Don't Open Your Legs If You Are Not Above 18 Years--Gender Minister Otiko

The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Otiko Afisa Djaba has urged all teenage girls to abstain from sex until they reach the age of 18.

Speaking at recent edition the Meet The Press series at the Ministry of Information, the minister noted that the fact that government makes provision for girls who get pregnant does not imply that it is in support of teenage pregnancy.

She stated that the government is only providing a safety net for girls who fall victim to teenage pregnancy and cautioned the girls to abstain from sex until they turn 18.

The minister also asked parents to engage their children about their sexuality and pay attention to changes in them.

“Until 18, put a padlock on it and lock it. And parents we have to engage our daughters and sons, about their sexuality as they become teenagers.”

“Ghana does not encourage teenage pregnancy. We have signed on to the convention of the rights of children, and it is important that we ensure that those rights are protected. So when a girl gets pregnant, you cannot throw her out of your house, it is not the solution. So girls should not get pregnant, but if it happens the system should provide room for her to write exams,” she said.

Otiko Djaba also warned boys and men against luring girls and getting them pregnant, appealing to all stakeholders to help fight against teenage pregnancy.

She also advised all girls to report immediately to the police if they are sexually abused.

57, ooo teenage pregnancies were also recorded nationwide in the first half of last year.

A total of 31 teenage pregnancy-related deaths were recorded during the period.

This was made known by Mr Simeon Kwabena Acheampong, the Ashanti Regional Manager of Marie Stopes International, Ghana, an international NGO, providing contraception and safe abortion services.

According to him, a total of 9,100 adolescents reportedly got pregnant in the Ashanti Region during the first half of 2017.

986 adolescent girls in the Greater Accra Region in 2017 also engaged in illegal termination of their pregnancies.

The figure comprised of 31 girls aged between 10 and 14, and 955 adolescent girls aged between 15 and 19 years.

This was disclosed by the Greater Accra Regional Adolescent Health Coordinator, Madam Diana Bona.

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By: Farida Yusif/citinewsroom.com/Ghana
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