Parents and communities have been urged to strengthen support systems for adolescents as poverty, parental neglect and inadequate care continue to expose some young people to abuse, exploitation and other social risks.
The call was made during engagements with adolescents at Elmina M/A Basic School and St Paul Catholic Basic School at Nkanfoa in the Central Region, where they educated them on child protection, gender-based violence (GBV), sexual and reproductive health rights and responsible behaviour.
The engagements formed part of the Essential Services Package, an initiative spearheaded by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection in collaboration with the Central Regional Coordinating Council (CRCC) and supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Background
The initiative brought together institutions, including the Ghana Health Service, the Ghana Police Service, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), the National Youth Authority and Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG), to strengthen responses to gender-based violence and protect vulnerable groups.
The Elmina engagement was a follow-up dialogue with an existing Boys Safe Space, while the Nkanfoa programme marked the establishment of a new Boys Safe Club to provide young people with a safe platform to discuss issues affecting their well-being.
Although the initiative was initially designed for boys; however, at Elmina, it was expanded to include girls after some expressed interest in participating, creating an inclusive environment for adolescents to learn about their rights and responsibilities.
The Central Regional Director of Gender, Richlove Amamoo, said responses from some adolescents showed concerns about parental neglect, single parenting and financial difficulties affecting some households.
She said when parents were unable to provide basic needs, some children relied on other people for support, a situation that could expose them to exploitation.
She, therefore, called on parents to take greater responsibility for the welfare and development of their children.
The Central Regional Project Coordinator of the PPAG, Michael Tagoe, said the club was aimed at equipping young people with knowledge to help them make responsible decisions.
He said it was also empowering them to avoid actions that could negatively affect their future.
Mr Tagoe further urged the adolescents to abstain from sex and make informed choices, saying those who engaged in sexual activity should use protection to reduce the risk of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancies.
He added that some adolescents were already facing consequences of risky behaviour, including teenage pregnancy and situations that could bring them into conflict with the law.
Accurate information
For her part, a representative of the Ghana Health Service, Florence Amoako, encouraged adolescents to seek accurate information and report situations involving sexual abuse, defilement or threats to their safety.
