Teenage pregnancies reported at health facilities in the district increased from 160 cases in 2016, to 201 in 2017, according to Alex Bapula, the Sissala East District Director of Health Services.

Mr. Bapula said this during a child marriage discussion with chiefs and queen mothers and other traditional authorities in Tumu and Sissala East District.

The discussion was organised by ActionAid-Ghana.

[contextly_sidebar id=”3NJ75LJdDmAvkH7L5AnOs5qMTlFxKoLZ”]He said the trend of teenage pregnancies in the district stood, at 11.1 percent in 2014; 12.4 percent in 2015; 11.9 percent in 2016; and 14.3 percent in 2017 in the period under review.

“The trend of teenage deliveries also stands at 12.7 percent in 2014; 12.3 percent in 2015; 9.2 percent in 2016; and 10.7 percent in 2017, within the same period” the Sissala East District Director of Health Services said.

Mr. Sulley Mohammed, Sissala West District Adolescent Health Coordinator, said a total of 295 teenage pregnancies were recorded in the district between the periods of June 2016 to July 2017.

He said there were also 160 deliveries, 15 abortions and 25 Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), whilst a total of 579 adolescents in the district were put on family planning services.

Traditional authorities at the end of the meeting issued a communiqué prohibiting child marriage and teenage pregnancies in the district.

The communiqué stated that, no person should marry or impregnate a girl below the age of 18 years, and that anyone who acted contrary would be fined GHȼ500.00 and also made to offer a cow.

It also forbade incest in Sissalaland adding that anyone who committed such an act would pay a GHȼ1000.00 fine plus a sheep.

Furthermore, no family would accept or permit any girl below 18 years into their homes for purposes of marriage, adding that culprits would be made to pay GHȼ500.00 and a sheep.

The communiqué said no chief should support or shield any case of child marriage or pregnancy in their community, and that a chief who engaged in such acts would be required to pay GHȼ1000.00 and a sheep to the community.

Again, no parent should push or allow their teenage pregnant girl to stay with the family of the boy who impregnated her; rather, the girl should be allowed to stay with her parents while the boy takes the responsibility of caring for her needs.

Any parent who acted contrary would be fined GHȼ1000.00, the communiqué said, and urged parents to confiscate mobile phones from their children.

Madam Abiba Nibaradun, ActionAid-Ghana’s Upper West Regional Programme Officer, thanked the chiefs for making the commitment, and appealed to them to ensure that they worked to the benefit of the girl child, their families, communities and the nation at large.

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Source: GNA

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The Wengeze singer narrates in her song how she had to silently go through the most difficult time in her life last year when all odds seemed to be against her in her career and also in her relationship.

She told Showbiz on Tuesday that as a young lady working hard to make life meaningful for herself, she has learnt a great lesson that God is the solution to everyone’s problem.

“Yes, last year, many people saw me performing at shows and probably for some, those were the best moments in my life but in reality, things were not going well for me at all.

I had to brace myself for the public anytime I stepped out because as a celebrity, one is expected to be happy all the time and that is what I did.

“But at a point in time, I realised that if I didn’t turn to God, things would get worse. I wasn’t happy within and what was happening to me was beyond my understanding.

It is not as if I was disappointed in life. But it is just that I got to a point that I needed God to intervene. I needed Him to strengthen me to fight ahead”, she said.

Eazzy who wasn’t interested in giving details of the “trials” she went through said that she is happy things are gradually turning out well for her.

Like the story of the Prodigal Son, Eazzy, who sang about how she wants God to help her know what it takes to be strong and hold on to life on Unknown refuted claims that she has turned to gospel music because things were not really going on well for her in her music career.

“It’s interesting how people have read meanings into the song since it was released. Some have even attributed the lyrics to my break-up with Keitta. It is not easy at all in this journey sometimes, things really get tough and you want to give up.

“A lot falls on my shoulders as one popular person in my family and sometimes, it is really challenging combining personal stuff with career ambitions,” a sober Eazzy said.

But Eazzy said despite the new path she has taken to draw closer to God, she has no intentions to be a gospel artiste as some people are speculating.

For her, as one who was brought up in a God fearing way, turning to God in the most difficult moment in her life is what is important.

“I believe the calling of God is real and I need not pretend that I’m ready to work for God. That is far from it. When I have the calling, I will do it.

I don’t think that I have erred at all; the late Whitney Houston released some gospel songs too. Sometimes, we need to let the world know what we also go through as celebrities”, she stated.

Eazzy who is currently working on her second album told Showbiz that she has resolved to compose more inspirational songs henceforth and called on her fans not to cease praying for her.

Source: Graphic Online

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