[ 2014-09-18 ]

Eastern Region: Over 1,000 teenagers in sex trade for survival
More than one thousand teenagers in West Akyem in
the Eastern region have been compelled to engage
in sex trade in order to fend for themselves.

Some of these girls, whose ages range from 10 to
19 years, reports revealed have become pregnant as
a result of their sexual escapades with either
young men or 'sugar daddies'.

Parents have been blamed for their inability to
control their teenage daughters in the area.

The situation, according to the West Akyem
District Health Director, Abdul Aziz Abdulai, is a
worrying one, which ought to be addressed
effectively and with all seriousness, calling on
parents to be responsible in nurturing their
children.

He told Joy FM's Beatrice Adu, who visited the
Asamankese Government Hospital in the Eastern
region that some of the girls lose their lives as
a result of complications during delivery.

In 2011, he said the facility recorded 887 teenage
pregnancies and 1,164 in the previous year.

“These are young children who should be in
school. It's life threatening getting pregnant at
14 years; 15 years; 16 years,” he emphasized.

Beatrice narrated a story of a 16-year-old
pregnant girl, who was jilted by a boy she dated.
Apparently, she had informed him of her
three-month old pregnancy.

She said the boy had promised to marry her but
immediately she told him about the pregnancy, he
denied being responsible.

According to the pregnant teenager, she wanted to
go to school and become a prominent person but
this dream has been shuttered.

She collapsed one morning when she woke up from
bed and was rushed to the hospital.

Elsewhere in Boli in the Upper West region, Joy
FM's correspondent Rafiq Salam also reported that
members of the community are in total shock about
the spate of young girls dropping out of school
because of premature pregnancy.

Source - MyjoyOnline

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