Sunyani, July 31, GNA- Mr Kofi Agyei-Adoquaye, Acting Brong-Ahafo Regional Population Officer, has appealed to the Ghana Education Service (GES) and other partners to provide in-service training for teachers to enable them to provide counselling and guidance to pupils and parents. He was speaking at the celebration of the World Population Day in Sunyani, which was attended by 500 pupils and students from Upper Primary and Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) of the Presbyterian cluster of Schools.

The Day had the theme: "Adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights" with the aim of emphasizing students' right to good health, information and services.

Mr Agyei-Adoquaye said celebration of the Day focused on important population issues affecting the quality of life and the importance of devising appropriate strategies and programmes.

He appealed to parents to communicate with their children on issues regarding sexuality, dismissing the notion that sexual and reproductive health information promote sexual activities in early stages. Mr Sintim Ofosuhene, the Chief Economic Planning Officer in Brong-Ahafo, in a speech read for him said because of peer pressure, poor parenting and other negative social activities, adolescents resorting to abuses, alcoholism and smoking.

Mr Andy Boye-Agyeman, Brong-Ahafo Regional Officer of the National Commission on Children (NCC) appealed to parents to desist from employing children in commercial activities since the practice was against the fundamental human rights of the child.