(B/A) Asumura, Aug. 23, GNA - Mr Kweku Amankwah, a hunter in Asumura in the Brong Ahafo Region, on Monday expressed worry over the increasing cases of pregnancy and abortion among girls between 10 to 17 years in Asumura and its environs.

He said the teenagers, who were often impregnated by elderly people in the community resorted to the use of herbs and other concoctions for abortion.

Mr Amankwa, who was speaking in an interview with GNA on Monday in Asumura, said "These men are the sources of the problem because the collect and administer the herbs on the pregnant girls who are mostly unaware of the consequences of the action."

He cited that some girls had to be rushed to Goaso Hospital for treatment and those who unfortunately get there late died.

Mr Amankwah alleged that his personal investigations indicated that the elderly offenders in the community were made up of the Police and the National Service personnel posted to the area.

When GNA contacted Mrs Alice Coffie, Assemblywoman of the Asumura Electoral Area, she confirmed the high rate of abortion among girls in the area, attributing the cause to lack of parental care and poverty.

She said the Christian community in recognizing the menace, had instituted a number of educational campaigns in the schools which was yet to yield any positive results.

Mrs Coffie called on parents to make girl-child education a priority since it was the most valuable asset they could give bequeath to their girls.

"I will like to challenge parents to be much more concerned about the education and the social wellbeing of their children especially the girl child," she said.