Child marriage, teenage pregnancy causing maternal deaths in B/A

Child marriage and teenage pregnancy have been identified as some of the causes of increasing maternal deaths, infant mortality, under-weight and mal-nourishment in children the Brong-Ahafo Region and Ghana as a whole.

Data from the Ghana Health Service show that about 750 thousand teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19 became pregnant in 2014. It also came to light that in Brong-Ahafo, 919 teenagers were reported pregnant over the period.

These were contained in a communiqué read by two child parliamentarians, Lois Boahemaa and Abubakari Osman at the National Children’s Day Celebration at Jema in the Kintampo South District of Brong-Ahafo.

The pair, Miss Lois Boahemaa who is a JHS “2” student of Modern Preparatory School at Jema and Master Abubakari Osman who is in form “3” at D/A Junior High School (JHS) at Pramposo have therefore called on the government, district assemblies, civil society organizations, parents, traditional and religious leaders to work collectively to eliminate things that impede the rights and safety of children.

The event which was organized under the auspices of the World Vision Ghana, attracted a lot of young people from Brong-Ahafo and Northern Regions under the themed “Election 2016: Protecting the Rights of Children in Ghana.”

GBC’s Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo reports that, in keeping with the day, children moderated the event as masters’ ceremonies (MCs).

The Interim National Director of World Vision Ghana, David Purnell observed that in Ghana, there are many issues that affect children and emphasized the need for all interested parties to work towards upholding the rights of children.

Mr. Purnell pointed that he was very elated that World Vision has been able to work in various communities across the country to improve the quality of rights of young people.

The Interim National Director of world Vision Ghana was very appreciative of the partnership between his outfit and the local government authorities in Kintampo South, the Jema Traditional Council, NGOs and communities to bring to the fore issues effecting children to the fore via the child parliamentarians.

The Queen of Anyima and Member of the Council of State, Nana Saa Gyamfuah who preside at the function said we should not allow any individual or group endanger the future of our dear children who will take over the mantle in running the affairs of country someday.

She intimated that parents have a greater role to play in the training of young people for them to be responsible and useful to society.

Nana Saa Gyamfuah pointed that though we have onerous responsibility to uphold the rights of children it is also important for us to ensure that we correct minors going astray have to be corrected.

The Member of the Council of State appealed to all those constitutionally barred from active and partisan politics to serve as voices of restraint by preaching peace to cool down the heated political temperature in the country.

She also admonished minors not to allow anyone to influence them to vote during the December elections.

The Municipal Chief Executive for Kintampo, Michael Justice Baffoe who is acting as the DCE for Kintampo South gave an assurance that the District Assembly will continue to be proactive in children what he termed “the real assets for the growth of our district.”

He pointed out that the development of children through education is dear to President Mahama and as such the NDC government given a “massive infrastructural facelift” to Jema Senior High School with Ampoma getting a kindergarten complex and modern ICT Centre.

Mr. Baffoe added that the Kintampo South District equally benefitted from a community day senior high as a policy option to improve the lot of young people.

As part of the event, the children embarked on a procession from the Jema Senior High School through the main street of Jema to the Methodist School Park, the venue for event.