More young girls getting pregnant at Upper Manya Krobo District

Asesewa Dec. 17, GNA - Mr Joseph Tetteh Angmor, Upper Manya Krobo District Chief Executive (DCE), has expressed worry about the rate of teenage pregnancies in the area.

He said statistics available indicated that from January to September this year, about 284 teenage pregnancies were recorded, adding that, the matter was assuming an alarming proportion to the extent that the District Security Committee (DISEC) had to meet to discuss the worrying situation.

Mr Angmor, who was addressing the third ordinary meeting of the first session of the assembly at Asesewa on Thursday, challenged the assembly members to help ensure that young men and women in their communities live responsible life by regularly educating them.

He urged the assembly members to team up with the chiefs, queens and opinion leaders to stamp their authority on the children.

Mr Angmor said the assembly had already completed the first draft of its byelaws, awaiting further study by its solicitor.

He said it was anticipated that punitive measures contained in the byelaws for negligent parents and deviant children would help bring down teenage pregnancy in the area.

Mr Angmor appealed to the assembly members to take interest in the activities and welfare of the youth so that their behaviours and attitude do not further degenerate to the level "that we are witnessing now".

He announced that a number of national service persons had been posted to the district to fill vacancies in various agencies, organizations and schools.

Mr Angmor said as an infant district, "we have to count ourselves blessed to have had large numbers of personnel willing to come to the district to offer their services to the people".

He however said the behaviour of some of the people towards the service personnel leaves much to be desired.

"Landlords are said to be either charging very exorbitant prices for rooms rented by service persons or they refuse to offer the rooms to them to rent".

"I have also been informed that some head teachers refused to accept national service persons to their schools and they had to be reposted elsewhere, making some of them feel unwanted".

Mr Angmor said these developments had compelled the National Service Co-ordinator to consider reducing the number of service persons, who would be posted to the district next year if that attitude should continue.

He therefore appealed to assembly members to assist in educating the people to see the service personnel as "brothers, sisters, children and friends" and accept them into their midst, since they are there to impart their knowledge for the benefit of the people.

"Krobos are generally known to be very friendly people and we must be seen to be exhibiting this noble trait".

GNA