The chief of Gomoa Okwawu in the Central region is proposing a new way of ending teenage pregnancies in the region.
Nana Kofi Sakyi Ababio V is urging his counterpart traditional authorities in the other parts of the region to resort to fines as it has proven worthwhile in drastically reducing teenage pregnancies in his area.
The Gomoa area has been noted for teenage pregnancies with many school girls dropping out of school last years.
The picture in the entire central region in terms of teenage pregnancies is not pretty as over 13,000 teenagers got pregnant in the year 2016 according to a report by the Department of Gender and the Central Regional directorate of the Ghana Health Service.
Nana Kofi Sakyi Ababio V indicates that the community in the last four years has not recorded any teenage pregnancy in the town due to the imposition of the fine by the palace on those who engage in teenage pregnancies.
According to the chief, boys and girls who engage in premarital sex leading to pregnancies are made to pay a fine of GHC200 each.
The amount, he said is enough deterrent as money is difficult to come by in such rural settings.
Parents, he added have become responsible in taking good care of their wards as they don’t want to risk paying such amount as fine.
He explained that the policy has indeed brought about improvement in students academic performance in the area as more students from the area are performing well in both the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) thereby qualifying to pursue further studies.
He is therefore calling on traditional authorities in the other parts of the region to consider adopting the fine policy as it has proven potent in addressing the negative effects on the girls education caused by teenage pregnancies.
In an interview with Ultimate News’ Central Regional Correspondent Kwaku Baah-Acheamfour, the chief said adults who impregnate teenagers should not only be fined but be reported to the police for the law to deal with them thereby securing the future of such teenage girls.
By: Ghana/Ultimatefmonline.com/106.9FM
The post C/R: Chief proposes fines in ending teenage pregnancies appeared first on Ultimate FM.
The chief of Gomoa Okwawu in the Central region is proposing a new way of ending teenage pregnancies in the region. Nana Kofi Sakyi Ababio V is urging his counterpart traditional authorities in the other parts of the region to resort to fines as it has proven worthwhile in drastically reducing teenage pregnancies in his […]
The post C/R: Chief proposes fines in ending teenage pregnancies appeared first on Ultimate FM.
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