The Queen mother of Sompaa, Nana Akosua Akomah, in the Sunyani Traditional Area, has expressed the view that the human rights enjoyed by girls are contributing to the rise in teenage pregnancy in the country.
Nana Akomah remarked that many girls have become wayward, and parents are losing control over them due to the influence of what she referred to as “the so-called human rights which have eaten into their minds.”
While acknowledging that girls have certain rights, she emphasized the responsibility of parents to ensure their upbringing in a God-fearing and more responsible manner.
She said, “nowadays you can’t even discipline or punish your own daughter because of the so-called human rights. There are excesses in some of these human rights provisions, alien to our culture and tradition and we must re-look and revise them to enable us to discipline our wayward girls in society.”
The Queen mother made these remarks during a stakeholder’s engagement focused on disseminating the National Family Planning (FP) 2030 commitment, which coincided with the launch of FP Day in Sunyani.
With support from its partners, the Bono Regional Directorate of Health organized the engagement, which saw the participation of representatives from various groups including transport unions, market women traders’ associations, disability groups, health workers, and traditional authorities.
One of the key objectives of the meeting was to sensitize participants about the nation’s FP 2030 commitment, protocols, and acceptor rate, among other pertinent topics.
Dr. Prince Quarshie, the Deputy Director of Public Health at the Bono Regional Directorate of Health, has emphasized the importance of parents encouraging their girls to access Family Planning (FP) services to address and control the rising cases of teenage pregnancies in the country.
He dispelled myths surrounding FP services, clarifying that methods such as combined pills, secure, injectables, spermicides, intra-uterine contraceptive devices, implants, and vasectomies are not harmful to human health.
Dr. Quarshie highlighted that despite intensified public education on FP services, the acceptor rate in the Bono Region remains low. The rate decreased from 42.2% in 2021 to 30.2% in 2022 and further to 27.2% in 2023. However, he noted that some districts and municipalities in the region have shown encouraging FP acceptor rates.
The Deputy Director emphasized that individuals or couples, including teenagers, are eligible to choose their preferred FP options. He advised health workers to counsel and provide sexually active individuals with the necessary services.
Furthermore, Dr. Quarshie mentioned that FP services are covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), and those registered with the scheme can use their cards to access these services.