Plan International Ghana has launched an ambitious new project, “Rooting for Change,” aimed at tackling unintended adolescent pregnancies in the Suhum municipality of the Eastern Region.

Funded by Tony's Chocolonely, one of the Netherlands' largest cocoa companies, this two-year project targets two cocoa producing communities, Aponoapono and Obretema, with the potential for future expansion into other nearby cocoa-growing areas.

Despite significant progress made by Tony's Open Chain to support sustainable livelihoods for cocoa farmers, challenges such as poverty, gender inequalities, and limited access to essential services persist in cocoa-growing communities. These issues disproportionately affect the well-being of girls and young women. Unintended pregnancies among adolescent girls have been identified as a major concern, prompting the partnership between Plan International Netherlands, Plan International Ghana and Tony's Chocolonely to launch this vital initiative.

The project's goal is clear: by September 2026, at least 800 young people (aged 10–19, with at least 60% female) in Aponoapono and Obretema will be empowered to make informed decisions and access sexual and reproductive health services without facing discrimination, coercion, or violence.

The objectives of the project are to ensure that children, adolescents, and youth develop positive attitudes and self-confidence regarding Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), including awareness of harmful practices and gender-based violence (GBV).

Additionally, the project aims to provide young people with access to age appropriate, youth-friendly SRHR services. It also seeks to create an enabling environment for young people, particularly girls and young women, allowing them to exercise their SRHR with dignity and autonomy.

The project is supported by several strategic partners, including the Ghana Health Service, Ghana Education Service, the Department of Social Welfare, Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit, Suhum Municipal Assembly, National Commission on Civic Education, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, and the International Cocoa Initiative Based.

Speaking at the launch, Eric Ayaba Head of Programmes and Influencing Manager at Plan International Ghana, highlighted the organization's unwavering commitment to empowering girls and creating global change. He explained the organization's theory of change, emphasizing that vulnerable children, particularly girls, should have the opportunity to Learn, Lead, and Decide on issues that matter most to them, and grow up free from violence and fear.

Ama Mugabe, Country Manager for Tony's Chocolonely, spoke about the company's dedication to improving the cocoa sector.

She emphasized the importance of community involvement, saying, “Change cannot be created without the community and the people at the center of the issue. Child protection is one of our top priorities, and we believe in the power of working with these communities as a model to scale the project.” Zuobog Philip Neri, Policy Officer for Cocoa at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ghana, shared a powerful message about the future of cocoa, stating, "The future of cocoa is a woman. Investing in empowering girls is investing in an inclusive future." He underscored that a thriving cocoa industry depends on the well-being of cocoa farming families and communities. In a statement, Isaac Mensah, the Suhum Municipal Health Information officer, expressed concern about the rising rates of adolescent pregnancies in the area. In 2023, of the 3,358 Antenatal Care registrants, 305 were adolescent pregnancies, with 180 recorded in the first half of 2024. “Adolescent pregnancies pose significant health risks, and it is crucial we address this issue head-on,” he said, pledging support for the project. Patricia Asantewaa Osei, Girls Education Coordinator for the Suhum Municipality emphasized the urgent need for interventions that will protect girls and provide them with the opportunities they deserve.

She attributed the increase in adolescent pregnancies to irresponsible parenting, which often forces young girls to seek means of supporting themselves and their families. Representing the Municipal Chief Executive, Lillian Adjetey Adjei- Rufai, Assistant Director at the Suhum Municipal Assembly, expressed gratitude for the project, recognizing its potential to greatly improve the lives of adolescents in the municipality. She pledged the Assembly's full support to ensure the project's success and its

potential scale-up across other vulnerable communities in the region. With strong backing from local stakeholders and a clear vision for the future, the Rooting for Change project promises to be a transformative force in tackling adolescent pregnancies and empowering the next generation of girls in Ghana's cocoa-producing regions .