Over 5000 teenage pregnancies recorded in Central Region in 2016

Five thousand one hundred and six (5106) teenage pregnancies were recorded in the Central Region between July and December 2016.

Of the total, 430 were recorded among females aged between 13 and 15, while the remaining 4682 pregnancies were recorded among females aged between 16 and 19.

This was revealed by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Komenda Edina Eguafo Abirem, Samuel Atta Mills in Parliament Wednesday.

According to the MP, “When you look at those who impregnated these children, primary school teachers were 301, tertiary school teachers were 48, small-scale farmers were 986, large-scale farmers were 62, fishermen were 295, clerical officers 1, health workers 1, lawyers 4, engineers 11, drivers 676, masons 232, students 187, carpenters 93, traders 173, motor bike riders 35, galamsey workers 397.”

Bemoaning the spate of teenage pregnancy in the country at large, Mr Atta Mills stressed that teenage pregnancy is a disturbing problem in the Central Region and called for stiffer punishments to teach culprits a lesson.

“Mr Speaker, teenage pregnancy is a problem in the Central Region but I wanted to bring out these numbers. It is not only Central Region that has this problem, but it’s because of unemployment.”

“I want to emphasise the need for the Ghana Education Service to make sure that where and when there is evidence to show that a person entrusted with the responsibility of educating our youth abuses his power by taking advantage covertly and has that type of relationship with a female student which occasions a pregnancy, then that teacher should not only be dismissed but should be severely punished.”