Dzodze Queen mother fetes children, cautions them against teenage pregnancy

By
Caleb Kuleke, GNA

Dzodze (V/R), Jan.
8, GNA – Mama Agbaledzokpui II, Queen Mother of Dzodze Afetefe in the Ketu
North Municipality of the Volta Region, has organised an annual get-together
for children in the traditional area and called on them to desist from acts
that could result in teenage pregnancy.

She said teenage
pregnancy continues to frustrate the future of children in the traditional area
and asked them to attend to their academic demands to become responsible future
leaders.

Mama Agbaledzokpui
also cautioned them against drug abuse, armed robbery and early marriages
saying such acts would destroy their future.

She advised parents
and other stakeholders to ensure that proper care is given to children and
their needs provided so they could concentrate on their academic work.

The queen mother
expressed concern at the lack of sanitary facilities and libraries in some
schools in the Municipality and called on authorities to address the situation
to make the school environment appealing to children.

Mama Agbaledzokpui
promised to sustain the sensitisation effort against teenage pregnancy in the
area through school visits, community durbars and radio programmes.

The Ghana
Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS) of 2014 says about 4.1 per cent of
teenagers in the Volta Region are pregnant with their first child and 18 per
cent of teenagers have already had a live birth.

The National
Population Council says the situation, apart from contributing to high
fertility in the region, could lead to several reproductive health
complications among adolescents and their children.

GNA