Tricycle and motorcycle riders responsible for teenage pregnancies in the central region – report

A survey by the Central Region of the National Youth Authority (NYA) found that perpetrators of teenage pregnancy, child marriage and sexual and gender-based violence are mostly drivers of commercial tricycles and motorcycles.

The investigation was conducted based on reports that cases of sexual and gender-based violence and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) were increasing in the region.

Mrs. Anita Nana Seguah Ansah, Central Regional Director of NYA, disclosed this at a one-day training for trainers to educate tricycle and motorcycle riders on the negative effects of teenage pregnancy, child marriage and other harmful practices.

It was organized by the NYA in collaboration with the Central Regional Coordinating Council and promoted by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to help reduce cases of teenage pregnancy and child marriage in the region.

Participants came from Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem, Cape Coast, Assin Fosu, Awutu Senya East (Kasoa), Gomoa East, Agona East and Agona West.

Ms Ansah said that based on the report, the NYA conducted an investigation which mainly incriminated tricycle and motorcycle riders.

The Regional Director expressed the hope that the drivers will return to their respective destinations and act as good ambassadors to spread the information to others, thus contributing to reducing cases of sexual and gender-based violence, child marriage and teenage pregnancy.

Similar workshops were held in Gomoa West, Cape Coast and other districts and NYA received feedback that the situation was improving.

The director said NYA is making every effort to conduct the workshop in all districts of the region to reduce sexual and gender-based violence, child marriage and sexually transmitted infections among youth.

The Assistant Commissioner of Police (ASP), Mrs. Vida Yankey, District Head of Agona Swedru, spoke on sexual and gender-based violence, its causes, effects and punishments and expressed concern over the alarming number of rape cases and teenage pregnancies in Swedru Municipality.

ASP Yankey, who also serves as the Agona Swedru Divisional Coordinator of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service, cautioned tricycle and motorcycle riders to desist from such crimes as they could face a minimum of 15 years in prison if arrested.

The DOVVSU department coordinator also explained the penalties for rape, defilement, incest, sexual harassment and other related cases of domestic violence and urged the drivers to stop doing so to maintain peace.

Ms. Abigail Appiah, Peer Educator of Plan Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG), who spoke on the issue of STI, warned the drivers of the dangers and urged them to use condoms to prevent infection.

She warned them against self-medication and the associated excessive use of antibiotics for sexually transmitted diseases and urged them to go to a health facility to receive appropriate treatment.

Ms Docas Sam-Mensah, a nurse at the Agona West Municipal Health Office, urged drivers to act responsibly and take their health problems seriously to avoid complications.

She expressed concern about the high number of teenage pregnancies in the community, attributing these to poverty, lack of education and lack of parental care and control.

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