In the Asene Manso Akroso District of Ghana’s Eastern region, an alarming surge in teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) has become a critical health and social crisis, demanding urgent attention and action.  In the quest to reduce the rates of the menace, Curious Minds Ghana sets out to implement a project titled Sustainable Development through Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) with support from the Swedish Association for Sexuality Education (RFSU). The project aims to make a positive impact in two communities, Akyem Asubua and Manso, which have been major communities with high cases of teenage pregnancies and STIs, according to the Ghana Health Service.

During a two-day visit to officially launch the project, efforts were made to gain community support through entry visits to the chief palace and state agencies in the two communities, as well as an Inception meeting held to convene all actors. This created the platform for detailed conversations to aid an understanding of the project and the context of the communities to work in. In the Manso community, a 14-year-old pregnant girl is cited depicting the true situation for the urgent need to educate adolescent girls about SRHR and its related issues of agency and autonomy. Mr. Yaw Antwi Bogya the assembly member for Manso, who doubles as the Okyeame for the traditional area, expressed that these adolescent girls’ lives come to an abrupt end as a result of the early pregnancy, with little to no growth, and continuing the cycle of poverty in the community. He added that the girls find themselves in such challenging situations mostly due to the large families they grow up in, which often lead to parents paying little attention to their growth and well-being.

In a short discussion with a nurse in the Akyem Asubua community clinic, she revealed that new cases of adolescent pregnancies are recorded once or twice a week in the facility. In probing further as to why this happens, she explained that interactions with these girls revealed a lack of education about SRHR and contraceptive intake. This leaves these young girls vulnerable to harm’s way; exposing them to STIs and unwanted pregnancies.

Oberempong Sintim Opoku III, the overall chief of the Akyem Kotoku traditional area, under which the two communities are located made reference to traditional customs that have been destroyed such as puberty rites that used to manage some of the occurrences. He, therefore, committed his support to make the project a success as part of efforts to sanitize the community and create an enabling environment for young people especially, girls to thrive. Nana Anim Darkwa II, of the Akyem Asubua community, also pledged his full support to the success of the project.

In conclusion, the commitment from traditional leaders such as Oberempong Sintim Opoku III and Nana Anim Darkwa II highlights a community-wide dedication to creating a supportive environment for young people, particularly girls, to thrive. As the project moves forward, the collaboration between Curious Minds Ghana, local authorities, and the community is poised to create a safer, more informed environment for adolescent girls and young women. By addressing the root causes of teenage pregnancies and promoting SRHR education, the initiative aims to bridge the knowledge gap and empower the next generation to lead healthier, more autonomous lives.