Member of Parliament (MP) for Asokwa Constituency in the Ashanti Region, Patricia Appiagyei, has cautioned opportunistic men who make sexual advances at adolescent girls which result in teenage pregnancies, to desist from such acts.
“Stop making advances on our girls, don’t jeopardize their future,” she stressed.
Mrs. Appiagyei, who is the former Mayor of Kumasi, cautioned the perpetrators during a day’s field visit to the Ajumako- Enyan-Essiam (AEE) and Assin South Districts to interact and empower adolescents in the two districts on their reproductive rights.
The field visit, sponsored by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), brought together about 50 Members of Parliament (MPs) selected from the Planning and Development Committee and members of the Youth Forum Caucus of Parliament.
The day’s field visit to some selected districts in the Central Region, was for the MPs to be well informed and know the realities of teenage pregnancies at the community level, and enable them to make informed decisions in addressing the canker.
Advising the adolescents, Mrs Appiagyei asked them to set their boundaries, be assertive and bold to resist the advances of men and boys.
She urged them to take their education seriously to have higher aspirations growing up. She encouraged the girls to be each other’s keeper and support all stakeholders to collectively eliminate teenage pregnancies in the country.
“Dress decently, respect elders, and obey your parents to enable you to attain greater heights “ she admonished.
Mrs Appiagyei, charged them to be advocates against teenage pregnancy and report cases of harassment by men quickly to the Police for punishment to be meted out to perpetrators.
Mr. David Vondee, the MP for Twifo-Atti Morkwaa Constituency, interacting with Parents, tasked them to have good interpersonal relationships with their children to facilitate strong bonding to enable girls open up to them and report sexual advances by men.
He called on parents to invest much resources in their ward’s education and be responsible for their well-being to reduce the surge of teenage pregnancies in the country.
Elvis Morrison Donkor, the President of the Youth Forum Caucus and MP for Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese Constituency, assured the UNFPA of their commitment to addressing the menace of teenage pregnancies in the country.
He called on all to take charge and play their roles accordingly to support the cause.
He said MPs will have to come out with legislation, a binding solution to eliminate the menace once and for all.