The Upper East Regional branch of the Young Urban Women Movement (YUWM) has petitioned Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, to take urgent and coordinated action to address the growing menace of sexual abuse and teenage pregnancies in the region.
The petition was presented to the sector minister through Mr Donatus Atanga Akamugri, Upper East Regional Minister, during the Regional Stakeholders Dialogue on Combating Teenage Pregnancies and Sexual Abuse in Schools, held in Bolgatanga.
It was signed by Ms Dorcas Yingura Zoogah, the Chairperson of YUWM. YUWM, Activista Ghana, ActionAid partners and allied youth networks, all of which are advocacy youth groups under the supervision of ActionAid Ghana, a Non-Governmental Organisation.
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The dialogue was part of activities marking this year’s World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence, held under the theme, “Ending Sexual Abuse and Teenage Pregnancies Through Collective Action.”
The petition revealed that the region continues to record distressing cases of defilement, sexual violence and teenage pregnancy, with many of these incidents leaving long-lasting physical, psychological and economic scars on survivors, particularly children.
It described the trend as a “grave violation of human dignity” that demands immediate national intervention.
The petition expressed deep concern over the recent alleged defilement of a seven-year-old and a four-year-old girl in Bawku, calling the incident “shocking and intolerable.”
It urged the sector minister to ensure the swift arrest, transparent investigation and prosecution of the alleged perpetrator, Sulley Fongo, who is reported to have confessed committing the crime.
According to the petition, weak enforcement of child-protection and sexual offence laws, stigma and cultural silence that discourage reporting, and limited access to adolescent sexual and reproductive health education and services continue to fuel the trend.
It also identified economic vulnerability, corporal punishment, domestic violence and systemic poverty as contributing factors to the exploitation and poor outcomes for children, while inadequate psychosocial support and rehabilitation services left many survivors without help.
The petition urged the Ministry and the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council, law enforcement agencies and all relevant bodies to strengthen their response systems to combat the situation.
It further called for improved adolescent-friendly health services across all districts, including better-equipped facilities with trained personnel capable of offering confidential counselling and care.
It also emphasised the need for survivor-centred responses, which include immediate medical treatment, psychological support and legal assistance, while ensuring survivors’ safety and privacy during investigations.
The petition further appealed for stronger law enforcement and better resourcing of social welfare officers, district child-protection committees and the police to improve investigation and prosecution of cases.
It also urged government to scale up Comprehensive Sexuality Education in schools and communities to empower adolescents with knowledge, awareness of their rights and clear reporting pathways.
Alhaji Mohammed Issahaku, the Chief Director of the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council, who received the petition on behalf of the Regional Minister, promised to forward it to the ministers for the appropriate action to be taken.
GNA
