Madam Lena Alai, Volta Regional Director, Department of Gender (DOG), has observed that teenagers were gradually taking over child bearing in the Volta Region.

She said research findings from Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) for 2017 and 2018 revealed that teenage pregnancy rate in the Region was 103 per 1000 births as against 75 per 1000 births at the national level, "indicating that girls between ages of 12 – 17 are taking over child bearing from adult women in the region."

Mrs. Alai was speaking at a “One Day Consultative Forum with Traditional, Religious and Opinion Leaders on Strategies to End Teenage Pregnancy and Child Marriage in South Dayi District” organized by the Volta Regional Coordinating Council and the Department of Gender with funding from UNFPA.

She said the situation was pushing teenage mothers into unplanned marriages, "because once pregnant, they are forced to marry, increasing cases of child marriages in the Region."

Madam Alai therefore called on parents to provide the necessary needs of children, especially girls to prevent them from depending on boys and men for financial support.

Ms. Stella Alifo, Mental Health Officer, South Danyi District Health Directorate, said inadequate educational materials for adolescent clubs and difficulties in reaching teenagers at "overbank" communities were challenges affecting campaigns against teenage pregnancies and child marriages.

She appealed to stakeholders to support build adolescent corners separated from hospitals, to offer targeted services especially on reproductive health to adolescents.

Ms. Victoria Yawa Dedo, South Danyi District Girls Educator Officer, said parental neglect, and curiosity of some adolescents were some of the causes of teenage pregnancy in the District and advised parents to take full responsibility of their children.

She asked parents to encourage pregnant girls to remain in school and continue education after child birth and not drop out to achieve their dreams.