this International Youth Day, the SRHR Advocates Network calls on the National Youth Authority, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection for bold, coordinated action to protect and empower girls. This includes integrating reproductive health education into school curricula and community programs, expanding adolescent-friendly health services across districts, and strengthening legal and psychosocial support for survivors of sexual violence.
They also call for collaborative engagement among families, traditional leaders, and faith communities in open dialogue to mobilize resources and partnerships to scale up interventions.
“Teenage pregnancy should never be a barrier to a girl’s dreams. Every girl deserves the right to education, safety, dignity, and opportunity. On this International Youth Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to empowering youth, ending teenage pregnancy, and building a future where every girl can thrive.”
Source: mywordfmonline.com/Gaspard Ayuureneeya Adongo