Ghana calls for stronger coordination on adolescent health — MyJoyOnline
In Ghana, participants in a meeting on adolescent sexual and reproductive health called for stronger coordination among government institutions, civil society organizations, communities and young people. The meeting in Accra discussed efforts to address teenage pregnancies, HIV infections, gender-based violence and barriers to access to healthcare services.
Angelina Osei Koduah-Nyanor, acting executive director of the National Population Council, said adolescent sexual and reproductive health had become an important national development issue given the country’s young population. The meeting brought together institutions implementing relevant programs to exchange experience, identify gaps and strengthen cooperation with the Ghana Health Service and other partners, MyJoyOnline reports.
Data on teenage pregnancies
Sharifa Mohammed, the adolescent health and development program manager at the Ghana Health Service, said that from January to July 2026, healthcare facilities recorded 53,415 pregnancies among adolescents. Of these, 1,501 cases involved girls aged 10 to 14.
According to the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, 15.2% of girls aged 15–19 had been pregnant at least once, while the adolescent birth rate stood at 63 births per thousand women in this age group. The share of girls aged 15–19 who had ever been pregnant ranged from 6% in Greater Accra to 26% in the Savannah Region.
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Services and youth participation
Sharifa Mohammed stressed that the issue should not be viewed solely through the experiences of girls: boys who impregnated girls may also leave school to work and support their partners and children. She called for particular attention to children aged 10–14, as such pregnancies raise issues of health, education and child protection.
Among the challenges, participants cited differing approaches to sexual and reproductive health education and services, stigma in healthcare facilities, and social norms that discourage young people from seeking help. They proposed aligning the approaches of health and education authorities, expanding adolescent-friendly services, developing confidential digital platforms for counselling, and involving young people in creating information materials and programs.
Representatives of civil society organizations also reported training more than 100 community workers in selected districts to collect and relay client feedback on healthcare services. The Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana said it trains specialists in survivor-centered approaches and referral pathways, supports services for adolescents and pregnant girls, and supports the Young and Wise platform.
