The Wenchi Municipal Directorate of the Ghana Health Service in the Bono Region has recorded a decline in teenage pregnancy cases for 2021.

From January to September this year, the municipality recorded 410 teenage pregnancies.

The Municipal Director of Health Services (MDHS) for Wenchi, Robert Kwaku Bio, who disclosed this said it is the first time since 2018 that the area has seen such a decline.

He stated 580 teenage pregnancies were recorded from January to September 2018 and increased marginally over the same period to 584 in 2019.

Mr. Bio noted the teenage pregnancy cases further went up to 615 in 2020 over the same January to September.

The decline notwithstanding, the MDHS attributed the high number of teenage pregnancies in the Wenchi Municipality over the years to peer pressure and lack of parental control.

“Reducing teenage pregnancy should be a shared responsibility for the Ghana Education Service, parents and teachers whilst Ghana Health Service makes sure the necessary sensitisation programmes are prepared to meet the needs of the young people,” Mr. Bio added.

He, therefore, appealed to the Traditional Authorities and the Wenchi Municipal Assembly to enact by-laws to regulate the organisation of funerals and the involvement of teenagers.

"We at Ghana Health Service are doing everything possible to sensitize the youth about the negative effects of teenage pregnancy.

It is left for the chiefs and the assembly to be firm in bringing the people together to fight the menace,” Mr Bio emphasised.

He further appealed to parents within the Wench municipality to provide all needs of their teenage girls to help curb the menace.