TEEN PREGNANCY CRISIS IN BONO: Over 14,000 Girls Affected in Just 4 Years
Health officials alarmed as rising teenage pregnancies and abortions expose gaps in family planning education in Ghana’s Bono Region.
Public health officials in Ghana’s Bono Region are sounding the alarm over a sharp surge in teenage pregnancies, with 14,877 cases recorded between 2021 and 2024. The staggering figures were revealed at a stakeholders’ meeting in Sunyani, held to mark African Vaccination Week and Child Health Promotion Week.
According to Rita Adjoa Ansong, Deputy Director of Nursing Services in charge of Public Health, the region is facing a deepening crisis. In addition to the teenage pregnancies, 1,188 abortion cases were also recorded within the same period—further highlighting the scale of the problem.
“This is more than just a statistic. These are young girls whose futures are being compromised,” Ansong stated. “Family planning gives girls the power to make informed decisions about their bodies and continue their education.”
She blamed cultural taboos, misinformation, and lack of community support for the low adoption of contraceptive methods among adolescent girls. However, Ansong acknowledged recent progress: in 2024, family planning coverage in the region rose to 39.58%, up from 36.45% in 2023. This, she said, was made possible through collaborations with organizations such as Marie Stopes, DKT, and the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana, who provided free contraceptives and public education.
Still, she emphasized that the progress is not enough. Year-on-year abortion statistics remain troubling, with 388 cases in 2021, 351 in 2022, 217 in 2023, and 282 in 2024.
Miss Ansong called on community leaders, educators, and media stakeholders to play a more active role in dispelling myths and broadening awareness of family planning services. “This requires a collective, multi-sectoral approach. We must protect the future of our girls,” she concluded.
Source:NKONKONSA.com
