Regional News of Tuesday, 8 August 2006

Source: GNA

Assemblyman cry over teenage pregnancies

Gomoa Assin Brofoyedru (C/R), Aug 8, GNA - Mr John K Boadee, Assemblyman for Gomoa Assin Brofoyedru, has expressed concern about teenage pregnancies in the area, which was hampering the progress of girl-child education.

He appealed to institutions, agencies and parents to put in place stringent measures to reverse the trend.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview at Gomoa Assin Brofoyedru on Monday, Mr Boadee cautioned parents to take good care of their children especially the girls.

He warned that it was wrong for some parents to allow their children to stay out of the house for too long in the night, which could lead to teenage pregnancy, drug abuse and other social vices.

Mr Boadee suggested to the Gomoa Akyempim and Gomoa Ajumako Traditional Councils to ban the playing of music till midnight at the funerals.

He noted that education was the only way to break away from poverty and enable them to become responsible adults in future and urged parents to take advantage of the Capitation Grant and School Feeding Programme to enrol their children.

Mr Boadee appealed to the District Assembly to reshape the road linking the town and Gomoa Assin to the Cape Coast-Accra main road, which was in a deplorable state to assist farmers to transport their produce to the marketing centres.

Nana Apaade Abam, Queen Mother of the town said Ms Joyce Aidoo, Gomoa District Chief Executive would cut the sod for a 50-million-cedi palace during the Ahorbaakese festival on August 25, 2006.

She said a development levy of 20,000 cedis and 10,000 have been imposed on non-resident males and females while residents would pay 10,000 cedis a male and 5,000 cedis per female respectively to finance the project.

Nana Abam appealed to the citizens outside to pay their contributions to the leaders of the Youth Association before the festival.

She cautioned the people especially the youth to abstain from pre-marital and unprotected sex to avoid HIV/AIDS.