Akrofuom Symposium Urges Parents to Take Lead in Combating Teenage Pregnancy

Participants at a one-day symposium in the Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region emphasized the crucial role of parents in reducing teenage pregnancy.

Speakers highlighted the importance of parenting as the first avenue for imparting values and knowledge essential to the fight against teenage pregnancy and drug abuse.

Many speakers expressed concern over the tendency of some parents to shirk their responsibilities, leaving the upbringing of their children to other institutions.

The symposium, organized by the Akrofuom Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), gathered stakeholders from across the district to address the issue. During the event, Mr. Ali Kassim, District Director for NCCE, noted the increasing cases of teenage pregnancy and drug abuse, as confirmed by a three-year-old report that ranked Akrofuom District high on the list of teenage pregnancy cases in the country.

Mr. Kassim stressed the need for new strategies to combat these issues, acknowledging past collaborations with other institutions but emphasizing the urgency of the situation.

Participants also cited peer pressure, social media influence, lax law enforcement, and the impact of foreign cultures introduced through television as contributing factors to the high rates of teenage pregnancy and drug abuse.

The chairman of the occasion, Mr. Samuel Yaw Obubah, commended the directorate for organizing the symposium and encouraged participants to disseminate the message to help reduce the prevalence of these issues in the district.