Cape Coast, Aug. 30, GNA – Madam Paulina Abayagi, the Central Regional Director of the Department of Women and Children’s Affairs, has said the Central Region had the highest number of teenage pregnancies in the country.

She said according to a 2008 Demographic Survey conducted by the Ghana Statistical Service, 23 percent of teenagers between the ages of 13 to 19 years in the Region have given birth, making it the highest in the country.

She said this on Monday at a colloquium held at the Oguaamanhene’s Palace in Cape Coast.

The colloquium, which is part of this year’s Fetu Afahye celebration was attended by students and members of the general public and was organized by Protector Gold Plus condoms.

Madam Abayagi blamed the high cases of teenage pregnancy on irresponsible parenthood, broken homes, child neglect and peer pressure, saying when children are brought up in a disciplined home, they grow into responsible adults.

She said apart from contributing to 51% of the entire Ghanaian population, women contributed significantly to the overall national development of the country, therefore, it was proper that women were recognized as important development partners since they contributed immensely to the peaceful co-existence of communities and the entire country

She called for a greater representation of women in peace-building committees in communities and that their views should be respected and incorporated into all peace-building programmes.

Representing the Central Regional Chief Imam, Sheik Ahmed Tijani said the development of Oguaaman should not only rest on the chiefs and the Government alone, but on every other individual.