NCCE Partners With UNFPA and Canada to Combat Teenage Pregnancy in Ghana

Global Affairs Canada and UNFPA Partner With NCCE to Tackle Teenage Pregnancy

Community Engagement in Chereponi District

In the Chereponi District of the North East Region, the NCCE organized a community engagement activity on July 20. The outreach brought together more than 100 participants, including traders, transport operators, and other community members. The session focused on promoting behavioral change to address barriers to accessing accurate information on sexual and reproductive health, gender equality, and the prevention of gender-based violence.

Mr. Sulemana Abdulai, the Chereponi District Director of the NCCE, stated that the program sought to empower adolescents and communities with accurate information to help young people make informed decisions while preventing teenage pregnancy, sexual abuse, and gender-based violence. The initiative provided a platform for interaction between community members and health professionals, enabling participants to seek clarification on reproductive health issues and discuss cultural practices that affect adolescents. Mr. Abdulai noted that the engagement contributed to improving public understanding of adolescent reproductive health and gender-based violence, challenged harmful misconceptions, and encouraged community members to play active roles in preventing abuse and supporting young people.

Mr. Abdulai acknowledged that holding the program at a busy market and transport hub posed challenges, as traders were reluctant to leave their stalls because of business commitments and weather conditions. Consequently, he recommended the adoption of a “walk-and-talk” approach for future market outreaches to enable traders to receive information without abandoning their businesses. He also called for the continued involvement of qualified health professionals to enhance the credibility and effectiveness of community education programs.

Ghana Health Service and DOVVSU Address Reproductive Rights and Gender Violence

Public Health and Legal Advocacy

Health professionals at the Chereponi event used the forum to dispel misconceptions about family planning, particularly the belief that contraceptive use causes fibroids, while emphasizing the importance of reproductive rights and access to healthcare services. Mr. Samuel Mahama, Officer-in-Charge of the Chereponi Hospital, urged community members to rely on qualified health professionals for information on family planning and reproductive health rather than myths and misinformation. He explained that family planning methods affected individuals differently because of variations in body chemistry, noting that while a particular method might work effectively for one person, another might experience side effects and require a different option.

Officials from the Ghana Health Service and the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service also educated participants on the various forms of gender-based violence, including economic abuse, domestic violence, and the denial of reproductive autonomy. They encouraged residents to report cases of abuse and support efforts to protect women, girls, and other vulnerable members of society. Chief Inspector Kingsley Kanda, Officer in charge of DOVVSU at the Chereponi District Police Command, participated in educating the public on these matters.

NCCE Deploys Mobile Education Tools to 13 Yunyoo-Nasuan District Communities

Campaign Expansion Across Yunyoo-Nasuan

Simultaneously, a major community outreach campaign was rolled out across 13 communities in the Yunyoo-Nasuan District of the North East Region. An estimated 4,000 residents in Yunyoo, Mozio, Kufuk, Namong, Tema, Bunbuna, Nasuan, Gbankurugu, Jimbali, Sitik, Tuna One, Tuna Two, and Gbungbani were reached during the two-week sensitization exercise. The campaign focused on equipping young people and community members with practical knowledge on adolescent sexual and reproductive health, menstrual hygiene, the prevention of early pregnancy, and the promotion of gender equality. It also tackled harmful traditional practices, including early and forced marriage, while ensuring that underserved and isolated communities had access to vital health and rights information.

To maximize reach, the initiative deployed a mix of mobile public education tools. A mobile van fitted with public address equipment and megaphones broadcast educational messages at markets, schools, community centers, and roadside settlements. Communities such as Jimbali, Nasuan, Gbankurugu, and Gbungbani, which already have public address systems with wider coverage, were reached through those facilities, while megaphones were used in the remaining communities.

Chiefs and Opinion Leaders Mobilize Residents for Adolescent Health Education

Strategic Mobilization and Community Support

Residents received information on adolescent sexual and reproductive health, the importance of antenatal care, menstrual hygiene management, gender equality, male involvement in family health, and the prevention of gender-based violence. The broadcasts also encouraged community members to support the empowerment of young people—especially adolescent girls—by creating environments that protect their rights, promote their education, and improve access to essential health services.

Ahead of the campaign, NCCE officials engaged chiefs, opinion leaders, and women’s groups in all beneficiary communities to secure their support and mobilize residents for active participation. By securing the support of community leaders, the organizers aimed to foster environments that protect the rights of adolescent girls and improve access to essential health services.

Sources: GNA, modernghana.com.